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    In-person Program

    Innovation & Entrepreneurship High School Course

    by Summer Springboard

    A hands-on pre-college business course where students develop a food product, research consumers, and pitch to industry professionals.

    Last verified: 26 Aug 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
    Innovation & Entrepreneurship High School Course

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    Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Recently closed

    Eligibility

    Grades 9-12; 3.0 GPA

    Age range / Year group

    14-18

    Location / Region

    San Luis Obispo, California

    Cost

    From $2,998

    Duration

    2 weeks

    Format

    In-person

    Next deadline

    Not announced · Next cycle not announced

    Get next-cycle reminder
    Business & EconomicsEntrepreneurship

    Accommodation: Private room; shared apartment

    Meals: All meals residential; lunch commuter

    Certificate / Outcome: 3.0 CEUs; completion certificate

    Academic schedule: 9am-noon typical weekdays

    Campus experience: Dorms, excursions, college workshops

    Tutors / faculty: Cal Poly faculty

    Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course summary

    Students follow a hands-on entrepreneurship process centered on food-industry innovation, moving from consumer needs and market research to a refined product concept.

    Small teams develop dairy-sector ideas, receive feedback from the California Milk Advisory Board, and present to industry professionals in a Shark Tank-style showcase.

    It suits students who want practical business experience, collaborative project work, and a realistic introduction to product development rather than lecture-only study.

    What is Innovation & Entrepreneurship High School Course?

    The Innovation & Entrepreneurship High School Course is a Summer Springboard pre-college experience built around food-industry product development. Students explore innovation, entrepreneurship, market research, value propositions, and startup case studies through practical team projects.

    Teams of three or four develop a product concept, test and refine their thinking, and receive feedback from the California Milk Advisory Board. The experience culminates in a professional pitch to an industry panel and combines academic work with broader Cal Poly campus life.

    Why Succeed highlights Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course

    • The course uses a real food-industry challenge rather than a purely hypothetical business exercise.

    • Students receive feedback from the California Milk Advisory Board while developing their product concepts.

    • The final industry-panel pitch gives students a concrete reason to improve both business thinking and communication.

    • Teams produce tangible portfolio material, including a recorded elevator pitch video and professional headshot.

    • The wider experience combines subject study with college-readiness workshops and campus activities.

    Who is Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course for?

    Best for

    Students who enjoy collaborative problem-solving and want to test entrepreneurship through a real product-development brief and professional pitch.

    Not ideal if

    You prefer independent, theory-led study or do not want to work intensively with a small team on one product concept.

    Is Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course worth it?

    The program offers more substance than a general business taster because students work through a complete innovation process, receive sponsor feedback, and leave with a pitch and portfolio material. The combination of entrepreneurship, product development, and campus experience can help students test whether business study feels genuinely engaging.

    The limitation is cost: tuition, the mandatory course supplement, the application fee, and travel can make the overall commitment significant. Its value is strongest for students who will actively contribute to the team project and later reflect on what they learned, rather than treating campus attendance alone as an application credential.

    A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.

    Cost and what is included

    From $2,998; includes Residential tuition includes the academic course, lodging, all meals, excursions, and weekend excursions., Commuter tuition includes the academic course, lunch, excursions, and weekday programming from 9am to 5pm., Students may earn 3.0 Cal Poly CEUs with satisfactory performance and receive a completion certificate..

    Accommodation

    Private room; shared apartment

    Meals

    All meals residential; lunch commuter

    Provider details

    Review the Summer Springboard provider page and official sources before making a final decision.

    Dates and logistics

    2 weeks; San Luis Obispo, California.

    What to check before committing

    Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.

    Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.

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    How much preparation does Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course need?

    Effort level

    High and collaborative.

    Best started

    Begin six to eight weeks before the next application deadline to prepare essays, discuss costs, and organize any supporting information.

    Main challenge

    Turning a creative idea into a credible, clearly presented response to consumer needs.

    Typical preparation

    • Review the admission criteria and discuss whether a residential or commuter place suits your family.

    • Prepare examples of teamwork, initiative, and business curiosity for the short-answer questions.

    • Plan for the deposit, application fee, mandatory course supplement, travel, and required forms before submitting.

    Useful if

    You can bring curiosity about food, business, consumers, or product innovation.

    What do students do on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course?

    Students complete an end-to-end food-product innovation project, combining research, teamwork, sponsor feedback, portfolio development, and a final industry presentation.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Identify a meaningful opportunity or consumer challenge in the food industry.

    2. 2

      Analyze food startups and investigate consumer needs through market research.

    3. 3

      Form a team of three or four and generate possible product concepts.

    4. 4

      Develop a value proposition and refine the chosen concept through iteration.

    5. 5

      Use feedback from the California Milk Advisory Board to strengthen the product idea.

    6. 6

      Create portfolio material and deliver a Shark Tank-style pitch to industry professionals.

    Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course dates and deadlines

    Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

    First application wave

    22 February 2026

    The application fee increased afterward.

    Reference date

    Second application wave

    19 April 2026

    The application fee increased afterward.

    Reference date

    Final admission deadline

    17 May 2026

    Final general admission date for the verified cycle.

    Reference date

    Session 1

    5-17 July 2026

    Two-week Cal Poly course session.

    Reference date

    Session 2

    19-31 July 2026

    Two-week Cal Poly course session.

    Reference date

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Entering Grades 9-12

    • 3.0 GPA or local equivalent

    • Starting high school students may apply

    • Recent high school graduates may apply

    • English proficiency required for international students

    • Essential Eligibility Criteria apply

    How much does Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course cost?

    Program tuition

    $2,998-$5,398 — Commuter and residential options

    Funding or discounts

    • Course supplement: $250 — Mandatory for this course
    • Application fee: From $99 — Mandatory and nonrefundable
    • Program deposit: $600 — Paid with the application
    • Alumni scholarship: $500 — Published for the 2026 cycle

    What's included

    Residential tuition includes the academic course, lodging, all meals, excursions, and weekend excursions., Commuter tuition includes the academic course, lunch, excursions, and weekday programming from 9am to 5pm., Students may earn 3.0 Cal Poly CEUs with satisfactory performance and receive a completion certificate.

    How to apply to Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course

    1. 1

      Open the official application portal and enter basic contact information.

    2. 2

      Confirm the verification email and complete the account details.

    3. 3

      Select Cal Poly SLO, the preferred session, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and residential or commuter tuition.

    4. 4

      Enter the student information and complete the short-answer application questions with the student present.

    5. 5

      Review and sign the required agreements, then pay the $600 deposit and application fee.

    6. 6

      Submit the completed application and monitor email for the enrollment decision and additional forms.

    What does Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course cover?

    The program covers the following focus areas.

    Opportunity discovery

    Identify food-industry challenges and evaluate promising opportunities.

    Consumer and market research

    Gather consumer insights and analyze how food startups establish themselves.

    Product innovation

    Use design thinking and iteration to develop a consumer-ready concept.

    Value proposition

    Translate an idea into a clear and persuasive business proposition.

    Professional pitching

    Build visual and oral communication for an industry-panel presentation.

    Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.

    What is a typical day on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course?

    A typical day during the program.

    Academic course

    The typical weekday course block runs from 9am to noon.

    Lunch

    Students eat on campus before the afternoon program.

    Activities and workshops

    Recreation or an academic excursion is followed by college-readiness or personal-development work.

    Residential program

    Dinner is followed by clubs or another residential activity.

    Who teaches on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course?

    The named instructor is Dr. Christiane Schroeter, a Cal Poly professor with more than two decades of expertise in marketing, innovation, and student success. Cal Poly faculty deliver the campus partnership's instruction and provide access to university facilities.

    Dr. Schroeter holds a Ph.D. in Health Economics and combines academic teaching with practical marketing and innovation experience.

    Where do students stay on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course?

    Residential plan

    • Cal Poly housing: Students live in a private room within a shared campus apartment.
    • Room facilities: Rooms include an extra-long twin bed, desk and chair, and small dresser.
    • Meals: All meals are included, with dietary accommodations available when requested.
    • Residential support: Mentors live nearby, and campus staff and security provide 24-hour support.

    Non-residential plan

    • Commuter experience: Commuters receive lunch and join weekday programming from 9am to 5pm.

    The 2026 infosheet describes private rooms in shared apartments; residential floors are gender-segregated.

    What happens after Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course?

    After completing this program, participants often pursue:

    Use the product concept and pitch materials as evidence of practical entrepreneurship experience.

    Add a professional headshot and recorded elevator pitch to a developing portfolio.

    Earn a Summer Springboard completion certificate.

    Earn 3.0 Cal Poly continuing education units with satisfactory performance.

    Reflect on food-industry, marketing, innovation, and entrepreneurship career interests.

    CEUs depend on satisfactory student performance.

    Where does Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course take place?

    The program takes place on Cal Poly SLO's campus in San Luis Obispo, between California's rolling hills and Central Coast. Students use campus facilities and may join local activities or excursions involving beaches, Morro Bay, the farmers' market, and other regional attractions.

    The program is run in partnership with Cal Poly Extended, Professional and Continuing Education.

    Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course FAQs

    Teams develop a marketable food or dairy product concept, refine it using research and sponsor feedback, and prepare a professional final pitch.

    Students work in teams of three or four throughout the product-development challenge.

    Students receive feedback from the California Milk Advisory Board and present their final ideas to a panel of industry professionals.

    Yes. Students can choose residential tuition with Cal Poly housing or attend as commuters during the daytime program.

    Residential tuition includes all meals. Commuter tuition includes lunch, and dietary needs can be accommodated when requested before the program.

    All completing students receive a Summer Springboard certificate. Students may also earn 3.0 continuing education units from Cal Poly EPaCE, subject to satisfactory performance.

    Students are instructed to bring a laptop and charger for their academic course.

    Residential tuition includes lodging, meals, the academic course, excursions, evening activities, and weekend excursions.

    Alternatives to Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course

    Compare related business and entrepreneurship programs by setting, delivery format, project emphasis, and student goals.

    Alternatives to Innovation and Entrepreneurship Course

    Business: Mini-MBA™
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    29 Jun 2026
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    15-17
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    Best for

    Students wanting wider business coverage

    View details

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    Ben Stacy

    Content reviewed by

    Ben Stacy

    Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader

    Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.

    View author page

    Sources and verification

    Source types reviewed

    • (1) New Messages!
    • (1) New Messages!
    • Campus Life FAQ | Knowledge Base | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • General Information FAQ | Knowledge Base | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • Main FAQ | Knowledge Base | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • Apply Now | Enrollment | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • (1) New Messages!
    • (1) New Messages!
    • Apply Now | Enrollment | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • 2026 HS 2-week Cal Poly V6
    • Programs Overview - 2026
    • Innovation & Entrepreneurship| Course | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 26 Aug 2026)

    • Course details checked

    • Dates cross-checked

    • Tuition reviewed

    • Eligibility reviewed

    • Application process checked

    • Accommodation details compared

    • Policies reviewed

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.