Business & Entrepreneurship at Barnard College, Columbia University

Learn about business and entrepreneurship in the world's financial epicenter, New York!

Business and Entrepreneurship course for teens in New York

Program Highlights

Introduce the Business Model Canvas approach to entrepreneurship

Work in teams to create a new business venture and develop a sales and marketing plan to pitch your venture to investors and mentors

Understand how operations, marketing, sales, and finance come together to drive businesses

Hear the tales of survival of a startup business from an entrepreneurial founder

Residential Tuition :
$5,898

Commuter Tuition:
$3,298

Session 1:
July 6, 2025 July 18, 2025

Session 2:
July 20, 2025 August 1, 2025

Barnard College, Columbia University
New York, New York

Testimonials

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.

Course Overview

In their first class, students will break into teams and come up with an original business idea. Over the course of the entire program they develop this idea into a business that they will ultimately pitch to investors. Along the way, teams need to develop a marketing plan and financial projections. By using an experiential learning approach, students will quickly engage in the topic, and the instructor introduces the underlying theory and concepts as students tackle these issues while trying to build their business. On the final day of the course the teams present their products to an expert panel of judges who provide professional and informative feedback to the students.

Meet your instructor

Michael Gilvary

Business & Entrepreneurship

Michael co-founded AION, a trailblazing health-tech company that led the charge in wearable technology for patient care. Beyond his role as an educator, he's a genuine pioneer in healthcare technology. Additionally, Michael serves as a faculty member at the Baruch School of Entrepreneurship, shaping the leaders and visionaries of tomorrow.

Learn more

Topics you'll explore

Hands-On Learning

Courses are taught by accomplished and passionate faculty recruited from many area colleges, universities and professional forums. Each faculty member is selected for their subject area expertise and proven ability to both challenge and captivate students. Last summer, we had an MIT instructor from the Sloane School of Management, whose experience varied from management consulting and working with organizations in the private, nonprofit and government sector to her current position assisting MBA students link theoretical management concepts to real world business applications.

Career Exploration

"Students get the unique opportunity to engage with a diverse range of business professionals, including small business owners, mid-level managers, and executives from top firms such as Goldman Sachs and McKinsey, as well as CEOs from various industries.

Last summer in New York, participants embarked on an exclusive tour of fabrik, a groundbreaking company that transforms underused spaces into vibrant community hubs. They explored how these revitalized areas support local businesses and drive urban development, gaining valuable insights into effective strategies for fostering growth in NYC. Students also visited Any Bag, a trailblazing company dedicated to repurposing and upcycling single-use plastic bags, preventing them from ending up in landfills and waterways. During this visit, they learned about the upcycling process and observed how the company converts waste into valuable products, highlighting the significance of sustainability in modern business practices."