15 Entrepreneurship Summer Programs in Illinois for High School Students
If you’re a high school student in Illinois with even a rough business idea in your head, summer is one of the few times you can actually try building something around it. Entrepreneurship programs give you space to test ideas, make mistakes, and see what it takes to turn a concept into something real.
What do entrepreneurship summer programs in Illinois involve?
These programs usually focus on building and refining ideas from scratch. You might work on identifying problems, conducting market research, developing a business plan, and pitching your idea to a panel. Many programs include team projects, mentorship, and exposure to real startup thinking, where you learn how decisions are made under uncertainty.
Why should you attend an entrepreneurship program in high school?
They help you move from “I have an idea” to actually working on it. You begin to understand how businesses are built, what challenges come up early, and whether you enjoy solving those problems. It also adds strong, practical experience to your profile, especially if you plan to apply to business or economics programs later.
For adjacent opportunities, you can have a look at business summer programs in Illinois.
To help you get started, here are 15 entrepreneurship summer programs in Illinois for high school students!
15 Entrepreneurship Summer Programs in Illinois for High School Students
1. UChicago Summer Young Innovators Program
Location: University of Chicago; includes an off-campus visit to Invenergy's Chicago headquarters, Chicago, IL
Cost: $2,500; need-based financial aid available; full program fee waiver for household income at or below $125,000; full fee waiver plus domestic round-trip travel covered for household income at or below $60,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 19–24
Application Deadline: Typically Mid-March
Eligibility: Current 9th or 10th grade students; must be at least 14 years old; complete application requires a transcript, two short essays (500 words and 300 words), a letter of recommendation, a writing sample, an application fee, and a parent confirmation form
UChicago’s Summer Young Innovators Program focuses on building solutions around sustainability using an entrepreneurial approach. During the program, you work on developing an idea that improves some aspect of a city and turn it into a structured pitch. You engage in discussions and panels with professionals working in areas like renewable energy and venture-backed innovation. The program also includes a visit to a company site, where you see how these ideas translate into real operations. Alongside this, you explore how fields like climate science and entrepreneurship connect in practice. The outcome is a presentation of your solution to a panel, where your idea is evaluated.
2. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a complex problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. TALENT Ignite Summer Entrepreneurship Program
Location: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, IL
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer (Exact dates not specified)
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: 7th through 9th grade students; interest in entrepreneurship
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy’s TALENT Ignite program introduces you to entrepreneurship through a mix of lessons and hands-on activities. You start by learning core ideas like market research, branding, and how to shape a product concept. As the program progresses, you work on your own idea and refine it step by step. The sessions are interactive, so you are not just listening but actively building something. You also learn how to present your idea clearly and structure it as a business pitch. The program ends with a pitch competition where you present your venture to experienced entrepreneurs.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
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 start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. Apply now!
5. University of Illinois Emerging Business Leaders
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, Champaign, IL
Cost: $400 program fee; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective;
Dates: One-week residential program during the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified; application opened March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (incoming 12th graders); minimum GPA of 3.2/4.0; demonstrated leadership through extracurricular, volunteer, or work experience; program is specifically designed for under-resourced students with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences
The University of Illinois’ Emerging Business Leaders program runs as a short residential experience where you explore what it takes to run and manage a business. During the week, you attend sessions led by faculty and take part in discussions around different business areas. You also work on group projects that require you to solve business-related problems. The program includes interaction with professionals and peers, which gives you a broader view of business pathways. There is also a focus on leadership and how it applies in real situations.
6. UChicago Summer Business and Entrepreneurship
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $5,890; need-based financial aid available; must indicate financial aid need before submitting application
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15–25
Application Deadline: Not specified; applications open in early January
Eligibility: Current 9th, 10th, or 11th grade students; complete application requires a transcript, two short essays, a letter of recommendation, a writing sample, an application fee, and a parent confirmation form
UChicago’s Business and Entrepreneurship program introduces you to core areas like finance, economics, and business strategy through academic sessions. You learn through lectures, discussions, and assigned readings led by university faculty. The program also includes projects where you apply what you learn to business-related problems. You explore different career paths through field visits and interactions with professionals working in the city. Career counseling sessions help you understand what different roles involve.
7. Illini Summer Academies Gies Business Academy
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Bousfield Hall, Champaign, IL
Cost: $500; base fee covers campus housing, meals, ISA t-shirt, and supplies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 21–25
Application Deadline: April 17
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12 in fall; Illinois residents prioritized; 4-H membership not required
The Gies Business Academy at the University of Illinois focuses on introducing you to different parts of business through activities and projects. You work through topics like branding, starting a business, and managing money while also using data and technology. The program is hands-on, so you learn by doing rather than just attending sessions. Mentors from the university and community guide you through different exercises. Alongside business concepts, there is a focus on leadership and how you work within a team.
8. Young Entrepreneur Program
Location: Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL
Cost: Free to participate; cash prizes at pitch competition
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Workshops and mentoring sessions between February and May, Pitch competition and evaluation in May
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to all Champaign area high school students
The Young Entrepreneur Programme is designed for students looking to learn more about entrepreneurship and build their own business. The program takes place over three months, where you'll cover fundamental entrepreneurship concepts and how to turn your ideas into a viable business. Throughout the process of building your business, you will receive advice and guidance from mentors. Various workshops will take you through every step, including developing your idea, building a business plan, working on product development, and pitching your idea to investors. You'll also have the opportunity to win seed money by pitching your business idea to local leaders at the end of the programme.
9. Driehaus Summer Business Institute
Location: DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Cost: $1,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort of 20 students
Dates: One-week program in the summer
Application Deadline: Early-bird deadline April 3
Eligibility: Current high school students who will have sophomore, junior, or senior status in the fall; interest in business disciplines, including finance, marketing, and accounting
DePaul University’s Driehaus Summer Business Institute gives you a short introduction to multiple business areas through lectures and project work. You learn from university professors who cover topics like finance, marketing, accounting, and management. The sessions are structured to give you a broad understanding rather than focusing on one area. You also work in teams to develop a business idea that you present at the end. This project requires you to apply what you learn during the week. The program also touches on industries like hospitality and sports management.
10. Chicago State University Summer Business Entrepreneurs Program
Location: Chicago State University, Chicago, IL
Cost: $100
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 - July 2
Application Deadline: June 22
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 - 12
Chicago State University’s program introduces you to entrepreneurship through collaborative projects and classroom sessions. You work with peers to understand how businesses are built and managed. The program covers areas like marketing, finance, and leadership through guided activities. You also meet professionals who share how these concepts apply in real work settings. The structure is short, so the focus stays on covering the basics clearly. Through projects, you begin to see how different parts of a business connect.
11. CEO Edwardsville
Location: Local Edwardsville-area businesses (program never meets in a classroom), Edwardsville, IL
Cost: Free to students; entirely funded by area business investors
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; current cohort has 26 students
Dates: Full school year, August through spring; class meets 90 minutes daily at local businesses; annual trade show held each spring
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school juniors and/or seniors from Edwardsville High School, Father McGivney Catholic High School, or Metro-East Lutheran High School; GPA is not a factor; essay and school recommendation forms required
CEO Edwardsville runs across the school year and takes place inside local businesses rather than classrooms. You work on building your own business while also learning how companies operate through site visits. The program involves developing a business idea, planning it out, and working towards securing funding. You also handle areas like marketing, operations, and finances as part of your project. Mentors and guest speakers guide you and share their experience. The program ends with a trade show where you present your business to the public.
12. Northwestern Pre-college Business: Strategies, Innovation, and Success
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895; need-based scholarships available for students who demonstrate high potential and an inability to pay
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Rolling; 2-week and 4-week session options
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students ages 13 and up; no transcripts or letters of recommendation required
Northwestern’s pre-college program focuses on how businesses develop strategies across areas like marketing, sales, and operations. You learn through examples and sessions led by professionals who explain how companies position their products. The course also covers topics like supply chains, product management, and market fit. Towards the end, you work on a capstone project where you analyze a company and its strategy. You then present your findings and suggest improvements. The program is offered in flexible formats, allowing you to choose the duration.
13. Junior Achievement of Central Illinois Be Entrepreneurial
Location: Delivered in participating classrooms across Central Illinois, IL
Cost: Free to students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: open to all students in participating classrooms
Dates: Scheduled by the teacher in coordination with JA; 6 sessions per module; year-round availability
Application Deadline: Not applicable
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12; access is through a participating teacher or school; students completing all three modules may compete in the JA Social Innovation Challenge national competition
The Junior Achievement offers Be Entrepreneurial, a program that focuses on the mindsets and skills needed to build a business and to add value to any organization. During the program, you will focus on developing skills such as design thinking, problem-solving, and business ideation. There's also a business planning module where you learn how to create a lean business plan and explore topics like competitive advantage, course structure, variable costs, while learning how to test and validate your ideas. You can also compete in Junior Achievement’s Social Innovation Challenge, where you get to share innovative ideas focused on social impact.
14. Illinois Tech DevUp Scholars Program
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free to students (full scholarship)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 3-year program beginning the summer before 10th grade and continuing through high school graduation; monthly activities at Illinois Tech and at students' home schools; summer programs each year
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen (program begins sophomore year); must be nominated by a teacher, counselor, or administrator at a partner school; demonstrated leadership, curiosity, and interest in STEM or humanities required
Illinois Tech’s DevUp Scholars Program runs over multiple years and focuses on combining entrepreneurship with STEM and social impact. You work on building ideas that address community issues while learning how ventures are structured. The program includes mentorship, academic planning, and exposure to different fields through events and sessions. You also receive support for college preparation, including standardized tests and applications. The structure is long-term, so you revisit concepts and build on them over time. The focus remains on developing both technical and entrepreneurial skills together.
15. University of Illinois Chicago Entrepreneurship for Youth with Disabilities
Location: Implemented at participating schools or organizations; developed at the UIC Department of Disability and Human Development, Chicago, IL.
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open-access curriculum
Dates: Implemented by educators on a flexible schedule
Application Deadline: Not applicable
Eligibility: Youth and young adults with and without disabilities; designed specifically to support self-employment pathways for people with disabilities; implemented through schools, vocational rehabilitation programs, or community organizations
UIC’s Entrepreneurship for Youth with Disabilities provides a structured curriculum that guides you through building a business step by step. You work on developing an idea, writing a business plan, and preparing to pitch it. The program includes resources that explain each stage clearly, so you can follow along at your own pace. It also covers practical areas like taxes, benefits, and support systems relevant to self-employment. The curriculum is flexible and can be delivered through schools or organizations. There are also resources available for families who are supporting participants through the process.
Luke is a two-time founder, a graduate of Stanford University, where he earned a B.A. in comparative studies, and the Managing Director at the Young Founders Lab.