We created Young Founders Lab because there are very few opportunities for high school students to learn entrepreneurship through execution. Traditional business competitions and case studies teach theory, but YFL gives students the mentorship, structure, and accountability to actually build something—just like real founders do.
In a world where creativity and problem-solving are increasingly valuable, we believe high schoolers should have the chance to build meaningful ventures while still in school.
Students join from across the globe and work individually or in small teams to build startups. Each week, they meet with their mentor to report on progress, troubleshoot challenges, and plan next steps. Weekly live workshops—on topics like MVP building, market validation, storytelling, and financial modeling—complement hands-on work.
By the end of the program, each student has built a working prototype or early product and developed a business plan and pitch deck. The program culminates in a virtual Demo Day, where students pitch to a panel of startup founders and investors.
Mentorship, structure, and feedback are core to the model. While students can work at their own pace, the regular touchpoints ensure momentum.
We have had over 100 students from 19 countries do the program so far. They come from public and private schools, have launched startups in everything from customer service to ADHD diagnosis, and go on to some of the world's top universities. We'd love for you to join them!
If you're interested in doing the Young Founders Lab program, check out the application link here: https://airtable.com/apprzr1j8zGIMBupG/pagK2B9rPHMMEszoL/form
After evaluating your written application, we'll invite you to an interview - and then you'll hear back with your decision!
