TL;DR
The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth offers several entrepreneurship programs, starting at $6,450 for high school students, with costs varying by track. The program doesn’t explicitly list scholarship opportunities for all tracks. Limited need-based scholarships are available, you can inquire by emailing bbay@berkeley.edu. Once enrolled, you learn entrepreneurship at the Berkeley Haas School of Business. Most tracks are experiential, where you study entrepreneurship by working with your own ideas. The acceptance rate for all programs combined is 10%, and class sizes are small. If you’re looking for a similar program that builds your business acumen by working through challenges but takes place entirely online, check out Young Founders Lab.
UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) offers an experiential learning environment, suited for business and entrepreneurship. You go beyond coursework and learn what happens when running an actual business.
If you’re looking for more startup incubator programs like B-BAY, check out our guides on 15 Startup Incubators for High School Students and 15 Best Startup Accelerator Programs You Can Check Out in High School.
What is the Berkeley Business Academy for Youth?
The Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) is an initiative of UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, one of the oldest business schools in the country. B-BAY isn’t a single program; it's a collection of business- and entrepreneurship-focused programs. This includes an entrepreneurship residency, a founder bootcamp, and a longer academic program. These options give you the flexibility to choose according to your goals.
| Program Name | Format | What it offers |
|---|---|---|
| High School Entrepreneurship Residency | Two-week residential program | Peer-based; ideate and work on a business plan to present at the end of the session |
| High School Startup Launchpad | Two-semester virtual program | Academic year, in-depth curriculum; assignments, grades, and credit |
| High School Founder Bootcamp | Two-week bootcamp | Opens to all but invited founders with a validated idea; learn about growing a business; more advanced |
While the formats differ, each program lets you learn entrepreneurship concepts and frameworks from Berkeley Haas faculty, attend industry guest speaker sessions, and work alongside a small cohort of peers to exchange ideas.
7 things to weigh before applying
Before you consider applying to any of the B-BAY programs, here’s what you need to know.
1. Cost and no financial aid.
The B-BAY program starts at $6,950 for high school students, and costs add up when you include travel, food, and other expenses. The program also doesn’t provide clear information about financial aid.
2. B-BAY has three track options.
The tracks differ in format, ranging from the academic-year program to bootcamp and residency. Make your decision based on what you already know about entrepreneurship and what you’re looking to learn.
3. Multiple application rounds (and what an impacted program means).
Multiple applications might seem like a good thing at first glance. B-BAY reviews applications on a rolling basis, which means seats might fill up before the final deadline, so apply early.
4. Varying course length.
The different course lengths add pressure to choose the right program. The Founder Bootcamp and Entrepreneurship are two weeks long, while Startup Launchpad is a year-long program.
5. The application has five parts.
Your application includes an essay, two recommendations, a transcript, a video essay, and an interview round with the admissions committee (varying based on track)
6. A small class size.
The small cohort makes the learning experience more immersive but increases competition at the application stage.
7. You work on a business plan with a team.
Working in a team requires learning effective collaboration and teamwork. It also means having to share the credit for building a business with teammates
Is Berkeley Business Academy for Youth prestigious?
B-BAY is selective, and UC Berkeley mentions a rough 10% acceptance rate among its high school applicants.
Nationwide and international selection. B-BAY accepts applications from students across the country and even internationally. This means you will be competing with a wide range of applicants.
Competitions within the cohort. B-BAY stays competitive even within its programs, with past cohorts competing in teams to develop feasible business ideas.
Small class size. Summer Entrepreneurship Residency accepts 50 students every cohort. The other two programs don’t mention their intake but expect a similar class size.
Academic rigor. Founder Bootcamp and Entrepreneurship Residency run for 2 weeks and include an intensive business curriculum, group projects, and presentations.
Evaluation and Grading. The Startup Launchpad takes place over 2 semesters and includes periodic evaluations and grading. You get a taste of what it would be like to study business in college.
Who is eligible to apply to the Berkeley Business Academy for Youth?
The Berkeley Business Academy is open to rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and gap year students. These criteria may vary by track, so check eligibility for the program you are interested in.
The programs are available to both California residents and out-of-state residents. Tuition will vary based on this information. Previous cohorts have included international students, and the description mentions a global cohort.
How do you apply to Berkeley Business Academy for Youth?
Berkeley Business Academy doesn’t list clear dates or application timelines for all of its programs.
Academic Year Startup Launchpad
Applications typically open in April. This program has 3 deadlines: the earliest round closing in June, Round 2 in August, and the last round in September. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so apply early to secure your place.
Summer Entrepreneurship Residency
The 2 week program takes place in the summer, and we will announce dates in Fall 2026. This announcement includes the tuition and fees for the program. Join the B-BAY contact list here to receive program updates for 2027.
Summer Founder Bootcamp
The program takes place for 2 weeks in the summer, as the name suggests. We don’t have a concrete application timeline for this program, but the last date to apply is in February. We recommend that you keep checking for updates and apply earlier.
Application items vary for each track, but here’s a general list of what to expect when applying:
Essay. Your essay must be under 500 words answering the prompts given. Previous prompts include sharing your thoughts on a given quote, writing about your experience working in a team, and your academic and professional goals.
Non-native applicants will include an additional paragraph describing their English educational background and experience.
Teacher recommendations. Two teachers should complete a recommendation form, including one from a core subject teacher.
School transcript. This includes your grades over the past two years. It should include your name and school.
Video Essay. Introduce yourself to the admissions committee through a video. You’ll also include the answer to a prompt.
Interviews. You may be asked to interview with the admissions committee.
How is Berkeley Business Academy for Youth structured?
The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth includes learning from UC Berkeley HAAS faculty, hearing from industry leaders and experiential learning by working alongside teammates. The structure for each track varies.
Summer Founder Bootcamp
Solo Founders or teamwork. This is the only track where you can work as a solo founder. You can also work with a team if you want to.
High Impact. The Summer Founder Boot Camp prioritizes applications from founders who are already generating revenue or have active users. Although not a strict requirement, this track is more high-impact than others.
Learnings. You will gain insights from industry professionals and guest entrepreneurs. Learnings include revenue and user growth, partnership opportunities and growth hacking.
Summer Entrepreneurship Academy
Two-week program. You get two weeks to explore business through an interactive curriculum, work on projects, and develop your own idea.
Teamwork. You work together with peers to create a comprehensive business plan.
Skill Building. The experience includes research, communication, and presentation skills. You will pitch your business idea at the end of the program.
High School Startup Launchpad
In-depth program. This program takes place over an academic year and two semesters.
Immersive curriculum. Learnings include business and entrepreneurship principles and insights from business, innovation, and technology.
Evaluations. This program is structured much like a class, with grading and evaluation throughout. You receive a certification around the end.
Who is B-BAY best for?
| If you… | How B-BAY fits |
|---|---|
| Want to build your own business | All 3 programs are entrepreneurship-focused and help you work towards your first startup. The entrepreneurship residency gives you an introduction, and the founder bootcamp is higher impact for those with an existing venture. |
| Attend an in-depth business program | Learn entrepreneurship concepts and frameworks over the academic year with Startup Launchpad |
| Enjoy being competitive | All programs emphasize teamwork, working on business plans, strategies, and pitch presentations alongside others |
| Strong academics and extracurriculars | The application process is rigorous and requires two teacher recommendations. This might favor students with stronger academics and extracurriculars |
| Hoping for financial aid | B-BAY offers limited financial aid. If you’re looking for more accessible programs, our guide on High School Entrepreneurship Programs goes over more options. |
Our review – should you apply in 2027?
If you're looking for a hands-on entrepreneurship program and cost is not a deciding factor, you should apply to Berkeley Business Academy for Youth.
If you're willing to push yourself within two weeks, both Summer Entrepreneurship Presidency and Summer Founder Bootcamp are good options for you. Startup Launchpad is a good bet if you are willing to invest time in learning about entrepreneurship over a longer period.
Berkeley Business Academy is only a good choice if you can decide on one track after going through the descriptions. Each track is looking for a specific type of applicant, and you should know if you fit the criteria.
B-BAY has a longer program and two 2-week programs; it doesn’t have an in-between option. It is also a tough option if you're looking for a more accessible program that offers financial aid.
If you're looking for a program that is both flexible in its approach (individual- and team-based programs) and offers need- and merit-based scholarships, check out Young Founders Lab.
Frequently Asked Questions: Berkeley Academy for Youth
1. What is the cost of attending Berkeley Business Academy for Youth?
The cost of attending Berkeley Business Academy for Youth as a high school student starts at $6,450 for the High School Startup Launchpad. The cost for the other two tracks isn't mentioned but is expected to be in a similar range.
2. Does Berkeley Business Academy for Youth offer financial aid?
Berkeley Business Academy for Youth does not offer extensive or full-coverage financial aid. The program does mention limited need-based scholarships for some tracks based on availability.
3. Which Berkeley Business Academy for Youth track should you pick?
If you're looking to study business and entrepreneurial concepts in depth over two semesters, you can apply to the High School Startup Launchpad. If you want to build your own venture but prefer an introductory program, choose High School Entrepreneurship Residency.
4. Can seniors apply to Berkeley Business Academy for Youth?
Yes, seniors can apply to Berkeley Business Academy for Youth. The program is currently open to sophomores, juniors, seniors, and gap year students.
5. How competitive is Berkeley Business Academy for Youth?
The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth reports a 10% acceptance rate and generally has a smaller class size. It also invites applications from across the nation and internationally. It is competitive compared to other business and entrepreneurship-focused programs.
If you get into B-BAY, it gives you experience working on a startup, which gives you talking points for college applications, especially if you apply to Berkeley.
Looking for a more accessible program offering financial aid, or looking to build something over a longer period? The Young Founder Lab Program places you in a bootcamp where you build your own revenue-generating startup with mentorship support. The program offers financial aid support based on need and merit. Apply here.