15 Entrepreneurship Programs in NYC for High School Students
If you are a high school student considering a career in entrepreneurship, business, or launching a startup, enrolling in an entrepreneurship program can be an excellent choice. These programs introduce how ideas turn into real ventures. You learn about problem-solving, market research, business models, customer discovery, pitching, and basic finance.
What are entrepreneurship programs in NYC for high school students?
New York City is one of the world’s major centers for startups, business, finance, and media, making it an excellent place to study entrepreneurship. Many programs in NYC connect learning to real market conditions, using case studies, hands-on projects, and founder-led sessions that reflect how businesses operate outside the classroom.
Why consider entrepreneurship programs in NYC for high school students?
Choosing a local entrepreneurship program in NYC can also be a financially smart choice. You avoid travel and housing expenses while still gaining access to respected programs. These programs help you decide whether entrepreneurship is something you want to pursue further in college or beyond. They also strengthen college applications by showing initiative, independent thinking, and early exposure to real-world problem-solving.
If you’re interested in entrepreneurship extracurriculars, check this out, or go here for entrepreneurship summer programs abroad.
Without further ado, here are 15 entrepreneurship programs in NYC for high school students!
15 Entrepreneurship Programs in NYC for High School Students
1. Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
Location: New York University (NYU), New York
Cost: Free
Application deadline: May 15
Dates: July 6 – August 7
Eligibility: Current 8th, 9th, or 10th grade students from NYC
The Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC) program at NYU Tandon School of Engineering is a five-week summer course for high school students that examines business and innovation within an urban context. You will work in teams to study design thinking, prototyping, and entrepreneurship while focusing on challenges commonly faced by cities. You are given a fixed budget to plan projects, allocate resources, and develop workable solutions. The program concludes with a presentation where you share your team’s work and explain your approach. Throughout the course, you strengthen skills in collaboration, communication, and project organization. You also learn how engineering, technology, and business concepts connect when addressing urban problems.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a start-up boot camp created by entrepreneurs with academic and industry experience. In the program, you work toward developing a start-up concept with a focus on creating a sustainable revenue model and addressing a real-world problem. You receive guidance from mentors who have professional backgrounds in technology and business, including individuals with experience at companies such as Google, Microsoft, and X. Alongside building your start-up, you take part in structured sessions covering business fundamentals and idea development. The program also includes workshops focused on skill building, case studies, and panel discussions that examine different approaches to launching and growing a business. Overall, it provides you with a structured environment to explore both theoretical concepts and practical frameworks related to entrepreneurship while still in high school. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. Bank of America Student Leaders
Location: Local nonprofit placements across the U.S., including in NY + a summit in Washington, D.C.
Cost: No cost. Stipend paid
Application deadline: January 15
Dates: June – August; eight-week program including the Student Leaders Summit: July 21 – 26
Eligibility: High school seniors and juniors who are eligible to work in the U.S
This eight-week paid summer internship is open to high school juniors and seniors who are interested in gaining work experience while contributing to their communities. During the program, you are placed with a local nonprofit organization and assist with areas such as project coordination, communications, finance, and day-to-day operations. The internship emphasizes developing professional skills, including time management, teamwork, and workplace communication. You also participate in a Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you connect with students from across the country and learn from civic and community leaders. The program introduces you to how public policy and social initiatives influence community-based work.
4. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Full financial aid available
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10–20 hours/week, for 8–12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective internship program designed for high school students who are interested in gaining experience at start-up companies. In the program, you are placed with a growing start-up where you work as an intern on real projects that support the company’s goals. The start-ups span a wide range of industries, including technology, AI and machine learning, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. Many of these companies are early-stage but well-funded, and their founders often have prior experience building companies or working in established tech firms. Throughout the internship, you collaborate closely with your manager and receive guidance from a Ladder Coach to develop professional skills and stay on track. At the end of the program, you present your work to the company, giving you experience communicating your contributions in a professional setting.
5. Bossgirls Summer Program
Location: The City College of New York (CCNY), New York
Cost: None
Application deadline: February 28
Dates: June 29 – July 30
Eligibility: Current 9th-12th-grade girls and nonbinary students who can commit to the full duration of the program
The Bossgirls Summer Program at the City College of New York is a five-week program for high school girls and nonbinary students that introduces entrepreneurship through hands-on learning. In the program, you work on developing a business idea by conducting market research, creating prototypes, and thinking through branding and messaging. These activities are designed to help you understand how entrepreneurial ideas move from concept to presentation. You also receive mentorship from professionals with experience in entrepreneurship and related fields, giving you insight into possible career paths. Throughout the program, you work with peers, refine your ideas, and practice approaching business challenges from a user-focused perspective.
6. Columbia University’s Pre-college Programs — Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Changing the World via Venture Creation
Location: New York City, New York
Cost: Online (2 Weeks) - $3,960; Commuter (3 Weeks) - $6,380; Residential (3 Weeks) - $12,154
Application Deadline: February 3 (Priority); Late April (Final)
Dates: Multiple 2 and 3-week sessions for summer offered between June 29 and July 31. Spring, fall, and winter sessions are also offered
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 and recent high school graduates
Columbia’s pre-college program includes several courses related to business, economics, and entrepreneurship that allow you to explore different areas of the field. You can choose from classes that introduce topics such as business development, market research, and analytical methods. If you are particularly interested in entrepreneurship, the Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Changing the World via Venture Creation course focuses on how new ventures are planned and evaluated. In this course, you examine business models, customer discovery, and product–market fit as part of the venture creation process. You refine your ideas through feedback from instructors and classmates while learning key entrepreneurship concepts and terminology. The course emphasizes structured research and decision-making tools that are directly relevant to developing and evaluating new business ideas.
7. Young Entrepreneurs Academy — New York City Chapter (YEA!)
Location: Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, NY (In-person)
Cost: Tuition-based, but full scholarships are widely available through the Chamber
Application Deadline: Typically October/November (for the December start)
Program Dates: December – April (Academic year; 16 weeks)
Eligibility: High school students (Grades 9–12) who are residents of New York City
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a program that guides high school students through the steps involved in launching a business or nonprofit. In the program, you start by developing an idea and then work on creating a formal business plan. You learn about registering a venture and managing early operations, including making initial sales. The experience includes presenting your plan to a panel that reviews student ventures and offers feedback, with some participants qualifying for startup funding. Throughout the program, you develop skills related to budgeting, communication, and leadership.
8. Ladders for Leaders Summer Internship Program
Location: Various corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies across NYC
Cost: Free to participate. Paid internship (minimum $16.50/hour; some employers pay more).
Application Deadline: January 16
Dates: 6-week internship during July and August (plus ~30 hours of spring training)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors aged 16–24 who are NYC residents with prior work experience (paid or volunteer) and legal work authorization
Ladders for Leaders offers high school and college students the opportunity to participate in paid professional summer internships with leading corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies across New York City. You are matched with an internship placement based on your background, interests, and the specific opportunities available at partner organizations. Before beginning your internship, you receive 30 hours of comprehensive pre-employment training that covers resume writing, cover letter development, interview preparation, workplace readiness skills, and professional business etiquette. Throughout the six-week paid internship, you gain hands-on experience in your field of choice while developing essential professional skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
9. Fordham University – Exploring Entrepreneurship
Location: Fordham University, New York (Rose Hill Campus)
Cost: $1,950 (with $150 application deposit)
Application deadline: Rolling (typically early to mid-April)
Dates: June 22 – 26
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Fordham's Gabelli School of Business invites rising high school juniors and seniors to explore entrepreneurship at the Foundry, Fordham's Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. During the program, you work with other students to identify a problem, develop a business idea, and create a pitch presentation. You will virtually visit a startup incubator to gain exposure to what the startup environment looks like in practice and learn from real entrepreneurs and startup experts. You will also attend workshops led by experienced business professionals and participate in interactive sessions that cover topics such as ideation, market research, and business planning. The week culminates with a pitch competition where you present your business idea to a panel of startup experts.
10. Pace University – Leadership and Entrepreneurship Summer Program
Location: Pace University, New York City (Manhattan and Brooklyn campuses available)
Cost: $890 for the 2-week course (housing is optional and separate)
Application deadline: December 8 for winter (check website for other deadlines)
Dates: Vary by the session. Winter: January 5–16
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and up; international students welcome
Pace University's English Language Institute offers a Leadership and Entrepreneurship Summer Program designed for students who want to improve their business and leadership skills in an exciting New York City context. The two-week, in-person program combines business fundamentals with practical leadership training and uses NYC's iconic business locations as a living classroom. Throughout the program, you learn business basics, including identifying qualities of strong leaders, entrepreneurship principles, team building, and business management. The program includes a special NYC walking tour that explores business history and modern-day operations at locations like Wall Street, Federal Hall, the New York Stock Exchange, and the South Street Seaport.
11. Athena Summer Innovation Institute
Location: Barnard College, New York City, NY
Cost: Residential: $10,771; Commuter: $8,160 (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: June 29 – July 17
Eligibility: Rising female sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Athena Summer Innovation Institute is a summer program focused on entrepreneurship and project development. In the program, you work in teams to create a startup, nonprofit, or advocacy initiative, moving from initial ideas to research, branding, and basic financial planning. The program emphasizes collaboration and thoughtful decision-making as you develop a project aimed at addressing a real-world issue. At the end, you present your project in a final pitch and receive feedback on the clarity and feasibility of your idea.
12. New York Institute of Finance Young Finance Scholar (YFS) Accelerated Program
Location: Virtual (live; in-person at NY campus available)
Cost: $1,090
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18
The Young Finance Scholar Accelerated Program is a live, online summer course that gives you an intensive introduction to finance and business over several weeks. In the program, you attend classes on topics such as market structures, economic principles, and the impact of technology on finance, including areas like FinTech. In addition to lectures, you work on a group project that allows you to apply the concepts you are learning in a practical setting. At the conclusion of the program, you receive a certificate of completion, can request a reference letter, and have the opportunity to continue your involvement through volunteer activities with the Global PAI Project.
13. Becoming an Entrepreneur: An Inside Look at Innovation — Georgetown Pre-College Online
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895
Application Deadline: Multiple upcoming start dates
Dates: 1‑week intensives, 2‑week sessions, and 4‑week sessions (various start dates)
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
In this online course, you learn what goes into launching a business by defining a problem, identifying target customers, crafting a product story, and practicing leadership behaviors that support testing and refining ideas. You examine how entrepreneurs “fail forward,” studying how businesses pivot and innovate when ideas do not initially succeed. Course modules introduce different business models, help you outline components of your own venture, and guide you in formulating a launch plan and business pitch. A final capstone project asks you to present your business idea in a video addressing the venture’s story, value proposition, customers, and revenue model. Throughout the course, you receive mentoring from Georgetown undergraduates who provide feedback on assignments and support your capstone preparation.
14. UC San Diego’s BRIDGE (Business Research for Innovation, Design, Growth, and Entrepreneurship)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,115
Application Deadline: June 26
Dates: July 6 – 23
Eligibility: Open to current high school students entering grades 9–12
BRIDGE is an online program designed to introduce high school students to entrepreneurship, business innovation, and venture development. In the course, you engage with case studies, simulations, and instructor-led sessions to understand how new businesses are created and managed. You work on developing a comprehensive business proposal and participate in exercises that reflect real-world decision-making in early-stage companies. As part of the program, you manage a virtual venture, navigating challenges like scaling and finding product-market fit. Completing the course earns you three pre-college academic credits while providing hands-on experience in business planning and analysis.
15. NSLC’s Business & Entrepreneurship High School Summer Program
Location: Multiple locations, including Columbia University in NYC
Cost: $4,495 for Columbia’s residential program
Application Deadline: NSLC will continue to accept applications if space is available in a program or on a program’s waitlist. The online enrollment application will display all current availability.
Dates: Multiple 9-day sessions are offered at various locations. July 8 — 16; July 20 — 28 for Columbia
Eligibility: Students must be between the ages of 14–18 and have completed at least one year of high school (students may attend NSLC through the summer following high school graduation)
At the NSLC on Business & Entrepreneurship, you work with a team to design a product or service and consider how it could be positioned in the market. The program guides you through building a brand concept and preparing a business pitch, which you present to a mock investor panel for feedback. You spend time analyzing competitors, discussing growth strategies, and evaluating how businesses differentiate themselves. The curriculum also introduces you to creating a basic online presence as part of communicating a business idea. Along the way, you practice professional communication skills such as public speaking and networking.
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