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IN THIS EDITION
Free Ventures is UC Berkeley's student led leading startup accelerator. Over 13 years, they've launched 100+ companies that have raised $200M+ in follow-on capital - including YC-backed startups and successful acquisitions.
For the first time ever, they're opening an 8-week entrepreneurship bootcamp to high school students worldwide.
Tell me more
The program is fully virtual and run by Berkeley (often ranked top 5 undergraduate business program in the world).
The Top Universities with Entrepreneurial Alumni
Source: Virtual Capitalist (based on an analysis of more than 173,000 VC-backed founders from PitchBook who raised capital between January 1, 2014, and September 1, 2025)
What you’ll learn
You'll learn startup fundamentals - ideation, market research, MVP development, growth, storytelling - and build a real prototype by the end.
From world-class mentors
Weekly workshops feature mentors from Y Combinator, McKinsey, Google, OpenAI, Amazon, Apple, and Jane Street. The program culminates in a Demo Day where you pitch to investors and compete for up to $10K in prizes.
No prior coding or business experience required. Open to students in grades 9-12 from anywhere in the world.
In this edition, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about this entrepreneurship bootcamp - weekly curriculum, cost, financial aid, application process, and FAQs.
Deadline: March 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST.
Please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] with any questions.
For FULL DETAILS, please see BELOW…
Free Ventures - UC Berkeley Startup Bootcamp for High Schoolers | International Students Welcome | 8-Weeks, Fully Virtual | Mentors from YC, Google, OpenAI, McKinsey | $10K in Prizes | Deadline: March 10
“Always aim for the moon, even if you miss, you'll land at The Campanile”
Free Ventures High School Entrepreneurship Bootcamp | Spring 2026
What is Free Ventures?
Free Ventures is UC Berkeley's leading student-run startup accelerator. Over the past 13 years, they've run 20+ cohorts for undergraduate founders, launching 100+ startups that have collectively raised $200M+ in follow-on capital. Their portfolio includes YC-backed companies and successful acquisitions.
For the first time, they're running a bootcamp specifically for high school students.
What You Get
• 8-week curriculum: From idea to launch - ideation, market research, business models, MVP development, user testing, growth/marketing, storytelling, and Demo Day
• World-class mentorship: YC-backed founders and professionals from McKinsey, Google, OpenAI, Amazon, Apple, Stripe, and Jane Street
• Build something real: Walk away with a pitch deck and working prototype
• Demo Day: Pitch to investors and industry experts. Compete for up to $10K in prizes.
• Find co-founders: Connect with ambitious high schoolers from around the world
• Small cohort: ~30 students max for personalized engagement and 1:1 support
Key Details
Application Deadline | March 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST |
Program Dates | March - April 2026 (8 weeks) |
Format | Fully virtual (join from anywhere) |
Time Commitment | ~4 hours/week |
Time Zone | PST (scheduled to work for PST, IST, and GST) |
Cohort Size | ~30 students max |
Cost | $250 (all-inclusive) |
Financial Aid | Need-based aid available |
Eligibility | Grades 9-12. No prior experience required. International students welcome. |
8-Week Curriculum: From First Idea to Final Pitch
Week 1: Ideation & Design Thinking Generate and validate startup ideas using structured brainstorming frameworks. Learn how to identify real problems worth solving.
Week 2: Market Research Conduct user interviews and analyze your target audience. Map out your competitive landscape and identify your unique value proposition.
Week 3: Business Models & Strategy Explore case studies to learn unit economics and pricing models. Create your own lean business canvas.
Week 4: MVP Development Turn your validated idea into a minimum viable product. Learn rapid prototyping techniques, no-code tools, and how to ship fast without sacrificing quality.
Week 5: User Testing & Iteration Put your MVP in front of real users and gather actionable feedback. Learn how to run effective user tests, measure key metrics, and iterate quickly.
Week 6: Growth & Marketing Master customer acquisition channels and growth strategies. Dive into social media marketing, content strategy, SEO basics, and more.
Week 7: Storytelling Craft a compelling narrative that resonates with investors and customers. Build your pitch deck, practice delivery, and learn how to handle Q&A.
Week 8: Demo Day Present your startup to a panel of investors, founders, and industry experts. Compete for prizes and receive personalized feedback.
Typical Week
~2 hours of live workshop (recorded if you can't attend)
~1 hour of optional office hours with Free Ventures team
~2 hours of asynchronous assignments
Guest speakers are incorporated into weekly workshops, with panel discussions and keynote sessions throughout the program.
What You'll Walk Away With
A pitch deck
A working prototype
Feedback from investors and industry experts
A network of ambitious peers and potential co-founders
Cost & Financial Aid
Cost: $250 (all-inclusive)
This covers:
Live workshops
Recorded materials
Assignments
Guest speaker sessions (YC-backed founders, etc.)
Office hours
Demo Day participation
No additional costs.
Financial Aid: Need-based aid is available on a case-by-case basis. The application includes a short essay to explain your circumstances. As mentioned, the full cost of the bootcamp is $250. Free Ventures is committed to accessible education and offers financial aid to students with verified need. If cost may be a barrier or you are unsure whether you qualify, I’ll encourage you to reach out directly to [email protected] .
Refund Policy: No refunds after the program starts due to transaction costs and international tax implications.
How to Apply
Apply here:
More info: https://freeventuresbootcamp.org
Deadline: March 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Cohort is limited to ~30 students, so apply early.
Additional FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible? High school students in grades 9-12. No prior coding or business experience required. International students welcome - the program is fully virtual.
Do I need to have a startup idea already? No. Week 1 focuses on ideation. You can also come with an existing idea and develop it further.
What's the time commitment? Approximately 4 hours per week - 2 hours of live workshop, 1 hour of optional office hours, and 2 hours of assignments.
When are the live sessions? Sessions run at times convenient for PST, IST, and GST time zones. All sessions are recorded if you can't attend live.
Is this the first high school cohort? Yes. However, the Free Ventures team has 13 years of experience running their undergraduate accelerator, which has produced 100+ startups and $200M+ in follow-on funding.
Who are the mentors? YC-backed founders and current/former professionals at McKinsey, Google, OpenAI, Amazon, Apple, Stripe, and Jane Street. Guest speakers join weekly workshops via panels and keynotes.
What happens at Demo Day? You pitch your startup to a panel of investors, founders, and industry experts. Top teams compete for up to $10K in prizes.
How are applications reviewed? Rolling basis. Due to limited capacity (~30 students), the sooner you apply, the better your chances.
Have more questions? You can contact me at ranjit.rauniyar@gmail.com or Aryan Nangia (student at Berkeley) directly at [email protected]
GOOD LUCK - GO BUILD SOMETHING!
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