12 Entrepreneurship Internships for High School Students in Silicon Valley
For high school students considering business or entrepreneurship, learning by doing is often the most effective way to understand how things work on the ground. Taking up an internship is one of the best ways to get that experience and observe how businesses operate day to day.
Silicon Valley is one of the best places for this kind of learning. Many startups and small companies here take in high school students each year who want to understand how business works from the ground up. You might help a team with research, work on product testing, or sit in meetings where real business choices are made. These tasks show how startups operate day to day and help you understand what parts of entrepreneurship interest you most.
These experiences also help you figure out where your interests fit. You may enjoy research and analytics, or prefer working with people or managing projects. By being part of a business environment early in your career, you understand which areas of entrepreneurship feel right for you.
To help you get started, here are 15 entrepreneurship internships for high school students in Silicon Valley!
15 Entrepreneurship Internships for High School Students in Silicon Valley
1. Bank of America Student Leaders® Program
Cost: Fully paid; includes stipend and all travel expenses
Location: Local nonprofit organizations across the U.S., including Silicon Valley
Dates: 8-week program, including the Student Leaders Summit from July 21–26
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors legally authorized to work; must reside in an eligible community and be available for the full program.
The Bank of America Student Leaders® Program is a nationally recognized, paid summer internship that empowers high school students to lead and serve in their communities. If you’re selected, you’ll work full-time for eight weeks at a local nonprofit, such as those in Silicon Valley, earning a stipend while supporting mission-driven projects that make a real difference. You’ll gain hands-on experience in leadership, financial literacy, project management, and professional communication. One of the program’s highlights is the fully funded Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll meet peers from across the country, attend workshops on civic entrepreneurship, and engage with national business and policy leaders.
2. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies by program; need-based financial aid available
Location: 100% virtual
Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round (summer, fall, winter, and spring)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a selective startup incubator where high school students design, launch, and grow a real business from the ground up. Over four weeks, you’ll work in small teams to move from ideation to execution, building financial models, testing strategies, and creating marketable products. Mentors from leading tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft guide you through every phase, helping you understand the realities of entrepreneurship in fast-paced startup environments like Silicon Valley. The program includes workshops on business fundamentals, customer discovery, and fundraising, as well as opportunities to pitch your startup idea to a panel of industry professionals.
3. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Paid (stipend varies by startup)
Location: Remote, with opportunities to work with Silicon Valley–based startups
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (8–12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling, varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap-year students able to commit 10–20 hours/week
The Ladder Internship Program connects ambitious high school students with paid, project-based internships at fast-growing startups, including several headquartered in Silicon Valley. You’ll work with founders and managers on real-world business challenges in fields such as finance, marketing, consulting, and technology. Throughout the internship, you’ll receive one-on-one mentorship from a Ladder Coach, attend cohort-wide workshops, and develop transferable skills in communication, leadership, and strategic thinking. Ladder alumni and entrepreneurs lead many participating startups from major firms like Google, Meta, and Microsoft.
4. Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship Program
Cost: Paid internship
Location: Various partner company sites across the U.S., including Silicon Valley
Dates: May – August
Application Deadline: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis from September – April
Eligibility: High school seniors and undergraduate students (minimum 3.0 GPA, U.S. work authorization required)
The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship is a paid, full-time program for students interested in careers that link media, technology, and entrepreneurship. As an EBF Fellow, you work with leading media and tech companies in roles related to business, engineering, journalism, public relations, and innovation. You work 35 to 40 hours each week on real projects such as creating digital campaigns, analyzing market data, or helping with product development. The program also offers mentorship, professional training, and access to a national alumni network of nearly 2,000 professionals who provide ongoing career support.
5. Girls Who Start Impact Internship – University Startups
Cost: Free
Location: Remote
Dates: February 24 – April 30
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to all high school students interested in entrepreneurship and social impact
The Girls Who Start Impact Internship, offered in partnership with University Startups, is a virtual work-learn experience designed to introduce students to social entrepreneurship, business development, and leadership. As an intern, you’ll participate in team-based projects simulating real startup environments, develop business ideas, improve your resume, and prepare for college applications. You’ll attend live webinars led by university professors and professionals from innovation hubs like Silicon Valley, exploring topics such as social impact, career readiness, and financial planning. The program uses a points-based leaderboard to encourage active participation through workshops, pitches, and skill-building challenges.
6. CLA High School Internship Program
Cost: Paid internship
Location: Select CLA offices nationwide, including opportunities in the Bay Area
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Varies by location
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–18
The CLA High School Internship Program allows students to learn about business, finance, and professional services through real client projects. During the summer, you work with professionals in accounting, consulting, and wealth management to understand how businesses function. You take part in workshops, mentorship sessions, and team projects that strengthen communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills. With offices across the country, including in Silicon Valley, CLA provides an environment focused on professional growth.
7. Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy
Cost: Paid (stipend provided upon completion)
Location: Bay Area, California (virtual program)
Dates: Thursdays in July, starting July 3 (sessions approximately 2 hours each)
Application Deadline: Typically Late April
Eligibility: Bay Area high school students, ages 15+, who have completed at least 9th grade
The Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy is a paid online program that introduces high school students to how innovation and public policy shape the Bay Area. Named after Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, it focuses on public-sector entrepreneurship through weekly seminars on housing, transportation, environmental justice, and urban planning. You learn from professionals at organizations such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Bay Area Air District, and the Association of Bay Area Governments. These sessions show how major infrastructure and policy projects are planned, funded, and carried out. By the end of the program, you will complete a capstone project on a local issue and receive both a stipend and a certificate of completion.
8. SF YouthWorks Internship Program
Cost: Paid ($19.18–$19.93 per hour)
Location: San Francisco, California
Dates: Summer and School Year Sessions
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Rising juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors who live in or attend school in San Francisco
The SF YouthWorks Internship Program gives you paid work experience in public service as a San Francisco high school student. You work in city departments such as the Public Utilities Commission, SF International Airport, and the Department of Technology, where you learn how government projects and community programs are managed. Along with your internship, you join workshops on communication, leadership, and financial literacy to build practical career skills. You are paired with a city employee mentor and take part in site tours and field visits that connect civic work to social and business goals. After completing the program, you can return as part of the Youth Leadership Team to help plan workshops and mentor new interns.
9. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Cost: $3,080 (plus possible material costs up to $100)
Location: Virtual (live online classes)
Dates: Session One: June 16 - June 27. Session Two: July 07 - July 18
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11 at the time of application
Stanford’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summer Program introduces you to the startup world and business strategy through courses taught by Stanford faculty under the university’s Pre-Collegiate Studies program. Over two weeks, you study customer insight, marketing, product development, and business models with a focus on design thinking and solving real customer needs. You apply what you learn by working on a team startup project that connects classroom concepts to real companies in Silicon Valley. The program also helps you explore career paths and leadership skills that fit your interests. Classes meet online for two hours each weekday, with extra time for office hours and one to two hours of independent work.
10. Youth Membership Program – OPEN Silicon Valley
Cost: $50 annual membership fee
Location: Silicon Valley, California (hybrid events and mentorship sessions)
Dates: Year-round program with ongoing events, workshops, and mentorship sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–18, college undergraduates, and young entrepreneurs under 25
The OPEN Silicon Valley Youth Membership Program offers high school students a chance to learn about technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. As a Youth Member, you gain mentorship from industry professionals and take part in workshops that help you build practical skills. You connect with entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley’s startup community and join networking events, panel discussions, and webinars focused on entrepreneurship, technology, and career growth. Through OPEN’s network, you also get access to internship and job opportunities that help you explore business settings and understand different career paths.
11. GEB Silicon Valley Exchange Program
Cost: $2,000 registration fee (partial scholarships available)
Location: Silicon Valley, California
Dates: May 11 – May 14
Application Deadline: Rolling until spots are filled
Eligibility: High school and university students, gap-year students, or early-stage entrepreneurs with strong English proficiency
The GEB Silicon Valley Exchange Program is a four-day immersive experience that introduces students to the world of innovation and entrepreneurship in the global tech capital. You’ll participate in hands-on workshops in design thinking, ideation, and business modeling, led by mentors from Stanford, Harvard, and MIT. The program includes exclusive visits to Google, Apple, Netflix, Uber, and Stanford University, where you’ll learn how top companies drive creativity and impact. A highlight of the experience is the pitch competition, where you’ll present your business idea to investors and startup founders for feedback and potential funding opportunities. You’ll connect with students from over 25 countries, expand your entrepreneurial network, and earn a Diploma Certificate in Entrepreneurship Education.
12. TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) Silicon Valley Summer Cohort
Cost: $599 (TiE Members) | $699 (Non-Members)
Location: Silicon Valley, California (in-person at TiE office)
Dates: July 14 – July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students and rising eighth-graders
The TiE Young Entrepreneurs Silicon Valley Summer Cohort is a week-long program that helps you learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship through practical sessions. Led by the professor of entrepreneurship at UC Berkeley and other industry experts, the program takes you through each step of building a business in five days. You learn how to shape business ideas, use design thinking, define customer value, study market size, build financial models, and pitch to investors. Each day includes two learning modules, a session with a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, and group work time to apply what you learn. The program ends with final pitch presentations where you share your business idea with a panel of judges.
Image Source - Bank of America