6 Entrepreneurship Programs for Middle School Students
Middle school is a critical time for students to explore their interests and passions. Applying for entrepreneurship programs at this stage can be incredibly beneficial for several reasons. Firstly, these programs equip students with essential skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. Additionally, students gain practical experience in leadership, teamwork, and communication—valuable skills in all areas of life.
Participating in these programs can also lead to valuable networking opportunities, connecting students with mentors and like-minded peers who share their entrepreneurial spirit. By the time they reach high school, these students are often better prepared to take on more advanced projects and leadership roles, giving them a head start in achieving their academic and personal goals. Here are 8 entrepreneurship programs for middle school students!
1. Beta Camp (Prequel Explore)
Cost: $425 per month (2-month program); $2975 (8-month program). Financial aid is available.
Location: Online
Application Deadline: Rolling deadline
Program Dates: There are two options: a 2-month program and an 8-month program.
Eligibility: Open to middle school students
Prequel offers weekly, virtual, live-action programming where students engage in 90-minute workshops filled with activities that promote collaboration and hands-on learning. Using tools and simulations from world-class companies, students explore business, technology, communication, and teamwork by undertaking practical projects such as creating business posters, researching impactful companies, or designing video animations with no-code tools.
The program features experienced instructors who have built businesses or worked in startups, serving as role models and mentors at the forefront of innovation. They guide students to discover limitless possibilities, emphasizing practical experience over theoretical teaching.
2. Wharton’s Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program
Cost: Enroll by August 7, 2024, to receive 4% off the program fee, which is $2,050
Location: Online
Application Deadline: August 14, 2024
Program Dates: The program starts August 14, 2024, and lasts for 3 months
Eligibility: Open to all
This program offers a playbook for increasing the odds of success, taught by expert faculty from diverse fields like social psychology, organizational behavior, IT, finance, and marketing. The curriculum covers crucial aspects of launching a successful venture, including selecting the right business model, building an effective team, choosing appropriate financing, and scaling the business.
Participants will learn to navigate various business models using the Business Model Canvas tool, form strong founding teams by addressing relationships, roles, and rewards, and explore different financing pathways and their trade-offs. Additionally, the program provides insights into understanding customers and markets to drive sales, forecasting demand, fostering a growth culture, and implementing expansion strategies.
3. Project Echo’s Middle School C.E.O.
For some reason, information regarding this program and the others Project Echo provides are not available on the main site. You have to email dquast@projectecho.org for more information on the program.
Middle School C.E.O. is a semester-long course designed to introduce tweens to business and entrepreneurship, aiming to inspire creativity and practical skills. The course takes students through the entire process of idea generation, planning, and execution, providing a comprehensive understanding of business concepts.
Students work in teams to create detailed business plans, covering essential topics such as market research, financial planning, marketing strategies, and product development, all tailored to their academic level!
Cost, Location, Application Deadline, Program Dates: Camp BizSmart is still updating this information. You can sign up to be notified about any upcoming updates regarding when and where the camp will take place.
Eligibility: Open to students aged 11-15
At Camp BizSmart, young entrepreneurs gain essential skills by solving real business problems posed by CEOs of Silicon Valley companies. Over the 10-day program, students work in teams, mentored by industry experts, to tackle "Business Innovation Cases" from award-winning companies and inspiring founders.
Participants work on real-world challenges, such as re-imagining the biometric technology of Token Ring for secure Metaverse experiences or developing a use for the waste generated in the seaweed extraction process by Notpla.
The program culminates with students presenting and defending their solutions before a panel of venture capitalists and angel investors, showcasing their innovative thinking and problem-solving abilities!
Cost: $2795
Location: Online
Application Deadline: Applications are currently open for Summer 2025; there is no deadline unless the session has been filled before the start date
Program Dates: Two weeks in Summer 2025 (no date listed yet)
Eligibility: Open to ages 12-14
Discover Business Academy is a two-week course for students aged 12-14, introducing them to fundamental concepts in economics and business. Taught by Gerard H. Dericks, PhD from the London School of Economics, the course covers a comprehensive curriculum including effective study strategies, business and economics principles, finance and investing fundamentals, macroeconomics, marketing, business law, leadership, and a business start-up challenge.
Through interactive lessons and practical activities, such as creating advertisements and debating leadership theories, students will gain insights into whether a business career is right for them. Moreover, you will explore the different types of businesses, their roles in the global economy, and how the law affects business through practical examples.
6. Venture Lab - Entrepreneurship 101 for Middle School
Cost: $50
Location: Online
Application Deadline: None
Program Dates: Self-paced, can take anywhere from 2-10 weeks, depending on how the student wants to approach the content
Eligibility: Open to middle school students
VentureLab’s Entrepreneurship 101 for Middle School is an online course designed to teach entrepreneurial skills and mindset to youth through a flexible, interactive curriculum. The course comprises 10 sections with 30 engaging activities covering creativity, problem-solving, market research, prototyping, business modeling, and pitching. Students learn through practical exercises like brainstorming, creating prototypes, pitching ideas, and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit and skillset.
The course includes quiz questions for concept reinforcement and various opportunities for formative and summative assessments through activities and journal entries. Upon completion, students can receive a summative grade based on their activity guide or idea journal, demonstrating their understanding and application of the entrepreneurial concepts taught.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI is founded by Harvard graduate students. Through the programs, you get a chance to work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
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