Inkling isn't a classroom. It's a launchpad. Over six intensive weeks, you'll go from a raw idea to a real startup — building, iterating, and pitching alongside a handpicked cohort of ambitious high schoolers.
We stripped away the lectures, the hypotheticals, and the busy work. What's left is the real thing.
No textbooks. No exams. You learn by building a real company from scratch, making decisions that matter.
Customer discovery, MVP development, pitch decks — the same process used by Y Combinator founders.
Only 15–30 students per cohort. You'll be surrounded by driven, creative peers who push you further.
Guided by founders, VCs, and operators who've built companies worth millions. Real feedback, not theory.
Every week is designed to move your startup forward. Here's the journey from idea to Demo Day.
You'll explore problems worth solving, brainstorm solutions, conduct rapid market research, and form your startup team of 2–4 people. By the end of the week, you'll have a team, a problem, and a hypothesis.
Get out of the building. You'll conduct real user interviews, validate whether your problem actually exists, and build detailed personas of your target users. This is where ideas meet reality.
Turn your validated idea into something tangible. You'll wireframe your solution, build a working prototype or minimum viable product, and start testing it with early users.
A great product needs a great business. You'll define revenue models, analyze your competitive landscape, and craft a go-to-market strategy that makes investors pay attention.
Build your brand and get your first real users. You'll develop a brand identity, create a social media strategy, and execute user acquisition tactics that actually drive growth.
This is your moment. You'll craft a compelling pitch deck, rehearse with mentors, and present your startup to a panel of judges, investors, and industry leaders on Demo Day.
This isn't just a summer experience. You'll leave with tangible assets that last well beyond the program.
A working prototype or MVP that you built, tested, and iterated on with real users.
An investor-ready pitch deck refined through multiple rounds of mentor feedback and rehearsals.
A comprehensive business plan covering market analysis, revenue models, and growth strategy.
Lifelong connections with ambitious peers, successful founders, and industry mentors.
An official certificate of completion recognizing your entrepreneurial achievement.
A compelling narrative for college applications demonstrating initiative, leadership, and grit.
Every startup at Inkling is built by a team of 2–4 students. Because the best companies aren't built solo — they're built by people who complement each other.
We pair you based on skills, interests, and working style — not randomly. Every team is designed to succeed.
Daily standups, shared milestones, and structured check-ins keep your team aligned and moving fast.
Each team is assigned a dedicated mentor who provides weekly feedback and holds you accountable.
Visionary
Strategy & Leadership
Builder
Product & Tech
Storyteller
Marketing & Brand
Operator
Ops & Finance
Sample Team of 4
Applications are open for our next cohort. 15–30 spots. Six weeks. Put your idea to work.
Apply Now →$4,999 · Grades 9–12 · Selective Admissions