14 Teen Startup Accelerator Programs in 2025
What are teen startup accelerator programs?
Teen startup accelerators are built to help you take an idea and shape it into something real through planning, testing, and feedback. You’ll learn how to think like a founder, identify problems, design solutions, and understand what makes a product or service useful. They also help you gain practical skills that you won’t get from a textbook. You’ll learn how to create business models, pitch to investors, manage a team, and handle basic finance or marketing tasks.
Why should I join a teen startup accelerator program?
Joining one of these programs can make a big difference when applying to college or future internships. It shows that you’ve taken initiative, worked on a project from concept to execution, and gained hands-on experience in entrepreneurship. Some accelerators even offer funding or pitch events where you can present your idea to real investors.
With that, here’s a list of 14 teen startup accelerator programs in 2025!
If you’re also looking to participate to participate in startup competitions, you should check this out. For startup and entrepreneurship ideas, you can look at this.
14 Teen Startup Accelerator Programs in 2025
1. Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Location: Hybrid (Online, but a final event may be held at UPenn)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No set number; attracts a large number of participating teams.
Dates: September 29 to April 24 & 25 (all details here)
Application Deadline: September 12
Eligibility: High school students in 9th to 12th grade worldwide.
Wharton’s Investment Competition is a free, practical contest where high school students form teams to create an investment strategy for a real client using $500,000 in virtual funds. You’ll spend ten weeks using the Wharton Investment Simulator to buy and sell stocks and ETFs while analyzing company data and market trends. Your team will research industries, design a portfolio, and submit two reports explaining your investment choices and results. You will gain skills in data analysis, portfolio management, teamwork, and business communication with guidance from a teacher.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by the program; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Ladder runs a few cohorts each year, and the number of students changes every time. Some groups have about 100 members.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
The Ladder University Internship Program is an eight-week virtual internship where you work on real projects with start-ups and corporate businesses. Founded by Harvard entrepreneurs, the program focuses on applied learning. You’ll be guided by start-up founders and supervisors with experience at places like Harvard Business School, McKinsey, Google, and Microsoft. You’ll develop problem-solving and project management skills, gain insight into entrepreneurial practices, and receive weekly mentorship from your manager and a Ladder Coach. The program ends with a final project presentation to strengthen your resume and professional portfolio.
3. Young Founders Lab (YFL)
Location: 100% online
Cost: Varies by the program; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The rate is roughly 19%; varies based on the specific internship and cohort involved.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort. You can access the application link here.
Eligibility: Current high school students from anywhere in the world.
If you’re a high school student eager to dive into entrepreneurship, Young Founder’s Lab (YFL), a hands-on startup accelerator, might be the right spot for you. Founded by Harvard entrepreneurs, this program helps you turn your ideas into revenue-generating startups that solve practical problems. You’ll develop your business concept, build prototypes, and get personalized mentorship from professionals at top companies like Google, Microsoft, and X. Interactive classes, workshops, and panel discussions that deepen your understanding of business fundamentals and innovative thinking. Check out the brochure for more details here.
4. Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
Location: Online
Cost: 10,000 yen per team
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No fixed acceptance rate; varies each year based on registrations and finalists.
Dates: April 12 - May 17 (Preliminary Round to Final Round)
Application Deadline: March 21
Eligibility: Students aged 14-18
The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC) is a 12-hour international competition where high school students aged 14 to 18 form teams to tackle an unexpected global problem through entrepreneurship and strategy. You’ll use data and research to understand the issue, build a practical business model, and present your idea through a written plan and a short video pitch. Collaborating with up to eight teammates, you’ll integrate knowledge from science, technology, business, and marketing to create a practical, data-driven solution to a real-world problem. The challenge encourages analytical thinking, strategic decision-making, and effective teamwork.
5. Blue Ocean High School Entrepreneurship Competition
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No fixed cohort; all eligible teams with qualifying proposals are evaluated.
Dates: April 6 - May 13
Application Deadline: February 22 (next pitch details here)
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18
The Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition is a global, online pitch event for high school students that focuses on using innovation and data to create new market opportunities. Instead of competing in crowded industries, you develop a business idea that opens fresh space in the market and present it to a panel of judges. You research market data to find gaps, analyze trends, and shape a business model supported by analytics. The process builds strategic thinking, clear communication, and data-driven decision-making. Winners receive cash prizes, and all participants gain exposure to professional feedback and a community of young entrepreneurs working on real-world business challenges.
6. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth
Location: UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Cost/Stipend: California Resident: $6,292; Out of state Resident: $7,332; (Partial scholarships are available for students who demonstrate financial need)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session I: July 6 to 20; Session II: July 20 to August 3
Application Deadline: January 17
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-12)
The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) offers a dynamic entrepreneurship program where you will immerse yourself in the vibrant startup culture of Silicon Valley while learning on the UC Berkeley campus. You’ll engage in interactive workshops, collaborative team projects, and a final business plan competition that challenges you to develop your own business ideas. Taught by professors and business experts from the Haas School of Business, the program lets you explore marketing, finance, accounting, and entrepreneurship through customizable courses.
7. Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
Location: Online
Cost: 10,000 yen per team
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No fixed acceptance rate; varies each year based on registrations and finalists.
Dates: April 12 - May 17 (Preliminary Round to Final Round)
Application Deadline: March 21
Eligibility: Students aged 14-18
The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC) is a 12-hour international competition where high school students aged 14 to 18 form teams to tackle an unexpected global problem through entrepreneurship and strategy. You’ll use data and research to understand the issue, build a practical business model, and present your idea through a written plan and a short video pitch. Collaborating with up to eight teammates, you’ll integrate knowledge from science, technology, business, and marketing to create a practical, data-driven solution to a real-world problem. The challenge encourages analytical thinking, strategic decision-making, and effective teamwork.
8. Entrepreneurship at Georgetown University
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C
Cost: $1,895
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by session; check here
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: For students ages 13 and up
Georgetown University’s Entrepreneurship Academy is designed to give you an intensive, hands-on experience in launching a startup through two-week or four-week sessions. You’ll participate in workshops, lectures, and team projects that explore the real challenges of starting and running a business. The program focuses on helping you develop and refine your business idea, culminating in a pitch competition judged by actual entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. You’ll develop key skills in public speaking, networking, and teamwork, guided by mentorship from experienced professionals. You’ll also visit startups and innovation hubs across Washington, D.C., gaining firsthand exposure to the city’s dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.
9. Exploring Entrepreneurship at Fordham University
Location: Fordham University, New York, NY
Cost: Yet to be announced
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The set acceptance rate is not specified. The program is selective, with a small cohort and rolling admissions, making early application advisable.
Dates: June 22 - June 26th (tentatively); details here
Application Deadline: Yet to be announced
Eligibility: Current high school students
Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business runs a one-week summer program that introduces you to entrepreneurship through hands-on learning at the the university’s innovation hub. You’ll learn how to build a business model, apply design thinking, create a value proposition, and develop a minimum viable product. The program covers startup financing, from bootstrapping to venture capital. As a high school junior or senior, you’ll work with peers to create a business idea and pitch it to startup professionals. The week includes workshops, customer research, team projects, and a visit to a startup incubator to see how new companies operate.
10. Diamond Challenge
Location: Hybrid (Pitch live at global partner events or submit virtually with a deck and video)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: February 18 - March 9 (More details here)
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Students must be 14–18 years old
The Diamond Challenge, organized by Horn Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware, is an exciting global competition where you and your team of 2 to 4 students get to develop original business or social venture ideas. You will compete in categories focused on business innovation and social impact, creating solutions to global problems you care about. You’ll submit a concept narrative and pitch deck and take part in phases such as video pitches and live presentations. It all leads up to the Diamond Challenge Summit, where finalists showcase their ventures and compete for cash prizes worth up to $100,000. Submit your concept here.
11. Seeds of Fortune Girls Startup Business Accelerator
Location: Virtual + in-person final pitch event in Miami, FL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer: May 28 - July 10
Application Deadline: Summer: May 5
Eligibility: Open to high school students with a combined household income of $125,000 or less.
Seeds of Fortune’s Girls Start-Up Accelerator is a year-long entrepreneurship program for high school juniors who identify as young women. It combines mentorship, funding opportunities, and hands-on experience in developing ventures that create social impact. You’ll attend online workshops with industry professionals, receive one-on-one mentorship, and work with peers to design a business that solves real problems. You’ll learn to plan and structure your venture, craft and deliver your pitch, and explore funding options to support your idea. The program also guides college and career paths in entrepreneurship and business analytics.
12. Cooper Hewitt Design Competition
Location: Hybrid (Online + Mentor week in-person)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: April - June
Application Deadline: February 10
Eligibility: Students must be in grades 9-12
Cooper Hewitt Design Competition is a national contest that invites high school students across the United States to solve real-world problems using design thinking. You’ll be asked to create and submit original design ideas inspired by museum exhibitions, focusing on innovation, impact, relevance, and the clarity of your communication. The competition takes place in two stages. For the first, you will make an anonymous submission. The second will be a mentorship and finalist presentation phase, which includes a virtual Judging Weekend and an in-person Mentor Weekend at the Smithsonian in New York. As a finalist, you’ll receive personalized guidance from leading design professionals, connect with creatives, and have your work showcased in exhibitions.
13. HEX High Accelerator
Location: Virtual
Cost: AUD $990
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is cohort-based, though the specific cohort size is not released publicly
Dates: Varies by term; details here
Application Deadline: February 4
Eligibility: Current high school students
The HEX High Accelerator is a six-week online program for high school students in Years 10 to 12 that helps you build practical entrepreneurial skills. You’ll learn how to identify problems, research markets, develop business models, prototype ideas, build a brand, and pitch your startup. You’ll receive mentorship from industry professionals, including experts from companies like Atlassian, gaining firsthand insight into how real startups grow and scale. The program also offers university credit from the University of Sydney, recognized worldwide. You’ll build a portfolio of projects and gain practical experience that supports your future in business and innovation.
14. DECA Competitions (ICDC)
Location: Atlanta, GA
Cost: $175
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ICDC isn’t open for direct applications; students need to earn a top spot at their State or Provincial Career Development Conference (SCDC) to qualify.
Dates: April 25–28
Application Deadline: March 13; Membership Eligibility Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Available to high school students (grades 9–12)
DECA competitions give you practical experience in business across areas like marketing, finance, management, hospitality, and tourism. You can start with Principles of Business Administration Events to learn the basics or join role-play and team decision-making events that mirror real business challenges. If you prefer research-based work, you can take part in Business Operations Research or Project Management Events, where you’ll plan and present projects on real-world business issues. DECA also offers online simulations that let you run virtual businesses and compete internationally.
15. Tufts University Entrepreneurship & Innovation Bootcamp
Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA (in-person residential or commuter options)
Cost: Commuter: $4,225; Residential: $5,750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; this is a selective two-week immersive program
Dates: July 5–17
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 or recent high school graduates
The Tufts Entrepreneurship & Innovation Bootcamp is a two-week hands-on experience where you work in teams to build a venture, whether that's a startup, small business, or nonprofit. The program takes you through the entire process: identifying a societal problem worth solving, developing a business model, creating a go-to-market strategy, and pitching your idea to a panel of judges. You'll learn from faculty at Tufts' Derby Entrepreneurship Center and get mentorship from Tufts students and alumni who've actually founded companies. Throughout the bootcamp, you'll work on real projects, visit existing businesses to see how they operate, and build connections with peers from around the world. By demo day, you'll have a complete business case and presentation skills that impress investors and entrepreneurs.
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