Summer Springboard
Business Startup Bootcamp
ON THE CAMPUS OF UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, FOSTER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
THE UW FOSTER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS HIGH SCHOOL BUSINESS STARTUP BOOTCAMP PROGRAM IS A ONE-WEEK IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE DESIGNED FOR RISING HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS, SENIORS, AND HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS GRADUATING IN 2026.
UW Foster School of Business Youth Program is in Collaboration with Summer Springboard.
THIS IS A ONE-WEEK PROGRAM WHERE YOU’LL FOCUS ON ONE COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION.
Business Startup Bootcamp
- Work in small teams with other entrepreneurial-minded students to design and launch a product-based startup in one week.
- Apply frameworks for ideation, iteration, and identifying unmet marketplace needs while gaining a foundation in market research fundamentals.
- Learn to ask insightful questions that reveal what drives customers, evaluate business ideas, and understand what investors look for when assessing startup profitability.
- Develop essential public speaking, sales, and negotiation skills through opportunities to pitch ideas to fellow students and business professionals.
- Build prototypes and visit UW’s makerspaces, experiencing firsthand why the university is recognized as a leading startup hub.
- Learn from UW Foster School faculty with real-world startup experience and successful Seattle entrepreneurs, gaining practical business skills that enhance college applications and future career prospects while experiencing campus life at the University of Washington.
Summer Springboard
Business Startup Bootcamp
About This Course
Gain hands-on experience in what it takes to be a startup founder in this intensive one-week bootcamp at UW Foster School of Business. Working in teams, you’ll apply design thinking principles to develop innovative product ideas, conduct market validation, create business strategies and build prototypes. Inspired by UW Foster’s undergraduate entrepreneurship curriculum, this program immerses you in the real challenges and excitement of launching a startup.
The week blends classroom instruction with practical application and insights from Seattle’s vibrant startup ecosystem. Learn essential business fundamentals from UW Foster faculty and industry experts, then immediately apply those concepts through prototyping, strategy sessions and team collaboration. The program culminates in a pitch competition where you’ll present your startup concept to a panel of judges, followed by an awards and certificate ceremony celebrating your achievements. Whether you’re exploring entrepreneurship for the first time or building skills that set you apart for college and beyond, this bootcamp provides the experience and confidence to turn ideas into action.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
Bring your vision to life by creating prototypes, working hands-on with your team and diving into interactive experiences that make learning unforgettable.
Career Exploration
Meet entrepreneurs and business professionals who bring their real-world stories to life, explore exciting career paths from startups to corporate innovation and discover if you’re meant to be the next big founder.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“I came in knowing next to nothing about business and now I feel that I have flourished in business. This program is very beneficial and I feel that I am ready for college.”
– Nathaniel C. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Business Startup Bootcamp
Meet Your Instructor
Valerie Trask has spent the past eight years teaching entrepreneurship at the University of Washington, where she guides students through launching real, profitable ventures.
An experienced founder and startup advisor, she’s built and supported multiple early-stage companies across consumer and innovation sectors. Val brings an energetic, practical approach that helps young entrepreneurs turn creative ideas into actionable business experiments.
VALERIE TRASK
In 2026, Princeton Review ranked UW Foster’s Undergraduate Entrepreneurship program #3 among public universities nationwide.
Summer Springboard
Business Startup Bootcamp
Dates & Tuition
| 2026 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: July 19 – July 25, 2026 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $4,298 |
| Commuter Tuition: $2,998 |
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: Seattle |
| State: Washington |
| Campus: University of Washington |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly, NYSID and UW Foster which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.