14 Startup Mentorship Programs for High School Students
If you are interested in entrepreneurship, participating in startup mentorship programs for high school students can help you move beyond classroom learning and gain hands-on experience building ideas, solving problems, and working with mentors.
What do startup mentorship programs involve?
Most programs pair you with mentors, including entrepreneurs, investors, or university faculty, who guide you through building and refining an actual business idea. You'll typically work through structured workshops covering idea development, market research, and pitching, alongside project-based assignments and networking opportunities.
Why pursue a startup mentorship program?
Beyond entrepreneurial skills, these experiences can strengthen your college applications by demonstrating initiative, creativity, and commitment to a specific area of interest. You'll have opportunities to pitch ideas, receive feedback from experts, and collaborate with like-minded peers.
For related opportunities, check out our guides onIvy League entrepreneurship programs andtop startup accelerator programs for high schoolers.
Quick Look
3 free programs: Yale Entrepreneurial Society High School Fellowship, the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition, and Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC).
5 fully virtual programs: Yale ESHSF, Young Founders Lab, the Wharton Investment Competition, Venture & Tech Summer Program, and the online track of the Junior Venture Capitalist Program.
Paid programs range from $100 to $8,299, with need-based scholarships available at Michigan Ross, Berkeley Business Academy, Wake Forest, Snider SELF, and Young Founders Lab.
Location-restricted programs: Provost's SMP (Philadelphia residents only), ieSoSC (NYC residents only), and the Junior Venture Capitalist Program's in-person track (Los Angeles).
Young Founders Lab is the only fully virtual bootcamp open to all high school students with no location restriction and rolling regional admission rounds.
14 Startup Mentorship Programs for High School Students
1. Yale Entrepreneurial Society High School Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Not publicly available
Dates: June 1 - August 15 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 residing in the United StatesThe Yale Entrepreneurial Society High School Fellowship is a free 8-week virtual entrepreneurship program for high school students interested in startups, innovation, and business leadership. Participants attend weekly online masterclasses covering topics such as idea development, market research, business planning, and pitching. While structured primarily as an academic fellowship, this experience connects students with Yale-affiliated instructors who actively guide them through the early stages of venture creation. By the end of the fellowship, participants often leave with a refined business concept or startup idea and a stronger understanding of the entrepreneurial process.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: 100% virtual, with live interactive workshops
Cost: Varies depending on program type (need-based financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: 4-week program starting June 5th, tentatively
Application Deadline: Early Decision: March | Regular Admission 1: April | Regular Admission 2: May
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a real-world startup bootcamp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. You will work towards building a revenue-generating startup that addresses a real-world problem, mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. Alongside building your startup, you'll participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and ideation, workshops, skill-building sessions, case studies, and panel discussions. The program gives you a structured space to explore both theoretical and practical frameworks for building a successful business. You can check out the brochure here and access the application here.
3. Junior Venture Capitalist Program
Location: Online, with optional in-person events in the Greater Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $100 (online), $800 (in-person), need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: June – October
Application Deadline: April
Eligibility: Girls in grades 9–12; applicants from across the U.S. are eligible
The Junior Venture Capitalist Program explores the fundamentals of venture capital, startup investing, and early-stage business evaluation. Over 4 months, you’ll learn how investors assess startups by reviewing business models, market opportunities, financial metrics, and growth potential through online workshops and discussions with experienced investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs. You will also evaluate companies competing in the Women Founders Network Fast Pitch competition and apply venture capital frameworks to identify investment-worthy businesses. Students in the in-person track attend the Fast Pitch event in Los Angeles, participate in a pre-pitch workshop, and collectively decide which startup will receive a$5,000 Junior VC grant. This program teaches students how to evaluate early-stage businesses from the other side of the table.
4. Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance Rate: Not publicly available
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline: March 22
Eligibility: Rising 10th- and 11th-grade students who reside in Philadelphia and attend a Philadelphia high school.
The Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP) is a four-week summer college and career exploration program for Philadelphia high school students. Participants are matched with one of several University of Pennsylvania graduate and professional schools, including medicine, nursing, engineering, law, and dental medicine, based on their interests. Through hands-on activities and experiential learning, students gain exposure to potential career pathways while learning directly from faculty, staff, and professionals in their chosen field. The program also includes workshops on financial literacy, study skills, time management, SAT preparation, and college application writing. Although not a dedicated startup mentorship program, it provides structured mentorship, career exploration, and interdisciplinary learning that can help understand how innovation and leadership are applied across various fields.
5. Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Location: University of Michigan Ross School of Business, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $5,500 (need-based scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate: Not publicly available
Program Dates: June – July
Application Deadline: March (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is a one-week residential program that introduces high school students to core business disciplines through case studies, simulations, and collaborative projects. You’ll explore topics such as entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and leadership while learning from Ross faculty and business professionals. The program includes team-based problem solving, presentations, and discussions that mirror the collaborative style of undergraduate business education. Outside the classroom, you’ll attend networking sessions, interact with current Ross students, and experience campus life in Ann Arbor. While the program is broader than a dedicated entrepreneurship course, it provides a strong foundation in business strategy and exposes students to entrepreneurial thinking alongside other core business concepts.
6. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: $7,950 (Individual) | $7,450 per student (Team registration)
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Program Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students
The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth is a two-week, on-campus entrepreneurship program where you work in teams to develop a startup idea while learning core business concepts from Berkeley Haas faculty and industry professionals. The curriculum covers customer discovery, business model development, marketing, finance, leadership, and pitching through workshops, case studies, and collaborative projects. Alongside classroom sessions, you’ll refine your venture with mentor feedback and participate in networking activities with entrepreneurs and business leaders. The program concludes with a final startup pitch presentation where teams present their business ideas to a panel of judges.
7. Exploring Entrepreneurship – Fordham University
Location: Fordham University, Bronx, NY
Cost: $1,950 (plus $150 non-refundable application fee)
AcceptanceRate: Not specified
ProgramDates: June 22 – 26
ApplicationDeadline: Rolling until capacity is reached
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
This one-week program introduces you to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship through the Foundry, Fordham’s innovation and entrepreneurship hub. You’ll work in teams to develop a new business idea, conduct customer discovery and market research, explore financing strategies, and refine your venture with guidance from entrepreneurs-in-residence and faculty. The program also includes a visit to a New York City startup incubator, giving you firsthand exposure to the startup ecosystem. The week concludes with team pitches presented to entrepreneurs and startup experts for feedback.
8. Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Location: Virtual (Global Finals at The Wharton School, Philadelphia)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Open-entry; teams of 4–6 students with one teacher advisor
Program Dates: September – April
Application Deadline: Registration opens in August
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 competing in teams with a school-affiliated teacher advisor
In this academic-year competition, you and your team manage a virtual investment portfolio using the Wharton Investment Simulator while working toward the long-term financial goals of a real-world client. Throughout the 10-week trading phase, you’ll research companies and industries, analyze market conditions, evaluate risk, diversify investments, and make portfolio decisions using real financial data. Teams submit written investment reports explaining their strategy and reasoning, with top-performing teams advancing through regional and global rounds. While functioning as an independent team competition rather than a guided mentorship program, the rigorous process of researching and evaluating real-world companies is a highly effective way to learn applied business strategy.
9. Venture & Tech Summer Program (VTSP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,750 tuition + $35 application fee; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Dates: Session I: June 8 – July 17 | Session II: July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: Varies by application round
Eligibility: High school students interested in entrepreneurship, technology, startups, and innovation.
The Venture & Tech Summer Program (VTSP) is a six-week virtual entrepreneurship and innovation program for high school students. Participants are matched with venture-backed startups and work on team-based projects under the guidance of founders, CEOs, and startup executives. Alongside their internship-style experience, students attend workshops, seminars, and discussions focused on technology, business strategy, product development, investing, and leadership. The program includes mentorship from professionals with backgrounds in startups, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. Students collaborate on real-world challenges and develop deliverables for startup partners across fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, engineering, fintech, media, and nonprofit innovation. Financial aid scholarships are available based on demonstrated need and merit.
10. Tufts Entrepreneurship & Innovation Bootcamp
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, MA
Cost/Stipend: Commuter: $4,225; Residential: $5,750; limited need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 5 – 17
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 or graduating from high school.
The Tufts Entrepreneurship & Innovation Bootcamp is a two-week pre-college program focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture creation. Students work through the process of developing a startup, small business, or nonprofit while learning how to identify problems, design solutions, and create business models. The program includes hands-on workshops, team-based projects, mentorship from Tufts students and alumni, and opportunities to develop pitching and presentation skills. Participants learn how to build a business case, create a go-to-market strategy, and communicate ideas to potential stakeholders. The curriculum is delivered in partnership with the Derby Entrepreneurship Center, which supports entrepreneurship education across Tufts University. No prior entrepreneurship experience is required to participate.
11. Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Dates: ieSoSC I: July 6 – August 7 (5 weeks) | ieSoSC II: July 13 – August 7 (4 weeks, invitation only)
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: NYC residents currently in grades 9–11.
Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC) is a fully funded summer program that combines engineering, entrepreneurship, and urban innovation. Participants learn coding, electronics, microcontrollers, circuit design, and sensor integration while developing solutions related to smart city technologies. Students work in teams to design and prototype projects that address challenges in urban environments. Through theater-based communication workshops and presentation training, students strengthen their public speaking and storytelling skills. While this is more of an entrepreneurship and innovation program rather than a mentorship program, it introduces key entrepreneurial concepts, including economics, project management, branding, intellectual property, and business pitching.
12. Wharton Global Youth – Essentials of Entrepreneurship
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA
Cost: $8,299; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not publicly available
Dates: June 7 – 19 | June 21 – July 3 | July 12 – 25 | July 26 – August 8
Application Deadline: Priority Deadline: January 28 | Final Deadline: March 18
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 9–11
Essentials of Entrepreneurship is a two-week summer program that introduces high school students to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and startup creation. Through interactive lectures, workshops, and team-based activities, participants learn how to identify market opportunities, evaluate problems, develop business ideas, and create viable solutions. Students conduct research, build prototypes, explore branding and marketing strategies, and gain experience working in startup teams. The program culminates in a pitch competition where teams present their ventures and receive feedback from judges. Participants also develop professional skills in communication, collaboration, and innovation while learning entrepreneurial frameworks for launching new ventures. Students who complete the program receive a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion.
13. Snider Enterprise and Leadership Fellows (SELF) Experience
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost/Stipend: Cost not specified; scholarships available based on financial need
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified (nearly 500 students have participated since 2015)
Dates: July 13 – 31
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students accepted through the Terp Young Scholars program
Program Description: The Snider Enterprise and Leadership Fellows (SELF) Experience is a summer entrepreneurship and leadership program for high school students offered through the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. Participants enroll in the three-credit undergraduate course BMGT262: Enterprising Leader, where they explore entrepreneurship, leadership, personal development, marketing, strategy, and economics. Students work in teams to solve real-world challenges and develop venture ideas under the guidance of faculty and business professionals. Functioning as a credit-bearing course, the team-based structure allows high schoolers to receive professional feedback on their venture pitches from industry experts.
14. Wake Forest Entrepreneurship Institute
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,500
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – 26 | July 12 – 17
Application Deadline: Both sessions operating with waitlists
Eligibility: Current high school students in grades 9–12
The Entrepreneurship Institute is a one-week residential summer program designed for high school students interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, and startup creation. Participants learn how to develop, evaluate, and launch business ideas through workshops focused on entrepreneurial marketing, financial modeling, market research, prototyping, and product development. The curriculum integrates interactions with local founders and accelerators, providing a real-world mentoring context for early-stage business development. Throughout the week, they work in teams to build a startup concept, create a pitch deck, and refine their business strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there free startup mentorship programs for high school students?
Yes. The Yale Entrepreneurial Society High School Fellowship is a free 8-week virtual program open to US high schoolers. The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition is also free and runs as a team-based virtual competition from September through April. Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC) is fully funded, though it's limited to NYC residents in grades 9-11.
2. Which programs are fully virtual?
Several run entirely online, including the Yale Entrepreneurial Society Fellowship, the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition, and the Venture & Tech Summer Program. Young Founders Lab is also 100% virtual, pairing you with mentors from Google, Microsoft, and X while you build a revenue-generating startup, with no location restrictions and rolling regional admission rounds throughout the year.
3. Which programs are open to students outside a specific city or region?
Some programs, like the Provost's Summer Mentorship Program and ieSoSC, are limited to Philadelphia or New York City residents. Others, including Young Founders Lab, the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition, and the Venture & Tech Summer Program, are open to high school students nationwide since they run entirely online.