Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship for high schoolers
Learn to transform great ideas into viable business enterprises
This entrepreneurship summer program is for students who are motivated by an intense desire to address the complex challenges of our future. Entrepreneurs see the world not just as it is now, but how it could be. They possess leadership capabilities, adaptability, and a purpose-driven mindset to build businesses that do everything from shape our future to solve everyday problems. An idea is only as good as its execution. In this Concentration in entrepreneurship for high schoolers, you’ll learn business fundamentals such as marketing, budgeting, hiring, scaling, and financing to start and grow your venture—and build a diverse network of visionaries.
- Session 1
Residential: June 30 - July 19
Commuter: July 1 - July 18 - Location:
Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA - Staff to Student Ratio 1:6
- Tuition
Residential: $7,895
Commuter: $3,995
Tuition + Financial Aid
Turn your bright idea into the next big thing
Lead Instructor
Entrepreneurship
Paul Buta
Your guide through this exciting field is Paul Buta. Paul teaches at Boston University and Colby-Sawyer College, and is a seasoned entrepreneur and C-level executive. Learn from his professional experience—both the successes and failures—in the heady world of conceiving and launching new ventures.
Program description
Explore how leading entrepreneurs develop a deep understanding of their customers to identify, ideate, and iterate product solutions in this entrepreneurship summer program. Learn effective leadership and business strategies, frameworks for sustainability and scaling, and models for developing and testing new ideas. Connect with entrepreneurs from around the world who have launched businesses that address societal challenges and secured funding to scale organizations globally. For the culminating project in this Concentration in entrepreneurship for high schoolers, you’ll collaborate with your team to build a venture from scratch using a design sprint format. You’ll deliver an innovative solution to a panel of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts for feedback on a variety of dimensions, including feasibility, scalability, and potential for meaningful impact.
What you'll do
World-Class Experts
Connect with industry experts, including EXPLO alumni, who are active entrepreneurs and consultants from leading firms in this entrepreneurship summer program. Get insights and tips on everything from securing internships to developing great leadership behaviors.
Case Interview Training with Marc Cosentino
McKinsey + Company says, “Cosentino is the Dean of Case Interviews.” Cosentino’s coaching can prepare you to nail business case interviews, a prerequisite for many competitive internships and jobs in the industry. In this concentration in entrepreneurship for high schoolers, renowned expert Cosentino also explains how you can start a case competition team at your high school and join a case competition network.
Harvard Business School Visit + Admissions
Tour Harvard University and Harvard Business School, and hear from business students about their experiences and educational pathways.
Professional Networking
Practice making connections, finding collaborators, and vetting new ideas with business owners, consultants, and academics from a variety of industries.
Design Sprint
Confront an entrepreneurial challenge using a design sprint structure to identify the root cause of a problem, evaluate solutions, then create and test prototypes with authentic stakeholders.
Get Summer Research Experience
This Concentration offers the option to develop your own formal research project. Develop foundational research skills like experiment design, data collection and analysis, and literature review, culminating in written and oral conference-style presentations. Gain valuable experience and give your college applications a boost.
Experience a Day in the Life with Sam
Entrepreneurship Concentration
What Lights Me Up:
“A few years ago my uncle sold a business he started. He took me through the whole process—features, organizing, getting seed money, positioning, pricing, marketing, all of it—and I’ve been fascinated with that ever since. I have so many ideas for companies I want to start now. I’m wondering if I should just get started now or wait, go to business school, and then start then.”
Get up close
Go places like Harvard Business School for a campus tour and lecture.
Hear from
speakers like Sara Law, EXPLO alum, Forbes 30 Under 30 winner, and fashion entrepreneur.
Work with professionals like renowned author and teacher Marc Cosentino, who leads students through
business case interview training.
Advisors + Faculty + Speakers
Take a look at some of the advisors, program faculty, and speakers over the years to get a sense of who has had a hand in shaping our curriculum. You get the real deal here at EXPLO.
P.Y. Nicole Chang, MBA, JD
President/Owner, Coder's School Los Angeles + Global Business Consultant
Marc Cosentino
Founder, Case Questions
CEO, Burgee Atlantic
Kimberly Kalb Baumgarten, MBA
Marketing Director, Fortnite (Epic Games)
Elspeth Boynton
Co-Founder + CEO, diiVe
Earn college credit
All EXPLO Pre-College Career Concentrations offer the opportunity to earn two to three college credits before you even enroll in college.
Everything you need for a summer to remember
Explore future careers as a residential student...
Live the on-campus life with a roommate, meals in the dining hall, and all the support you need from live-in deans, and residence directors and advisors.
...or a commuter
Enjoy access to all the same facilities and activities as residential students, with the option to spend three evenings of your choice on campus included in your tuition.
Live the EXPLO life
At EXPLO, we combine mind-expanding discovery with serious summer fun. Join a club, play sports, take in a movie or show, or just relax by beautiful Lake Waban. Or take a quick train into Boston for a foodie tour, cruise, or ball game—all with curious and inclusive new friends.