Summer Springboard
Business & Entrepreneurship
ON THE CAMPUS OF BARNARD COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
DIVE INTO THE ESSENTIALS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BUSINESS GROWTH WITH THIS IMMERSIVE COURSE WHERE STUDENTS WILL CREATE, DEVELOP, AND PITCH THEIR OWN STARTUP IDEAS
THIS IS A TWO-WEEK PROGRAM WHERE YOU’LL FOCUS ON ONE COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION.
Business & Entrepreneurship @ Barnard College
- Introduce the Business Model Canvas approach to entrepreneurship to help structure and develop business ideas.
- Work in teams to create an original business venture, developing sales and marketing plans to pitch to investors and mentors.
- Present final business pitches to an expert panel of judges who provide professional, informative feedback based on the teams’ marketing plans and financial projections.
- Engage in an experiential learning approach where students apply theory and concepts while building their business throughout the program.
- Understand how operations, marketing, sales, and finance work together to drive a successful business.
- Connect with a diverse group of business professionals, from small business owners to executives at firms like Goldman Sachs and McKinsey, plus CEOs from various industries.
Summer Springboard
Business & Entrepreneurship
About This Course
A business program for teens on a university campus in New York City
Summer Springboard’s Business & Entrepreneurship course at Barnard College offers aspiring entrepreneurs a dynamic introduction to the world of business and the key factors that influence business growth.
In the first class, students form teams to create an original business idea. Throughout the program, they develop this concept into a full business, crafting marketing plans and financial projections. Using an experiential learning approach, students actively engage with real challenges while the instructor introduces key theories and concepts. The course culminates with teams pitching their ventures to an expert panel who provide valuable feedback.
Students work collaboratively to build a new business venture, learning how operations, marketing, sales, and finance interconnect to drive success. They also get introduced to the Business Model Canvas as a framework for entrepreneurship. Additionally, students benefit from hearing firsthand stories of startup survival from an experienced founder, gaining practical insights into the entrepreneurial journey.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
Students engage in hands-on learning by working in teams to develop an original business idea into a full venture, creating marketing plans and financial projections using the Business Model Canvas. Throughout the program, they tackle real-world challenges while instructors introduce key concepts, culminating in a final pitch to expert judges who provide valuable feedback. Courses are taught by passionate faculty from top universities and professional backgrounds, ensuring students gain deep insights into entrepreneurship through both guidance and active project work.
Career Exploration
Students explore diverse career paths by working directly with business professionals from startups to top firms like Goldman Sachs and McKinsey, gaining firsthand insight into different roles and industries. Through team projects, they develop and pitch their own business ventures, learning how various functions like marketing, sales, and finance come together to drive success. Unique experiences, such as touring innovative companies like fabrik and Any Bag in New York, expose students to cutting-edge business models focused on urban revitalization and sustainability, helping them understand real-world applications and inspiring future career possibilities.
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 really enjoyed this program. I have had an interest in business, but I haven’t been sure about which path in business I would like to pursue. In this class, it showed all the different aspects. I especially enjoyed the simulation and the coming together with a group to make the pitch.”
-Kendall S. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Business & Entrepreneurship
Meet Your Instructor
Alana Cheeks-Lomax is the Co-Founder and CEO of Untold Impact, a strategy consulting firm dedicated to helping brands forge authentic connections with multicultural communities, empowering them to thrive in today’s competitive marketplace. A recognized global leader, Alana delivers innovative solutions that empower public and private sector organizations to achieve their strategic goals. She is a mission driven strategist with over 15 years of experience providing management and strategy solutions to non-profits, public, and private sector organizations looking to achieve their strategic objectives through business transformation, organizational growth, and social impact. She is passionate about bringing innovative ideas to the intersection of business and society, using her experiences to solve an organization’s most challenging problems.
Formerly the Global Head of Inclusion & Diversity at Cash App and a diversity executive at Microsoft, she has built DEI programs from the ground up and is a trusted advisor to executives, known for leading impactful DEI initiatives, strategic partnerships, and community engagement. Alana is an accomplished public speaker and a distinguished recipient of several prestigious awards including the AT&T and Rolling Out Magazine Women of Power NYC Award. She is a two-time graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, where she serves on the Andrew Carnegie Society Board. She is also a trustee of INCLUDEnyc, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth with disabilities in New York City.
ALANA CHEEKS-LOMAX
“My time at SSB was one to remember. It really engaged me in the college life with classes and community. I really enjoyed the excursions and the course was incredibly informative, not only in what would be covered in the field but it also gave us insight of what was to be expected if we pursued that career.”
-Chris C.| Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Business & Entrepreneurship
Dates & Tuition
| 2026 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: July 5 – July 17, 2026 |
| Session 2: July 19 – July 31, 2026 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $5,898 |
| Commuter Tuition: $3,298 |
Apply by November 30 to lock in the lowest prices of the year. Tuition increases on December 1.
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: New York City |
| State: New York |
| Campus: Barnard College |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly and NYSID 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.