What is the Young Founders Lab? Our Review

If you're considering applying to competitive colleges, extracurricular activities that demonstrate initiative, innovation, and leadership can help your application stand out. Participating in a research or entrepreneurship program, for example, indicates that you're applying your learning to real-world challenges. 

Programs like the Young Founders Lab (YFL), the subject of our blog today, allow you to develop a product, work in teams, and think like an entrepreneur. These experiences help develop your confidence, problem-solving skills, and communication abilities while building a product or service as proof of your interest in entrepreneurship.

What Is the Young Founders Lab?

The Young Founders Lab is a selective startup bootcamp for high school students. It is designed to guide you through the full cycle of launching a real startup—from ideation to generating revenue in a 3-week, virtual format. This program offers an opportunity for high school students serious about entrepreneurship to build something tangible.

YFL aims to help you create a revenue-generating business that serves a social or community purpose. The program emphasizes both technical skills, such as product design and financial modeling, as well as soft skills, including leadership and collaboration. You’ll be placed in a team of peers and guided by mentors who have founded startups or worked at companies such as Google, Microsoft, and BlackRock. These mentors will help you refine your ideas, overcome challenges, and understand what it takes to build a business from the ground up.

By the end of the program, you’ll pitch your venture to a panel of entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals. You’ll have a completed Minimum Viable Product (MVP), user feedback, and possibly even real customers. The program is ideal for students with a strong interest in business, technology, or social innovation, and who are ready to commit the time and energy to bring a venture to life.

How are YFL’s programs structured?

The Young Founders Lab offers two distinct program formats to fit different learning styles and goals: the Individual Program and the Group Program. Both are designed to guide you through the process of launching a real, revenue-generating business, but they differ in structure, level of independence, and the type of mentorship provided.

1. Group Program

You will be placed in a small group of students from around the world. As a team, you'll spend 30 hours going through the stages of building a business — from ideation to customer acquisition — culminating in a pitch presentation to a panel of entrepreneurs and investors. 

Each group is paired with an experienced founder or business professional who conducts interactive workshops to guide them through challenges and decision-making. You will learn startup ideation, problem selection, market research, how to interview customers, no-code tools, branding, go-to-market strategy, financial modelling, pitch deck creation, and what it takes to make a Minimum Viable Product or MVP.

• Format: Virtual and team-based

• Duration: 30 hours over 3 weeks

• Cohorts Offered: June 9–29 and August 4–24

2. Individual Program

This is a 12-hour exclusive program for students who want to build a startup solo with personalized mentorship and a flexible schedule. It’s not cohort-based, so you can begin once you’re accepted and matched with a mentor. You’ll work one-on-one with a startup mentor who helps you take your idea from concept to product launch. The mentorship is personalized to your goals and pace, providing a more in-depth experience than the group program.

• Format: Virtual and one-on-one

• Duration: 12 hours over a flexible schedule

• Cohorts Offered: June 2 onwards

Who is eligible for Young Founders Lab?

You can apply if you meet the following criteria:

• You must be a current high school student (rising 9th–12th graders are welcome) from anywhere in the world.

• Must be fluent in English.

• No prior experience required, but commitment, creativity, and initiative are key.

How does the application process work, and what are the deadlines?

The application process requires completing the form here. You’ll be asked about your background, interests, and motivation in a few short essay questions.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Decisions are usually sent within a few weeks.

Deadlines to keep in mind:

• Summer Priority Admission: March 9

• Summer Regular Admission 1: April 13

• Summer Regular Admission 2: May 11

In addition to the summer cohort, YFL also offers cohorts in the winter, fall, and spring. 

How much does Young Founders Lab cost?

The program fee is $2,900 for the Group Program and $3,500 for the Individual Program. Need-based financial aid is available.

Pros and Cons to consider

Pros

1. You will launch a real startup: You’re not just learning theory—you’re launching an actual product, collecting user feedback, and potentially generating revenue.

2. You will have access to mentorship opportunities: Mentors from top universities and companies like McKinsey, Google, Harvard, Yale, and YCombinator offer personalized guidance. Mentors give you their time and expertise to guide your business venture.

3. You will learn how to work in a team: Working in a team builds leadership and communication skills, which colleges and future employers highly value.

4. You can boost your college applications: The real-world experience and final deliverables of this program are potential material for application essays, resumes, and interviews.

Cons

1. It can be expensive: The program costs $2,900, and although financial aid is available, the fee may still be out of reach for some students.

2. Intensive time commitment: This is not a part-time course. You’ll need to commit ~30 hours live and plenty of additional time to get your business off the ground.

3. It is entirely virtual: While convenient, virtual programs can limit networking and team bonding compared to in-person incubators.

Our Review

The Young Founders Lab is a valuable program for high school students serious about pursuing entrepreneurship. The opportunity to create a functioning startup, pitch to real investors, and receive feedback from experienced mentors offers a distinct advantage. Moreover, the fact that alumni report increased chances of admission to top universities suggests that participation in YFL can strengthen your college application.

What sets YFL apart is its focus on real outcomes—not just theoretical business knowledge but actual product development and potential revenue generation. If you're aiming to launch a long-term venture or simply want to explore the startup world in a structured environment, YFL is definitely worth considering.

Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!

Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!