Academic Year Startup Launchpad

A two-semester virtual entrepreneurship program from the Haas School of Business. Students build a Business Model Canvas in the fall and validate it through customer discovery and a prototype in the spring, taught by Haas faculty, MBA alumni, and undergraduates. Open to rising 10th-12th graders and gap-year students from any state or country; out-of-state tuition applies to Arizona students. Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30-5:45 PM (time zone not stated on the program page; Berkeley is on Pacific time); fall 2026 runs September 22 to December 10 and the spring term runs late January to April 20. Cycle status at listing time: all three 2026-27 application deadlines (June 7, August 9, September 7, 2026) have passed and B-BAY is an impacted program; join the early-access contact list on the program page for next-cycle dates. Two excused absences are allowed per semester.

Program charges a fee. Application Fee $100 (non-refundable, no waivers); Gold Virtual Cohort Tuition covers both semesters: California Residents $6450, Out of State Residents $6950; limited needs-based scholarships available.