10 Business Summer Programs for Gifted Middle School Students

Summer break can be more than just time off from school; for gifted middle school students with an interest in entrepreneurship, economics, or leadership, business summer programs for gifted middle school students are a solid option worth exploring. These programs can introduce you to college‑level academics and life, helping you build practical skills like problem solving, teamwork, and financial literacy that often aren’t covered in traditional middle school classes. You’ll gain industry exposure and begin forming valuable connections with peers, mentors, and professionals - all without the high expense of full college courses. Many programs offer scholarships or financial aid that make participation more accessible, meaning you won’t necessarily have to pay top dollar to access rigorous academic and networking experiences. If you’re passionate about business, you’ll want to consider competitive opportunities and business summer programs for gifted middle school students with strong reputations, meaningful projects, and real mentorship. 

To help you navigate the options, we narrowed down programs based on academic rigor, networking opportunities, scholarship availability, selectivity where applicable, and affiliation with prestigious institutions. Below you’ll find objective, useful details on each listing so you can decide which business summer programs for gifted middle school students might be right for you.

10 Business Summer Programs for Gifted Middle School Students

1. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program (JEP)

Location: Remote

Cost/Stipend: Varies; Full financial aid is available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective

Dates: 8-week program; multiple cohorts throughout the year

Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8

Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings. 

2. The Business of Doing Good

Location: CIC Boston, 50 Milk Street, Boston, MA & The Foundry, 101 Rogers Street, Cambridge, MA

Cost: Not publicly listed; financial assistance readily available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size not specified

Dates: August 5–9 in Boston; August 12–16 in Cambridge

Application Deadline: Registration closes when spots are filled

Eligibility: Level 1: Grades 5–7; Level 2: Grades 8–10

This five-day in-person program is designed to help you create a social entrepreneurship project rooted in your interests and values. You’ll select your own focus area—like human rights, technology, the environment, or something entirely your own—and learn how to develop a business around it. The curriculum includes brainstorming, planning, and presentation skills, all leading up to a final Expo where you showcase your venture. The program emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and practical application, making space for individualized attention and feedback. Hosted in Boston and Cambridge, it offers a hands-on, real-world experience for aspiring changemakers.

3. Veritas AI - AI Trailblazers

Location: Remote

Cost: Varies; Full financial aid is available

Acceptance rate or Cohort size: Highly selective

Dates: Various cohorts throughout the year

Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8; no coding or technical background required

Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program introduces you to key concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning through live instruction and collaborative learning. Over 25 hours, you learn Python programming, explore data analysis, and build models using regression and classification techniques. You receive personalized guidance through small-group mentoring, with a five-to-one student-to-mentor ratio. As the program progresses, you explore more advanced topics such as neural networks and AI ethics. A central part of the experience is the team-based capstone project, where you and a few peers apply your new skills to solve a real-world challenge and present your findings at the end. 

4. NYU College and Career Lab

Location: New York University, New York, NY

Cost: Free; includes meals and MTA transportation

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed; competitive with holistic admissions

Dates: July 6–July 31

Application Deadline: March 31 

Eligibility: Current 7th or 8th graders attending public or charter schools in one of NYC’s five boroughs

The NYU College & Career Lab introduces you to a variety of academic fields through an immersive four-week summer program on campus. If you're placed in the business track, you'll study foundational concepts like marketing, accounting, and entrepreneurship with faculty from the NYU Stern School of Business. You’ll also meet with Stern alumni working at companies like Facebook and Google to hear how they applied their education to build careers. Beyond class, you'll participate in field trips, workshops, and Practice Labs to explore careers and build professional skills. This free program aims to help you try on different paths early and prepare for long-term academic and career success.

5. Dallas College Youth Entrepreneurship Bootcamp

Location: Dallas College Pleasant Grove Center, 802 S Buckner Blvd, Dallas, TX

Cost: Not publicly listed; operated by nonprofit Millennial Education

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size not specified

Dates: June 9–July 18

Application Deadline: May 23

Eligibility: Students in grades 7–10

This six-week hybrid bootcamp is designed to guide you through the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, from ideation to launch. You'll kick off with in-person sessions on entrepreneurial mindset, followed by weekly field trips, guest speakers, and hands-on projects covering financial literacy, business operations, and marketing. As you move through each week, you'll refine your product and presentation skills, preparing to showcase your venture at a culminating Business Fair. The program emphasizes confidence-building, public speaking, and community-based learning, offering a mix of online and in-person engagement. It's hosted by Millennial Education, a nonprofit focused on empowering underserved youth through education and career development.

6. Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY

Cost: Free; full scholarship provided

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact size not disclosed

Dates: July 6–August 7 or July 13–August 7 (based on assigned session)

Application Deadline: May 15

Eligibility: NYC residents currently in 9th–11th grade; minimum age 15

ieSoSC is a five-week summer program that combines hands-on engineering, coding, and entrepreneurial training through the lens of smart city innovation. At NYU Tandon, you’ll work in small teams to develop a tech-based solution—like an app or device—that addresses urban challenges using IoT technology. Alongside technical training in electronics and microcontrollers, you'll gain insight into project management, branding, and intellectual property, all while preparing a pitch for a live audience. Communication coaching through theater workshops helps sharpen your public speaking and presentation skills. Funded by National Grid, this selective program is tuition-free and designed to support your growth as a future innovator.

7. USF Stavros Shark Tank Camp

Location: University of South Florida, Stavros Center, Tampa, FL

Cost: Not publicly listed; updated fee announced during registration

Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students

Dates: To be announced; registration opens February 1

Application Deadline: Not specified; registration closes when full

Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–8

At this one-week entrepreneurship camp, you’ll learn how to take a business idea from concept to pitch. Guided by faculty from USF’s Stavros Center, you’ll develop a product or service, refine your pitch, and present it to real investors—just like on Shark Tank. Activities include business planning, public speaking, teamwork, and an introduction to the stock market. The small cohort ensures personal feedback and active participation. Sessions run full days, making it a focused, hands-on experience for middle school students interested in entrepreneurship.

8. CEOs of Tomorrow

Location: Madison, WI

Cost: $200 per session; scholarships available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size not specified

Dates: June 23–27 and July 7–11 (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)

Application Deadline: Rolling until sessions are full

Eligibility: Students in grades 4–8

This two-week, in-person camp guides you through starting your own business while tackling a social issue you care about—such as animal welfare or self-care. You’ll design a product like homemade candy or soap, develop a business plan, and sell your product to real customers at a public market. The curriculum includes branding, advertising, budgeting, and customer service. You'll also go on field trips, meet entrepreneurs, and earn a Junior Social Entrepreneurship badge. With a focus on combining profit with purpose, this camp helps you understand how business can make a positive impact in your community.

9. City College of New York STEM Institute

Location: City College of New York, Shepard Hall, 259 Convent Avenue, New York, NY

Cost: Free 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited enrollment

Dates: July 7–August 7

Application Deadline: May 25

Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12

This five-week, full-day summer program gives you the chance to explore entrepreneurship within a broader STEM learning experience. In the entrepreneurship course, you’ll learn how to evaluate a business idea, build a business model, assess market potential, and understand core components of launching a venture. You’ll collaborate with peers in scenario-based projects and gain practical financial literacy through related courses in money management and investing. The afternoons are dedicated to research and hands-on activities, giving you space to apply new concepts in meaningful ways. The program is completely free and designed for students in New York City who are ready to deepen both academic and professional skills.

10. Camp BizSmart

Location: In-person at various U.S. locations (primarily Silicon Valley)

Cost: Not publicly listed; contact program for pricing

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; teams of 6–7 students

Dates: 10-day sessions; specific dates vary by location

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until sessions are full

Eligibility: Students ages 11–15 (beginner to moderate level)

At Camp BizSmart, you’ll step into the role of a startup executive as you work in a team to solve a real innovation challenge from a company founder or CEO. Over 10 days, you’ll learn business fundamentals like marketing, finance, and product development through hands-on case studies from companies like Token and Notpla. Each day is structured around different skill-building topics, leading to a final pitch where you and your team present your business solution to actual investors. You’ll also build a digital portfolio and gain experience in leadership, negotiation, and collaboration. The camp focuses on applied learning in a fast-paced environment designed to simulate startup dynamics.

Lydia is an alumna from Harvard University and studied Molecular and Cellular Biology & Economics. In high school, she was the captain of her high school’s Academic Decathlon team and attended the Governor's School of Engineering and Technology. She is working as a life sciences consultant after graduation. 

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