K⋅LAB

YOUTH BUSINESS ACCELERATOR

All K⋅LAB students begin by attending a 1-week Startup Workshop. Select students are then invited to join the year-long Young Entrepreneur Fellowship.

1-week STARTUP workshop

  • Rising 10th-12th grade students build a brand new business: create an idea, make a business plan, and launch their website

  • Get expert mentoring from an Ivy League entrepreneur

  • Collaborate with a talented, elite peer group

  • Compete in an end-of-session pitch competition

  • Successful students earn a personalized letter of recommendation from K⋅LAB's CEO, Catherine Killingsworth (Yale '08) and receive an invitation to K⋅LAB's year-long Young Entrepreneur Fellowship Program.

FAQ

Do i need to have a business idea before i sign up?

No! We'll help you come up with a great idea based on your interests and talents.

can teams work together in the workshop?

Absolutely. You can sign up with a friend or find a business partner at the workshop.

do i need technical or coding skills?

No. We'll show you how to use simple "no code" tools to build your business.

can i really start a business in just one week?

Definitely. We'll teach you how to start your business quickly using a strategy called the "MVP." You might even get your first customer before the workshop is over!

workshop Facilitator

K⋅LAB workshops are designed and led by entrepreneur and educator Catherine Killingsworth. She earned a BA at Yale and an MBA at Quantic. In the course of her career, she has:

  • founded a nonprofit that was named one of the top 10 youth arts programs in the country by the President's Council on Arts and Humanities

  • led the creation of an accredited MBA program in Entrepreneurship and another in Strategic Leadership

  • served as a public school teacher and Dean of Curriculum and Instruction in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System

Curriculum

Our engaging, interactive, project-based program teaches students about businesses by having them build one! The five-day program includes:

  • Day 1: Idea generation & the customer value proposition. Students will work together and use a variety of idea generation strategies to come up with over 100 viable new business ideas.

  • Day 2: Business models & competitive analysis. Students will analyze real case studies of different business models and research competitors for their own business in order to choose a business model.

  • Day 3: Market research & test-selling. Students will get out into the real world to talk to customers and find out what they'll really buy!

  • Day 4: Financial projections. Students will use a financial projection template to build their own financial projections while they learn about revenue, expenses, profit, margins, and returns on investment.

  • Day 5: Pitching your business plan. Students will create a short presentation to pitch their business to investors. And, they'll compete in the session Pitch Competition!


dATES, LOCATIONS, & sESSIONS

The Savannah-area Summer Startup Workshop for high school students will take place July 25-29, 9AM-4PM each day. To apply, head here. To inquire after other locations and opportunities, please email admin@klab.school.

tuition & Financial aid

Early enrollment tuition for the Savannah Summer Startup Workshop is $585 for students who apply by April 25. Regular tuition is $695. Some financial financial aid is available. Contact admin@klab.school for more information.

Money-back guarantee: If your student attends every day, participates fully in all assignments, and doesn't leave with a viable business plan and pitch, we will fully refund their tuition.

can teenagers really start a profitable business?

Yes! In today's online economy, you can create a website and start pre-selling products in as little as a day or two, with little to no capital or technological expertise. In fact, digital-native teenagers are uniquely well-qualified to thrive in this economy! Check out just a few examples of successful teenage entrepreneurs:

  • 16-year-old Alina Morse created the "healthy candy" company Zollipops

  • 14-year-old Gabby Goodwin started her hair fashion company GaBBY Bows

  • 16-year-old Femi Adebogun started the scholarship navigation service ScholarMe

With K⋅LAB's helpful business templates and tools, we set students up for real, practical business success.


contact

Reach out to us at admin@klab.school with any questions, or to schedule a call.