Summer Springboard
Business & Entrepreneurship
ON THE CAMPUS OF YALE 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 COURSE IS ONE WEEK LONG, AND YOU CAN EXTEND YOUR EXPERIENCE TO AS MANY AS SIX WEEKS BY ADDING ADDITIONAL ONE-WEEK COURSES.
Business & Entrepreneurship @ Yale
- 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 Haven, CT
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 Instructors
Dr. Aaron S. Marks holds a DHSc and has worked in entrepreneurial sports ventures, secondary and higher education, and academic advising. Aaron has taught entrepreneurship and sports psychology at the University of New Haven and was a Maynard National Teaching Fellow at Elon University. He holds a Sport-Related Concussion Training Certification from the University of Michigan and a State of Connecticut Coaching Certification. His research focuses on concussion awareness, leadership, entrepreneurship, and game theory applications in athletics.
Brian A. Marks, J.D., Ph.D. is Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program and Senior Lecturer in Economics & Business Analytics at the University of New Haven. With over 30 years of experience in entrepreneurial and international business, Brian teaches economics, entrepreneurial finance, game theory, healthcare, and design thinking. He has served as CAO, CFO, and General Counsel for technology firms across multiple countries and currently advises startups including Veridify Security Inc. and DFN Freight Exchange Inc. Brian earned his J.D. and Ph.D. in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis.
DR. AARON MARKS & BRIAN MARKS
“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: June 14 – June 20, 2026 |
| Session 4: July 5 – July 11, 2026 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition First Week |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $4,298* |
| Commuter Tuition: $2,498* |
| Application Fee: $99+ |
*Each subsequent week, if combined with other one-week high school courses at Yale or Oxford: Residential Tuition: $3,298, Commuter Tuition: $1,998
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: New Haven |
| State: Connecticut |
| Campus: Yale University |
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.