Business & Entrepreneurship Programs

Discover business education opportunities for high school students including entrepreneurship programs, finance competitions, and business camps.

Program Categories

Entrepreneurship incubators and startup programs
Business competitions (DECA, FBLA, BPA)
Finance and investment programs
Pre-college business courses
Economics olympiads and competitions

Current business program listings

120 matching programs are listed in the directory right now. The most recently added:

Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition — Blue Ocean Global Network: Join the world’s largest virtual pitch competition for high school students. Build entrepreneurship skills, boost your college applications, and showc
MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition — MIT: Compete in a premier entrepreneurship competition for high schoolers. Develop business skills, launch innovative ventures, and boost college applicati
Yale Entrepreneurial Society High School Fellowship — Yale Entrepreneurial Society: Master entrepreneurship skills in this free 8-week virtual fellowship for high school students. Build startups, strengthen college applications, and l
Forbes 30 Under 30 Recognition — Forbes Magazine: Gain national recognition as a high school entrepreneur with Forbes 30 Under 30. Boost college applications and showcase your achievements in business
Knowledge Matters Virtual Business Challenge — Knowledge Matters: Join this free virtual business competition for high schoolers to manage retail, sports, or restaurant simulations. Build entrepreneurial skills and b
Wharton Investment Competition — Wharton/UPenn: Compete in a global investing competition for high school students. Manage a $100k portfolio, gain real-world finance skills, and boost your college a
Harvard Business Conference — Harvard HBS: Elite in-person business competition for grades 10-12 at Harvard. Solve real-world cases, network with Fortune 500 leaders, and strengthen college app
Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program — Girls Who Invest: Highly selective free 4-week summer program placing high school girls and nonbinary students at top investment management firms for training in financ
Goldman Sachs Possibilities Summit — Goldman Sachs: Selective multi-day career exploration program at Goldman Sachs headquarters for high school juniors from underrepresented groups interested in financ
LifeSmarts National Championship — National Consumers League: Free national consumer knowledge and personal finance competition for high school teams, testing real-world skills in health, technology, the environm
DECA Scholarship Program — DECA Inc.: DECA awards over $5 million in scholarships annually to its members, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $50,000. Scholarships reward excellence in bus
FBLA Scholarship Program — Future Business Leaders of America: FBLA-PBL offers multiple scholarships for active FBLA members pursuing business-related degrees. Awards recognize academic excellence, community servi
Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) National Competition — YEA!: National pitch competition for YEA! entrepreneurs. Students compete with businesses launched through YEA! program.
Yale Bulldogs Investment Fund — Yale University: Student-managed investment fund experience at Yale. Learn portfolio management from Yale finance community.
SXSW Pitch Competition — SXSW: Pitch startup at South by Southwest. Student category.
Rotman International Trading Competition — Rotman School of Management: Prestigious simulation-based trading competition. Demonstrates financial acumen and quantitative decision-making under pressure.
Ross School of Business Summer Business Academy — University of Michigan Ross: Business program at Michigan Ross. Explore business disciplines with Ross faculty and business leaders.
Beta Alpha Psi High School Competition — Beta Alpha Psi: Financial literacy and accounting case competition. Regional and national levels.
LaunchX Entrepreneurship Summer — LaunchX: Selective startup incubator where teams build and launch real ventures.
Economics Olympiad Regional Competitions — Various Universities: Regional rounds of the International Economics Olympiad. Top performers advance to national team selection for global competition.
TechCrunch Disrupt Battlefield — TechCrunch: Startup competition at major tech conference. Present to investors.
St. Gallen Symposium Wings of Excellence — University of St. Gallen: Top 100 essayists meet global business and political leaders in Switzerland. One of the most selective business/leadership opportunities globally.
American Enterprise Institute High School Economics Writing Competition — American Enterprise Institute: Economics essay competition from AEI. Analyze economic policy issues for prizes.
Virtual Enterprise International Business Plan Competition — Virtual Enterprises International: Business plan competition culminating at international finals. Students run simulated companies and pitch to real business judges.

View all business programs in the directory

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DECA or FBLA better?

Both are valuable and recognized. DECA focuses more on marketing and entrepreneurship, while FBLA emphasizes general business and leadership. Choose based on your interests and what's available at your school. Participation and achievement in either organization looks strong on applications.

Do I need a business idea to participate in competitions?

Not always. Many competitions accept teams that develop ideas during the program. Some focus on case studies or exams rather than original business plans. Start with competitions matching your current experience level.

Are business summer programs worth the cost?

It depends on the program. Selective, lower-cost programs often offer more value than expensive pay-to-attend programs. Look for programs with clear learning objectives, experienced instructors, and meaningful projects rather than just campus tours and networking.

How can I get business experience without formal programs?

Start a small venture, even if it's just selling a product or service locally. Volunteer to help with a family or community business. Take online courses in business topics. These self-directed experiences can be as valuable as formal programs.

What skills should I develop for business?

Focus on communication (written and oral), quantitative analysis, critical thinking, and teamwork. Practical skills like spreadsheet modeling, presentation design, and basic accounting are also valuable. Real project experience matters more than theoretical knowledge alone.

Will business extracurriculars help if I'm not majoring in business?

Yes. Leadership, communication, and entrepreneurial skills are valued across fields. Many successful professionals in STEM, law, medicine, and other areas benefit from business acumen. These experiences show well-roundedness on college applications.

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