For high school students in Colorado interested in business, summer programs offer a structured way to explore core concepts like entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, and management. These programs provide hands-on experience, team-based projects, and opportunities to learn directly from faculty and professionals in the field.
Whether you’re interested in launching a startup, analyzing market trends, or understanding how businesses operate, these programs can help you build a strong foundation before college. Many also offer mentorship, networking opportunities, and college preparation — making them a valuable addition to your academic journey.
To help you find the right fit, we’ve curated a list of 15 business summer programs for high school students in Colorado designed to help you work on your interests, build practical skills, and explore future career paths.
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
2. Young Founders Lab
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more.
The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here. You can access the application link here!
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: The total cost to attend the 4-week program is $2,900. There is need-based financial aid.
Program Dates: The group program starts in fixed cohorts. The next group program will run between June 9 – 29 (Group Program, Summer 1)
Application Deadline: Various deadlines throughout the year; Summer Regular Admission 1 is April 13
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
3. FTE’s Economics for Leaders Virtual (EFL Virtual)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $900 for virtual program
Program Dates: Multiple sessions are available in June and July. Specific dates can be found on the FTE website.
Application Deadline:
- Priority Deadline: March 12
- Final Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
The Economics for Leaders Virtual (EFL Virtual) program, offered by the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE), is designed to equip rising high school students with the skills to apply economic principles to real-world decision-making. If you have an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for leadership, this four-day immersive program provides a dynamic blend of economics and leadership training to help you think critically about markets, policy, and innovation.
Throughout the program, you will explore key economic concepts such as international markets, inflation, incentives, labor markets, and government policy while also engaging in leadership training based on the Leadership Pyramid Matrix, a model often used in college-level courses. The curriculum bridges economic theory with practical applications, ensuring that students leave with a strong analytical foundation to tackle complex business and policy challenges.
4. CSU’s IT in Business Summer Program
Location: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Cost: Free (includes teaching materials and lunch)
Program Dates: June 2 – 6
Application Deadline: May 11
Eligibility: Colorado high school students
Colorado State University’s IT in Business Summer Program is a dynamic five-day experience for high school students eager to explore the intersection of technology and business. Led by CSU’s College of Business faculty, the program features hands-on activities such as building robots, developing apps, tackling cybersecurity challenges, and working with data visualization. You shall explore cutting-edge technologies like Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence and take part in facility tours.
Designed for those with a strong interest in IT and entrepreneurship, the program helps develop critical skills, fosters innovative thinking, and builds confidence in navigating the tech-driven business world. Networking is a key component, offering opportunities to connect with like-minded peers and professionals.
5. CU Boulder’s KeyBank Business Leadership Program
Location: Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder, CO
Cost: Free for all accepted participants
Program Dates: June 22 – 28
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: High school seniors from underrepresented backgrounds, students of color, and first-generation students; priority given to Colorado residents and students enrolled in a Colorado high school
The KeyBank Business Leadership Program (BLP) at the University of Colorado Boulder is a fully funded, week-long experience designed for high school seniors from underrepresented backgrounds, students of color, and first-generation students with a passion for business. This immersive program focuses on leadership development, teamwork, and real-world business problem-solving through a case competition.
You will collaborate in teams to tackle challenges posed by a corporate partner, which may involve creating marketing strategies, addressing customer service issues, or developing innovative product ideas. The hands-on approach provides valuable insights into the business world, and the winning team earns a $1,000 scholarship toward the Leeds School of Business.
6. CSU Global Business Academy
Location: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Cost: $3,750 (includes housing, meals, and activities); scholarships available
Program Dates: July 13 – 23
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18
The Global Business Academy at Colorado State University is an intensive 10-day summer program designed for aspiring entrepreneurs eager to explore the world of business in a dynamic, hands-on environment. You will gain firsthand experience of what it’s like to study business at the university level while developing the skills needed to navigate the ever-evolving global marketplace.
This program goes beyond traditional classroom learning — you will tackle real-world business challenges, collaborate on interactive projects, and engage with industry leaders. Activities include team-building exercises, hands-on workshops, and skill development sessions focused on leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
7. CSU Venture Validator Summer Camp
Location: Virtual and in-person options (Fort Collins CSU Campus, SPUR Denver Campus, Fort Morgan, Sterling)
Cost: $75 program fee
Program Dates: June 9 – 13
Application Deadline: Typically open until the end of May
Eligibility: Open to Colorado high school students
The Venture Validator Summer Camp at Colorado State University is a week-long program designed for high school students eager to explore entrepreneurship. You will identify real-world problems, develop innovative solutions, and build your business ideas using creativity, critical thinking, and design thinking — a framework widely used by startups and established companies alike.
Throughout the week, you will develop essential skills in customer discovery, market research, and business model development while also gaining insights into career paths in marketing, supply chain management, and innovation. By the end of the program, you will have the tools to analyze competition, prototype products, and confidently pitch your ideas.
8. LaunchX Online Entrepreneurship Summer Program
Location: Virtual – accessible worldwide
Cost: $6,995 program fee
Program Dates: June 30 – August 1
Application Deadline: Typically in the fall
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18 at the time of applying
The LaunchX Online Entrepreneurship Summer Program is a five-week immersive experience designed for high school students worldwide who are eager to develop and launch their startups. You will work in teams to identify a problem, brainstorm innovative solutions, and create a real product or service, all while gaining hands-on experience in the entrepreneurial world. The program is action-oriented, emphasizing execution and rapid iteration, to have a functional venture by the end.
Throughout the program, you will learn about fundamental business concepts through core classes, mentor sessions, labs, electives, and community events. You will also participate in weekly mock board sessions, team meetings, and office hours to receive valuable feedback as you move from concept to execution. The experience culminates in a Demo Day, where teams showcase their ventures to an audience of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.
9. First Generation Business Summit at Colorado State University
Location: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Cost: Free for all accepted participants
Program Dates: July 21 – July 26
Application Deadline: April 7
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates who are first-generation students
The First Generation Business Summit at Colorado State University is a week-long, fully funded program designed for first-generation students eager to explore the world of business while experiencing campus life. This program offers you the opportunity to develop essential business skills, gain insight into various fields such as marketing, management, finance, and design, and work collaboratively on a case study competition where teams create a business solution to a real-world problem.
Throughout the week, you will engage in interactive workshops, hands-on projects, and networking opportunities, helping them build confidence and leadership skills. The program culminates in business pitch presentations, where top ideas receive prizes.
10. BerkeleyX: Entrepreneurship For All (Part I) – The UC Berkeley Startup Guide
Location: Online (edX – BerkeleyX)
Cost: Free (No Certificate) | $199 (With Certificate) (Financial Aid Available)
Program Dates: Self-Paced
Application Deadline: Rolling Basis
Eligibility: Open to all
This self-paced online course from BerkeleyX on edX is an essential resource for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to navigate the startup landscape. Taught by Silicon Valley insiders, the course provides a step-by-step guide to launching and scaling a business, covering key topics such as market opportunity identification, business model development, and pitch creation.
Through video lectures, readings, case studies, and hands-on projects, participants will gain real-world insights from successful entrepreneurs and investors. The interactive format fosters peer collaboration, making the learning experience both practical and engaging.
11. UPenn Wharton Global Youth Program: Future of the Business World
Location: Virtual (Online)
Cost: $4,099
Program Dates: Two-week sessions in June – July
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
The Future of the Business World program, part of the Wharton Global Youth Program, is a two-week online experience designed for high school students eager to explore business, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Led by Wharton faculty, it introduces key business themes, including design thinking, scenario planning, and team-based problem-solving.
You will engage in interactive business simulations, applying your knowledge to tackle real-world challenges. The curriculum incorporates cutting-edge tools used in Wharton’s undergraduate and MBA programs, offering a truly engaging and hands-on learning experience.
12. Georgetown Procollege Online Program in Entrepreneurship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795
Program Dates: 1, 2, and 4-week sessions throughout the year.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up
Through this program, you can gain foundational knowledge and explore the history of entrepreneurship, learn to identify marketplace needs, discover what it means to “fail forward” by adapting to market changes, and develop fluency in discussing how businesses operate. You will also learn to build partnerships and funding sources through networking, create a timeline and plan for launching your business, and determine if entrepreneurship is a path you’d like to pursue in college and beyond. The course culminates in a special Capstone Project that presents your business idea and explains why the world can’t live without it.
13. UPenn Wharton Global Youth Program: Understanding Your Money
Location: Virtual (Online)
Cost: $329
Program Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
The Understanding Your Money course, offered by the UPenn Wharton Global Youth Program, is a self-paced online program designed to help high school students build financial literacy. Open to students in grades 9-12, it provides a strong foundation in personal finance and covers essential topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, and smart financial decision-making.
Through interactive activities, case studies, and expert-led discussions, students will explore key financial concepts and develop the skills needed to manage their money effectively. The program also introduces broader economic principles and real-world applications to help students make informed financial choices in the future.
14. Georgetown Pre-College Online Program in Investing
Location: Virtual
Cost: Up to $1,795
Course Dates: 1, 2, and 4-week sessions available
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up
The Georgetown Pre-College Online Program in Investing is designed for students aged 13 and up who want to develop a strong foundation in finance and investment strategies. This flexible, self-paced course covers essential topics such as financial markets, stock trading, portfolio management, risk assessment, and wealth creation. Taught by industry experts, the program explores valuation models, asset allocation, fintech innovations, and digital assets like cryptocurrency.
You will gain hands-on experience through case studies and practical exercises. This culminates in a Final Capstone Project that showcases your investment knowledge. Upon completion, participants receive a Certificate of Completion from Georgetown University.
15. edX – Foundations of Finance by the University of Cambridge
Location: Online (edX)
Cost: Free (certificate available for $199, financial aid available)
Course Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to all learners
The Foundations of Finance course, offered by the University of Cambridge on edX, is a self-paced program designed for learners who want to develop a solid understanding of financial principles. It explores key topics such as risk management, financial markets, valuation, and investment strategies and incorporates real-world case studies and expert insights. Taught by renowned faculty from the University of Cambridge, the course features engaging video lectures, readings, and assignments to help students grasp essential financial concepts.
Image source: University of Cambridge
