10 Ivy League Entrepreneurship Summer Programs for High School Students
If you're a high school student serious about business or entrepreneurship, summer is a great time to go beyond the classroom. One way to do that is by participating in an Ivy League entrepreneurship program.
Participating in a structured entrepreneurship program helps you develop a stronger foundation in key areas like finance, marketing, management, and product development.
Why should I apply to an Ivy League entrepreneurship summer program as a high schooler?
The selective nature of Ivy League programs makes them strong additions to your résumé. Participating shows that you’re not only interested in entrepreneurship but capable of thriving in a challenging academic setting. You’ll join a community of driven students from across the world, gain mentorship from people in the field, and leave with a stronger sense of direction.
These programs are also a smart move if you're considering applying to an Ivy League school for undergrad. Spending a few weeks on campus (or participating online with Ivy faculty and mentors) gives you a firsthand look at the university’s culture, academic style, and expectations. You’ll get to see how you fit into that environment, which can help clarify whether a particular Ivy League school should be on your college list.
How did we identify the best Ivy League entrepreneurship programs for high school students?
To create this list, we evaluated programs based on:
Rigorous curriculum: Programs that combine classroom learning with hands-on entrepreneurial projects.
Selectivity: Programs that are highly competitive, with a low acceptance rate, making them prestigious and respected by college admissions offices.
Practical exposure: Opportunities for mentorship, startup internships, or venture pitch competitions as part of the experience.
Networking potential: Access to Ivy League faculty, successful entrepreneurs, investors, and an inspiring peer group.
Overall value: Programs that offer significant academic, personal, and career development in a condensed summer format.
Ready to dive in? Here’s a curated list of the 10 best Ivy League entrepreneurship programs for high school students that combine academic rigor, professional experience, and networking opportunities.
The course introduces high school students to the intersection of business innovation and social impact. It helps you explore how entrepreneurial thinking can be applied to address global challenges such as sustainability, climate resilience, and community development. Through a mix of case studies, collaborative projects, debates, and strategic analysis, you’ll learn how to create business solutions that drive both profit and positive change. Key topics include designing ventures for the "triple bottom line" (people, planet, and profit) and striking a balance between fiscal responsibility and social equity. You will work on problems and develop actionable ideas that aim for lasting social impact.
Location: Columbia University, New York City (in-person)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is moderately selective. Information on the size of the application pool and exact cohort size is not available.
Cost: $5,225. Financial aid is available based on need.
Dates: Session A: June 30 to July 18 | Session B: July 22 to August 8
Application Deadline: Priority deadline: February 1; final deadline: March 15. Applications are currently accepted on a space-available basis. Early application is strongly encouraged.
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 through 12. No prior business experience is required.
2. Harvard University – Pre-College Program (Business and Leadership Courses)
Harvard University's Pre-College Program offers high school students the opportunity to take college-level coursework while experiencing life on Harvard’s campus. If you choose a course in the Business and Leadership category, you’ll explore concepts like business strategy, leadership development, negotiation, or entrepreneurship through daily seminars. With small class sizes averaging 15 students, personalized instruction, and academic debates, you’ll sharpen critical thinking, public speaking, and analytical skills. The program also offers access to college readiness workshops, panels featuring admissions officers, and social activities.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts (in-person residential)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is highly selective. Information on the size of the application pool and exact cohort size is not available.
Cost: $5,800 for a two-week session. Limited need-based financial aid is available.
Dates: Session I: June 22 to July 3 | Session II: July 6 to July 18 | Session III: July 20 to August 1
Application Deadline: January 8 (early), February 12 (regular), and April 9 (late, space-available).
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who will be at least 16 years old by June 21.
3. Columbia University – Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Changing the World via Venture Creation
Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Changing the World via Venture Creation offers high school students experience in building a business or social enterprise from scratch. Guided by instructors, you will move step-by-step through the startup process—from ideation, business modeling, and market validation to branding, financing, and pitching. The course blends interactive lectures, case studies, and structured peer activities, culminating in the creation of a full venture plan, investor pitch, website, and crowdfunding video. Throughout the program, you will receive feedback to refine your business idea and build a launch-ready venture plan.
Location: Columbia University, New York City (in-person) or Online
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is moderately selective. Information on the size of the application pool and exact cohort size is not available.
Cost: $5,225 for in-person sessions; $3,540 for online sessions. Financial aid is available based on need.
Dates: Session A (In-person): June 30 to July 18 | Session B (In-person): July 22 to August 8 | Session A (Online): July 7 to July 18 | Session B (Online): July 21 to August 1
Application Deadline: Priority deadline: February 1; final deadline: March 15. Applications are currently accepted on a space-available basis. Early application is strongly encouraged.
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 through 12. No prior business coursework is required.
4. Leadership in the Business World (LBW) – Wharton, University of Pennsylvania
Leadership in the Business World (LBW) is a selective summer program designed to introduce high school students to Wharton's undergraduate business education and strengthen their leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. Over three weeks, you’ll take classes with Wharton professors, attend guest speaker sessions with business leaders, and participate in business simulations and case studies. You will also research major industries, such as finance, retail, and entrepreneurship, while working on a capstone group project. The program emphasizes collaboration and strategic thinking, enabling you to build a solid foundation in organizational leadership. Participants earn a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion and gain exposure to the Wharton network.
Location: Philadelphia, USA (University of Pennsylvania campus)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~120 students per session
Cost: $11,399; limited need-based scholarships available
Dates: June 8–28, June 29–July 19, or July 20–August 9
Application Deadline: Priority deadline: January 29; Final deadline: April 2
Eligibility: Current 11th graders (rising seniors) with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA; international students welcome
5.Undergraduate Ventures-TECH Summer Program (HUVTSP)
The Harvard Undergraduate Ventures-TECH Summer Program (HUVTSP) is an online summer experience that enables high school students to explore the world of startups. Hosted by the Technology and Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard (TECH) in collaboration with Harvard Undergraduate Ventures, the program offers participants the opportunity to intern at venture-backed startups, working alongside CEOs and founders. Students develop business skills by solving challenges, building projects, and participating in decision-making processes. This program is ideal for students seeking real startup experience and personalized mentorship from industry experts.
Location: Online (hosted by Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is highly selective. Exact cohort size information is not published.
Cost: $4,750 for the six-week program. Need-based financial aid is available.
Dates: Session I: June 9 to July 18 | Session II: July 7 to August 15
Application Deadline: Invite-Only Round Deadline: December 31 | Early Admissions Deadline: February 28 | Regular Admissions Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Open to high school students worldwide.
6. Brown University – Leadership Institute: Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship
Brown University's Leadership Institute offers high school students the opportunity to combine business innovation with social impact. In the Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship course, you'll learn how entrepreneurs use business models to tackle global challenges in areas like health, education, and the environment. You will develop a complete business plan and deliver an elevator pitch for your own nonprofit or for-profit startup idea. You'll also explore leadership skills, problem-solving strategies, and social innovation concepts while learning from guest speakers and entrepreneurs.
Location: Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island (In-person) or Online
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is selective. Exact cohort size is not available.
Cost: $7,200 for the two-week in-person session; ~$4,200 for the four-week online session. Financial aid is available based on need.
Dates: Online Session: June 23 to July 18 | On-campus Session: June 30 to July 11 (currently full; waitlist closed)
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until full.
Eligibility: Open to students completing grades 9 through 12, aged 14–18 by June 15.
7. Brown University — I Heart Startups: An Entrepreneurship Incubator
In this workshop-style course at Brown University, you’ll experience what it’s like to launch a startup from scratch. Over two weeks, you'll practice lean startup principles, problem-solving techniques, and agile decision-making while working with peers to pitch ventures and develop original business ideas. Through lectures, group work, lab projects, mentor hours, and a final Demo Day presentation, you’ll develop entrepreneurial skills. You'll study how giants like Amazon, Tesla, and Snapchat were built while exploring the startup ecosystem across various sectors, including AI, healthcare, and fintech. Students must arrive with a few preliminary business ideas to develop during the course.
Location: Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island (On-Campus)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; specific cohort size not published
Cost: $5,534 for 2-week residential program (limited financial aid available)
Dates: June 23 – July 3
Application Deadline: Rolling admission until full; early application strongly recommended
Eligibility: Open to high school students, typically rising juniors and seniors
8. The Art of Entrepreneurship – Dartmouth College
In Dartmouth’s Art of Entrepreneurship course, you’ll learn about startups through a hands-on approach. From day one, you’ll start developing your own business venture while building core entrepreneurial competencies like creativity, resilience, financial intuition, and strategic thinking. The program blends application with foundational learning, covering essential topics such as customer discovery, business model development, marketing, and financial planning. By the end of the course, you’ll pitch your startup to an audience, demonstrating your ability to turn ideas into actionable business plans. Guest lectures, workshops, and mentorship from entrepreneurs add to the learning experience.
Location: Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire (On-Campus)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity; exact cohort size not published
Cost: Estimated around $5,700–$6,000 (financial aid may be available). For exact tuition and aid information, contact Dartmouth’s Pre-College Programs office at summer@dartmouth.edu
Dates: July 6–July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; early application recommended to secure a seat
Eligibility: Open to high school students (typically rising juniors and seniors)
9. Yale Entrepreneurial Society High School Fellowship
The Yale Entrepreneurial Society High School Fellowship is an 8-week online masterclass that prepares high school students to think, work, and lead like entrepreneurs. You will attend sessions taught by Yale School of Management professors and undergraduate entrepreneurs, covering topics like ideation, business modeling, MVP development, marketing, and financial planning. Throughout the program, you'll work on developing a startup idea, participate in weekly projects, and polish your pitching skills. The experience culminates in a final Pitch Day, where you will present your idea to venture capitalists and successful entrepreneurs for a chance to win a cash prize.
Location: Online
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is selective; exact cohort size is not specified.
Cost: $175; full need-based financial aid available for both domestic and international students
Dates: 8 weeks (Spring and Fall cohorts; exact dates announced closer to each session)
Application Deadline: Fall cohort applications typically open by September.
Eligibility: Open to motivated high school students passionate about entrepreneurship
10. Cornell University – Entrepreneurship and Concept Development in the Food and Beverage Industry
At Cornell’s Precollege Studies, the Entrepreneurship and Concept Development course offers you an introduction to launching a business within the food and beverage sector. Through lectures, group work, guest speaker sessions, and projects, you’ll learn how to conduct market research, shape your startup idea, and build a viable business case. You’ll gain experience in concept development, menu planning, food safety standards, supply chain management, and marketing tailored to the competitive food industry. The course encourages you to think like an entrepreneur, teaching agile decision-making and customer-first design principles. You'll also learn to pitch your concept and apply core business principles like value proposition creation and operational planning. All students earn three transferable college credits and receive an official Cornell transcript upon completion.
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (Residential)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The program is moderately selective. The cohort size is capped at 50 students.
Cost: Around $8,399 (for 3 credits + residential charges; financial aid available separately)
Dates: July 14–August 1
Application Deadline: May 1 (for all sessions; early applications recommended)
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors, typically ages 16–18.
Bonus Programs!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students founded by Harvard and Oxford alumni. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as business, economics, finance, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility:You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall and must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students founded by Harvard and Oxford alumni! 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. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
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!
If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you build a startup in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab!
The Young Founders 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 real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
You can access the application link here!