Location: Troy University Campus and IDEA Bank in Troy, AL
Open to grades 6-12 and May 2026 High School graduates
The Entrepreneurship Summer Camp is a program that will offer an opportunity for young aspiring entrepreneurs to learn what it takes to successfully launch an idea into a profitable business. The camp will provide middle and high school students with technical training, hands-on activities, and real-life leadership opportunities related to entrepreneurship while fostering creativity, innovation, confidence, and idea development. Each day will challenge students to lean into their interests and develop their ideas.
The week will lead up to a pitch competition, where students will use what they've learned to pitch their product or service. The presentations will be reviewed by a panel of judges who will award the grand prize winner a $2,000 scholarship to Troy University.
Overnight housing will be provided for accepted participants 15 and older from Wednesday, July 22 until Saturday, July 25. You will indicate if you'd like to take advantage of housing when you complete your application. Registration includes meals for the entirety of the program. The Pitch Competition will take place on Saturday, July 25th and will be open to the public with a reception to follow. We encourage family and friends to make plans to attend the Pitch Competition! See below for more schedule details or email ideabank@troy.edu with your questions.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!
Camp Objectives
- Provide youth with a foundational understanding of how to launch a business
- Teach youth essential money management skills in business operations
- Foster creativity and innovation
- Cultivate the desire to become community change-makers and leaders
- Train youth in presentation and public speaking skills
- Develop a new level of confidence in youth to empower them to pursue their dreams
- Demonstrate and introduce examples of successful start-ups
- Assist youth in the development of their individual and personalized ideas/plans
- Teach youth how to develop a business and marketing plan
- Support career development and training
Camp Schedule
The Entrepreneurship Summer Camp will include 3 full days of learning and training and will finish with one day of pitch presentations and a closing reception. Each day will start at 9:00 a.m., with doors to the IDEA Bank opening at 8:30 a.m. and will finish by 4:00 p.m. All students will be provided with meals and transportation to sessions, and students ages 15 and older will have the option to reside on campus in overnight housing during the program (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night).
Night time activities will be organized for students residing overnight and a chaperone will be with them at all times. Chaperone will implement a nightly curfew and dorm checks, and will reside in the same building/floor overnight. Students who are not staying overnight should arrange for drop off no earlier than 8:30 a.m. and pickup no later than 5 p.m. at the IDEA Bank.
- July 22: Idea → Opportunity
Problems worth solving; Idea formation; Customer discovery - July 23: Build → Brand → Business
Value proposition; Branding & marketing; Pricing strategies - July 24: Pitch Prep → Practice → Polish
Elevator pitch; Professionalism; Networking; Presentation skills - July 25: Pitch Competition & Celebratory Reception
Anticipated time: 9:30-12:30 p.m. (may change slightly depending on number of students)
Family and friends are encouraged to attend!
Cost of Attendance
The registration fee is $50 for students not residing on campus; and $100 for students who prefer overnight housing (15+ only). Registration includes all meals and materials for students, as well as a closing reception for students and guests.
More Information
The deadline to enroll is July 6, 2026. However, the Youth Entrepreneurship Academy has limited capacity, so applications will be closed once the program is full. We encourage you to apply early to secure your spot!
If you have any additional questions about the Youth Entrepreneurship Academy, please email ideabank@troy.edu or call Lynne George at 334-808-6794.
We look forward to seeing you in Summer 2026!
2024 Recap
From the most recent High School Entrepreneurship Summer Camp to get a glimpse of the program.