free ventures

2026-09-18 · 18:00:00 · Berkeley

Grimes Engineering Center Rm 304, UC Berkeley

An 8-week bootcamp for high school students to learn startup fundamentals, develop an MVP, and pitch to investors. Participants gain mentorship from UC Berkeley students and YC-backed founders, and compete for up to $10K in prizes at Demo Day.

Organizer: Free Ventures

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At a glance

Format
8-week program with weekly workshops covering ideation, market research, business models, MVP development, user testing, growth marketing, storytelling, and a final Demo Day pitch competition.
Sectors
Agnostic

Agenda

  1. Ideation & Design Thinking — Generate and validate startup ideas using structured brainstorming frameworks. Learn how to identify real problems worth solving.
  2. Market Research — Conduct user interviews and analyze your target audience. Map out your competitive landscape and identify your unique value proposition.
  3. Business Models & Strategy — Explore case studies to learn unit economics & pricing models. Create your own lean business canvas.
  4. MVP Development — Turn your validated idea into a minimum viable product. Learn rapid prototyping techniques, no-code tools, and how to ship fast without sacrificing quality.
  5. User Testing & Iteration — Put your MVP in front of real users and gather actionable feedback. Learn how to run effective user tests, measure key metrics, and iterate quickly.
  6. Growth & Marketing — Master customer acquisition channels and growth strategies. Dive into social media marketing, content strategy, SEO basics, and more.
  7. Storytelling — Craft a compelling narrative that resonates with investors and customers. Build your pitch deck, practice delivery, and learn how to handle Q&A.
  8. Demo Day — Present your startup to a panel of investors, founders, and industry experts. Compete for prizes and receive personalized feedback.

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