LeanGap—Is It Worth It for High School Students Interested in Business

Entrepreneurship is a crucial skill to develop in high school, especially if you're considering pursuing a business degree at the undergraduate level or looking to work on a business idea! 

Entrepreneurship requires learning by doing, which is quite different from how you’d learn other subjects in high school. One way to do so is by applying to a business program that lets you work on your own entrepreneurial venture. They can help you experience real entrepreneurship, helping you build creativity, innovation, and real-world problem-solving skills. 

One such program in the market is Leangap, a summer initiative that claims to help students create and sell a product from scratch. 

If you’re considering launching a startup, venturing into business, or aiming for a career in venture capital, startup incubator programs like Leangap can offer a solid experience if done well. But is it the right fit for you? Let’s dive into what Leangap offers and evaluate its pros and cons.

What is the Leangap summer program? How is it structured?

Leangap started as a four-week summer program open to students from across the world. The program claims to help students develop and launch a startup with real-world impact in one summer.

The program is structured into four key phases:

1. Validation: The first week focuses on brainstorming individual ideas, narrowing them down, and forming teams. The goal is to finalize a strong concept and create an initial proof of concept.

2. Creation: The second week involves rapid development, where teams work on building a minimum viable product (MVP) with mentor guidance and conduct beta testing with actual users.

3. Traction: Using customer feedback, teams refine their MVP, officially register their startup, and begin securing sales.

4. Pitching: The final week culminates in a demo day, during which teams pitch their startup to a panel of investors, CEOs, and industry leaders. Companies are evaluated based on product-market fit, market size, traction, and pitch quality.

Aside from the pitching phase, you should know that there are no mock presentations or simulations: you will work on bringing your business to life and earning revenue. While there are lectures, Leangap resembles a startup incubator more closely than a conventional pre-college program. 

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a more theoretical introduction to entrepreneurship, consider pre-college programs in business/entrepreneurship!

How much does LeanGap cost? What are the dates and deadlines?

Here’s a quick overview of Leangap’s program dates, costs, and overall structure:

Duration: 4 weeks (both residential and virtual)

Program Dates:

• Campus: July 13 – August 9

• Virtual: June 16 – July 11

Cohort Size: 40 students per session

Location: San Francisco (hosted at UC Berkeley)/Virtual

Tuition Fees:

• Campus: $9,950

• Virtual: $6,450

How much time do I need to commit to the program?

Sessions begin at 9 AM, with the first half of the day dedicated to lectures and guest speakers. The remainder is spent working on projects. Given the intensive nature of the program, expect to put in several hours daily.

Who is eligible for Leangap?

Leangap is open to all high schoolers interested in entrepreneurship. All you need to apply is to fill out the Leangap application – you don’t need to submit any transcripts, recommendation letters, or essays. Nor do you need prior business or coding experience to apply, though these are helpful. 

The application focuses on your interests, drive, and whether you’re a good fit for the program. The application process is quite selective since the cohort is limited to 40 students.

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a startup incubator that offers rigorous 1:1 mentorship, consider programs like the Young Founders Lab!

Is LeanGap legit? Who is it for?

Leangap can be a great choice if you’re interested in entrepreneurship and eager to gain experience in product development, innovation, and business execution, and are looking for a pathway to a fully-functioning startup of your own. While it claims to be beginner-friendly, it may help to have some background knowledge of your product/business theories before you apply! 

Pros and Cons of Leangap

If you’re unsure whether Leangap is the right fit for you, here’s a breakdown of its advantages and drawbacks:

Pros:

1. It offers practical experience in entrepreneurship: Leangap emphasizes practical, hands-on skills such as prototyping, customer research, product iteration, sales strategy, and business registration.

2. You will experience product development and sales: Unlike many programs that stop at ideation, Leangap will push you to create a product and make initial sales, and does a decent job at providing a real-world business experience.

3. It may be a good way to boost your college admissions: 

Cons:

1. High cost: Without financial aid, Leangap’s tuition is among the most expensive entrepreneurship programs available, making affordability a concern.

2. Intensive workload: The program is rigorous and requires full commitment. The intensity may be overwhelming if you’re not dedicated to developing a business.

3. Lack of personalized mentorship: The program has a cohort size of 40 students, and doesn’t necessarily offer 1:1 mentorship, which may be a make-or-break factor if you’re just starting out with your entrepreneurial venture!

4. It will not guarantee you a spot at business school: While participating in the program alone won’t help you secure a spot at a top business school, working on your startup might! This is particularly true for business and entrepreneurship-related programs that prioritize high commitment and drive in their applicants.

5. It is paid, and thus, not prestigious: The program’s paid nature does offset a lot of its selectivity, and if you’re looking for a prestigious addition to your resume as opposed to a launchpad for your business, consider free business programs or internships!

Is Leangap worth it?

Based on reviews from past participants, Leangap appears to be a solid experience—especially if you're focused on building and launching a product in a cohort setting. It’s fast-paced, hands-on, and outcome-driven. That said, it may not be for everyone. Its cost, intensity, and group-based mentorship model might not suit students looking for a more personalized experience or those just beginning their entrepreneurial journey.

If you're seeking an alternative that offers a similarly rigorous experience but with more tailored mentorship, a longer runway to build, and direct access to seasoned founders, you might want to explore the Young Founders Lab.

The Young Founders Lab is a real-world startup incubator founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. Unlike other programs, YFL places a strong emphasis on 1:1 mentorship, revenue generation, and sustainable problem-solving. Whether you're refining an idea you started in another program or just getting started, YFL provides the guidance, network, and structure to help you grow a real company while still in high school.

You can access the application link here!