From Ideas to Entrepreneurship: Starting Your Own Business

Have a great idea and wonder how to bring it to life? In this interactive camp, high school students will learn to think like founders — from identifying real problems worth solving to testing ideas with potential customers and building a concept grounded in evidence, not just enthusiasm.

Designed to mirror how real startups validate ideas, this course offers hands-on experience with real-world entrepreneurial practices. Through team-based projects, group discussions and activities such as simulated customer discovery conversations, rapid prototyping and peer feedback, you’ll develop a tested business concept, build a basic financial model and deliver a pitch to a live audience.

Who should register: This course is designed for high school students (ages 14–16) who are curious about entrepreneurship — no prior business experience required. It’s a great fit for:

• Creative students interested in business, innovation or problem-solving
• Entrepreneurial-minded teens who want to build something — whether a company, product, nonprofit or a solution to a real-world problem
• Students who enjoy project-based, collaborative learning environments

What You’ll Learn

• Identify real problems worth solving — and understand why many startups fail
• Develop and present a viable business concept
• Conduct basic customer discovery conversations to test ideas and gather insights
• Evaluate market opportunity, competition and business viability
• Build a simple financial model (pricing, costs and break-even)
• Deliver a clear and confident business pitch to a live audience

Skills You’ll Gain

• Idea validation and problem identification
• Customer discovery and feedback gathering
• Basic business modeling and financial thinking
• Pitch development and public speaking
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Creative problem-solving