NORWOOD, Mass., Jan. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Students 13 to 15 get jump on peers on becoming entrepreneurs
What do the founders of Instagram, SCVNGR, LevelUp, and Bellybuds all have in common? (1) They all created and built successful companies and (2), they all went to Explo as kids.
Launching a successful startup requires courage, grit, and managing risk. You need a vision, an idea, and passion. Kevin Systrom, an Explo alum and the founder of Instagram, advises: "Put your ideas out there. Sometimes your first idea isn't your best, but you can learn from it. It turns out you want it to fail if it's going to. Put it out there, and listen to the feedback."
For many entrepreneurs, getting from idea to profit requires either (a) a business school degree or (b) years of trial and error — and often, it requires both. But what if you could get a head start — and begin the process a lot earlier? Now it's possible with the launch of Explo StartUp.
Since 1977, Explo has been running highly successful, residential and day, hands-on summer programs on the campuses of Yale University, Wellesley College, and St. Mark's School. For years, some of the most popular Explo courses have been in entrepreneurship. Given that interest, Explo decided it was time for students to be able to dig even more deeply into business development. This summer, students 13 to 15 years old will join Explo StartUp on the campus of Wellesley College just outside of Boston: http://www.explo.org/focus/startup
These students won't be sitting in lectures or studying business theory in the abstract. For two weeks, they will learn by doing. They'll get insider access into the real world of business from industry leaders — at Google, MassChallenge, LevelUp, Square, and the Harvard Innovation Lab — who have traveled the road before them. And they'll collaborate — and compete with — their fellow students. They'll learn how to distill their entrepreneurial ideas, develop a brand, and nail down funding. They'll learn about supply chains, angel investors, incubators, balance sheets, networking, and how to do a pitch. From Day One, students will work side-by-side with instructors, business leaders, and professors who will inspire them, challenge them, and help them shape their dreams and ideas into viable business plans.
According to Elliot Targum, Head of Programs at Explo at Wellesley, "This is one an incredible opportunity for students to access industry professionals. It's such a terrific way to get exposure to the world of entrepreneurs, and work alongside peers who are equally ambitious, passionate, and creative. And it's a chance to employ professional networking even before high school graduation."
Founded in 1977, Explo runs a multitude of residential and day academic summer enrichment programs for students ages 9 through 17. Students from across the U.S. and 60 countries participate in fun and creative programs in visual and performing arts, science, politics, foreign affairs, business, medicine, technology and more. Explo aims to create a dynamic environment of intellectual inquiry, responsible decision making, and spirited adventure. Exploration Summer Programs is operated by Exploration School, a not-for-profit organization. Exploration has more than 55,000 alums who work and make contributions in a wide variety of fields across the U.S. and the world. For more information, visit: http://www.explo.org
Contact:
Crystal Garneier + Tim Watson
Directors of Admission
Explo, Norwood, MA, USA
781.762.7400