15 Business Summer Camps for Middle School Students
If you are interested in business, summer is a good time to explore what the path can look like. Business summer camps for middle school students give you a chance to step outside the classroom and learn by doing. You might build a product idea, create a marketing plan, pitch to judges, study finance, or work with a team to solve real problems.
What do business summer camps for middle school students involve?
These programs help you practice skills like leadership, communication, teamwork, and decision-making that you can later use in your own ventures. They also show you how different areas of business work, from entrepreneurship to investing and management, through hands-on projects rather than passive instruction.
Why attend a business summer camp as a middle schooler?
Along the way, you will meet mentors, business professionals, and students who share your interests, and these connections can guide you long after the program ends. Strong summer experiences can also help your college applications later on by showing curiosity and initiative early.
To help you get started, we have narrowed down 15 business summer camps for middle school students worth exploring. For related opportunities, consider our guide to Online Summer Camps for Middle School Students.
Quick Look
1 fully free program: NYU College and Career Lab (NYC public school 7th-8th graders only)
Paid programs: range from $25 (IDEA Camp, lunch included) to $6,050 residential (Duke Pre-College); financial aid available at the Junior Innovator Program, UC Berkeley, Northwestern, and The Business of Doing Good
4 fully online programs: Junior Innovator Program (100% virtual, 1-on-1 mentorship), Georgetown's Becoming an Entrepreneur, Rice University's Entrepreneurship Fintech, and Northwestern's Online Leadership Intensive
5 programs open to 5th or 6th graders: The Business of Doing Good (Level 1 includes grade 5), IDEA Camp (grades 6-9), Duke Pre-College (grades 6-8), Boston Leadership Junior Shark Tank (rising 6th-8th), and UMBC Entrepreneurship: Financial Literacy (incoming 6th-8th)
Most selective by cohort size: Camp BizSmart (30 seats) and UC Berkeley's Introduction to Innovation and Entrepreneurship (20-24 students)
Earliest deadlines: UC Berkeley (early deadline February 25), NYU College and Career Lab (March 31), and Youth Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (May 23)
15 Business Summer Camps for Middle School Students
1. NSLC Business Middle School Summer Programs
Location: Residential or commuter, based on the program you choose
Cost: Applies. Starts at $2,695. Scholarships are available
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Based on the program you choose. 6 days during the summer.
Application Deadline: Based on the program you choose
Eligibility: Middle school students
At NSLC’s Business Middle School Summer Program, you will explore how ideas become products and how companies bring them to the market. You will study branding, teamwork, innovation, and creative problem-solving through interactive activities and leadership workshops. The program also includes sessions on communication, empathy, goal setting, and listening skills. Outside the classroom, you will visit places like the Kogod School of Business, the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Pier 39, and the California Academy of Sciences. You will live on a college campus, work closely with other students, and experience both academic learning and group collaboration while building confidence in business settings.
2. Junior Innovator Program
Location: 100% virtual, with one-on-one mentorship and interactive events
Cost: Varies by program; need-based financial aid is available
Program Dates: Flexible start dates; vary by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to middle school students
The Junior Innovator Program is a virtual entrepreneurship incubator program where you develop an actual project that solves a problem you care about. Over the course of the program, you take your idea from curiosity to creation by applying principles of entrepreneurship, pitching, and business thinking in a structured, hands-on setting. You work through one-on-one mentorship sessions that cover ideation, market thinking, and foundational business concepts, while also participating in fireside chats, remote socials, and group discussions with a global cohort of student founders. Throughout the experience, you receive mentorship from entrepreneurs and professionals with backgrounds at organizations such as Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey, helping you understand how innovation and venture-building work in practice.
3. IDEA Camp by NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
Location: Clear Lake and Charles City, Iowa
Cost: $25 (lunch included)
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 and July 9
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: 6th–9th grade students
IDEA Camp by NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is a summer program for high school students who want to learn how businesses are built. You spend several days working with mentors, developing a business idea, researching customers, creating a business model, and preparing a final pitch. The camp also includes team activities and sessions on problem-solving, communication, and leadership. It is a good choice if you want an introduction to entrepreneurship in a hands-on setting.
4. Georgetown University’s Becoming an Entrepreneur
Location: Online
Cost: $1,895
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Various dates with 1-week intensives, 2-week sessions, and 4-week sessions during the summer
Application Deadline: Depends on the cohort you choose
Eligibility: For students ages 13 and up
Georgetown University’s Becoming an Entrepreneur course introduces you to the process of building a business from the ground up. You will learn how entrepreneurs identify problems, study customer needs, shape brand stories, and create business pitches. This business summer camp for middle school students also covers leadership, product development, and teamwork. As you move through the program, you will build your own business concept and test ideas through practical assignments and a final capstone project. The program gives you space to strengthen communication, planning, and creative thinking skills while exploring careers tied to innovation and entrepreneurship.
5. Duke Pre-College Middle School Courses - Business
Location: Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
Cost: Residential: $6,050 and commuter: $3,950
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions run between June 13 and July 24
Application Deadline: Rolling, but submit by March 1st to ensure your enrollment
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6-8 and must be at least 11 years old (by session start date) or must be at least 13 years old (by session start date) to reside on campus. You must complete one year of middle school before attending with a 3.0+ GPA. International students are welcome to apply.
Through the Duke Pre-College’s Entrepreneurship course, you will be introduced to the process of building and presenting a business idea. You will work through collaborative projects while learning about market research, branding, budgeting, and pitching. During the program, you will brainstorm products, study customer needs, and shape business proposals with classmates. The course ends with a startup pitch where teams present their ideas, target audience, and branding strategy to a panel. You will also learn from Duke faculty, Ph.D. students, guest lecturers, and local industry professionals. Along with business knowledge, you will strengthen communication, leadership, financial thinking, and teamwork skills in an active classroom setting built around practical learning.
6. Rice University Pre-College Program - Entrepreneurship Fintech
Location: Online
Cost: $1,795
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Based on the course you select
Eligibility: For students ages 13 and up
Rice University’s Entrepreneurship Fintech course helps you understand the connection between finance, technology, and business innovation. You will study how startups use digital tools to change banking, investing, payments, and financial services. Through case studies and guided activities, you will examine cryptocurrency, blockchain, crowdfunding, and mobile payment systems. You will also learn how entrepreneurs identify problems, study markets, and shape business models around new technology. Along the way, you will strengthen analytical thinking, communication, and decision-making skills. The online format lets you complete coursework with flexibility while engaging with material designed by Rice University instructors.
7. Girls Crushing It
Location: Online or in-house, based on your program
Cost: $250
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Programs and workshops run throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Girls in the age group 8-18
Girls Crushing It introduces you to entrepreneurship through workshops, mentorship, and business-focused activities created for girls. You will learn how to build ideas, speak with confidence, manage projects, and think creatively about solving problems. The organization also offers programs focused on leadership, financial literacy, marketing, and personal growth. During sessions, you will work alongside mentors, business owners, and other students while practicing communication and collaboration skills. Some programs include pitch competitions, networking events, and community-based activities that encourage teamwork and leadership. The virtual format makes participation flexible and accessible.
8. College and Career Lab by NYU
Location: New York University, New York City, New York
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in the 7th or 8th grade at a New York City public school. Economically disadvantaged students, first-generation college-going students, and students of color are encouraged to apply.
The NYU College and Career Lab is a business summer camp for middle school students that introduces them to business and career exploration through workshops, lectures, and experiential learning activities. During the program, you will study subjects connected to economics, accounting, marketing, entrepreneurship, and technology while learning how these fields connect to real careers. You will also meet NYU faculty, students, alumni, and industry professionals who share insights about college and professional pathways. The program encourages collaboration and helps you build networking, self-advocacy, and identity development skills. Alongside summer coursework, you can also continue learning through Practice Labs held during the academic year. The combination of career exposure and guided learning makes the experience engaging and practical.
9. Online Leadership Intensive by Northwestern
Location: Online
Cost: $700; financial aid available for qualified students
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 10 - July 1
Application Deadline: 2 weeks before the start date to avail financial aid
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 - 11
In Northwestern CTD’s Online Leadership Intensive, you will study leadership practices, examine your personal strengths, and learn how leaders work across business, government, and nonprofit fields. You will join weekly live online class sessions and complete independent coursework focused on leadership theories, current events, and problem-solving. This business summer camp for middle school students includes team-building activities, guided discussions, and assignments to strengthen communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills. You will also hear from guest speakers and meet community organizations online to learn about socially responsible leadership. Courses use a pre-college level curriculum that encourages reflection, goal-setting, and active participation while helping you build confidence as a leader.
10. Boston Leadership Institute - Junior Shark Tank
Location: Gann/Bentley, Waltham
Cost: Tuition: $699
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 6th-8th graders
At Boston Leadership Institute’s Junior Shark Tank program, you will develop and pitch your own business idea in a Shark Tank-style setting. You will work on business plans, presentations, and product concepts while learning skills in marketing, accounting, finance, and fundraising. Throughout the week in this business summer camp for middle school students, you will practice public speaking and learn how products move from idea to production. You will also prepare a presentation for a panel of “investors,” giving you experience explaining and defending your ideas. Classes are hands-on and discussion-based, with small group settings that encourage collaboration and feedback. The program provides practical exposure to entrepreneurship while helping you build communication and problem-solving skills.
11. Introduction to Innovation and Entrepreneurship by University of California, Berkeley
Location: UC Berkeley, California
Cost: $790 ($225 with full financial aid)
Cohort Size: 20 to 24 students
Dates: June 22–July 29; June 23–July 31
Application Deadline: Early deadline: February 25, standard deadline: March 23, extended deadline (rolling admissions): May 29
Eligibility: Grades 7-11
Through this business summer camp for middle school students, you are introduced to the foundations of business creation and entrepreneurial thinking through an advanced summer course on the Berkeley campus. You will study how ideas become products and explore the decisions involved in launching and managing new ventures. Class discussions and collaborative activities encourage you to examine innovation, markets, and problem-solving from different perspectives. The course is part of ATDP’s Secondary Division, where classes are taught at an advanced or honors high school level. You will also learn alongside motivated peers with similar interests, creating a strong academic environment that supports discussion, teamwork, and independent thinking throughout the program.
12. Youth Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
Location: Hybrid. In-person at the Dallas College Pleasant Grove Center, Dallas, Texas
Cost: Not specified
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 9 - July 18 (In-person from June 9-13 and July 14-18)
Application Deadline: May 23
Eligibility: 7th–10th graders
Millennial Education’s Youth Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is a six-week hybrid program where you will build business knowledge through workshops, activities, mentoring, and field trips. You will learn how entrepreneurs develop ideas, manage finances, market products, and run small businesses. Weekly sessions cover banking, budgeting, investments, product development, social media marketing, and public speaking. You will also meet entrepreneurs during open discussions and practice pitching ideas through investor role-play activities. Toward the end of this business summer camp for middle school students, you will prepare for a live Business Fair where you present your venture and customer engagement strategies. The program combines hands-on learning with collaboration and helps you strengthen leadership, communication, and creative thinking skills.
13. Camp BizSmart
Location: In-person
Cost: $2,175–$2,495
Cohort Size: 30 seats
Dates: 10 days in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Age 11-15
At Camp BizSmart, you will spend 10 days working in teams to solve actual business problems presented by CEOs of hot Silicon Valley companies. You will brainstorm ideas, study customer needs, and build solutions with guidance from industry experts who will mentor your group throughout the program. Daily activities focus on entrepreneurship, teamwork, communication, leadership, and creative thinking. You will also learn how businesses evaluate products, branding, and market strategy in a collaborative setting. At the end of the business summer camp for middle school students, you will present and defend your team’s solutions before a panel of venture capital and angel investors. The experience mirrors the pace and structure of real startup environments.
14. Entrepreneurship: Financial Literacy
Location: University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Cost: $374
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 - July 17
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Incoming 6th- 8th grade students
At UMBC’s Summer Enrichment Academy, you will study personal finance and entrepreneurship through practical projects and group activities. Through this business summer camp for middle school students, you will create a personal budget, learn how to manage money, and examine the basics of building wealth and avoiding debt. You will also develop and present your own business plan, which strengthens your communication and critical-thinking skills. The program includes challenges such as a “Shark Tank” style activity and a restaurant challenge. Classes are led by UMBC instructors and industry professionals in a college-style setting. At the end of the session, you will showcase your work during a closing ceremony attended by families.
15. Social Entrepreneurship by The Business of Doing Good
Location: CIC Boston, MA, or The Foundry, Cambridge
Cost: Applies. Financial aid is available
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Boston: Aug 5-9 and Cambridge: August 12-16
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Level 1 consists of students in grades 5, 6, and 7
At The Business of Doing Good, you will build a social entrepreneurship project connected to an issue you care about, from environmental protection to education and technology. Across five days, you will learn idea generation, market research, marketing, financial planning, and presentation skills through workshops and collaborative activities. You will create business outlines, mission statements, and marketing plans while receiving guidance from teachers, entrepreneurs, and mentors. The program also includes sessions with business founders and social innovators who share their experiences. During the final Expo, you will present your venture to an audience and explain how your idea could support positive change in your community and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there free business summer camps for middle school students?
NYU's College and Career Lab is the only fully free program on this list, though it is restricted to students currently enrolled in 7th or 8th grade at a New York City public school. For students who don't qualify, several programs offer significant financial aid: UC Berkeley's Introduction to Innovation and Entrepreneurship drops to $225 with full financial aid, Northwestern's Online Leadership Intensive offers aid for qualified students, and The Business of Doing Good provides financial assistance for its social entrepreneurship program. The Junior Innovator Program also offers need-based financial aid for its virtual mentorship-based curriculum.
2. Which business summer camps for middle schoolers are fully online?
Four programs on this list are entirely virtual. The Junior Innovator Program is a 100% virtual entrepreneurship incubator that pairs you with one-on-one mentorship from professionals at companies like Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey as you build a real project from idea to pitch. Georgetown's Becoming an Entrepreneur and Rice University's Entrepreneurship Fintech are both online courses with flexible session lengths. Northwestern's Online Leadership Intensive combines weekly live classes with independent coursework. All four are accessible regardless of where you live, making them strong options if in-person travel isn't feasible.
3. Which business summer camps accept younger middle schoolers, like 5th or 6th graders?
Five programs on this list accept students as young as 5th or 6th grade. The Business of Doing Good's Level 1 track includes students in grades 5, 6, and 7. IDEA Camp accepts students in grades 6-9. Duke Pre-College's Entrepreneurship course accepts students in grades 6-8 who have completed at least one year of middle school. Boston Leadership Institute's Junior Shark Tank is open to rising 6th-8th graders, and UMBC's Entrepreneurship: Financial Literacy program accepts incoming 6th-8th graders. Most other programs on this list, including UC Berkeley and Camp BizSmart, are restricted to students aged 11 or in 7th grade and above.