High School Fellowship

Begin your entrepreneurial journey today!

Are you a high school student?

Become a YES high school fellow!

What you’ll gain:

• Learn from Yale School of Management Professors and Undergraduate Entrepreneurs

• Understand the skills and mindset needed to succeed in start-up ventures

• Necessary qualities to create and present a company pitch deck

• Information about the Yale Entrepreneurial Society and the culture of entrepreneurship at Yale

• A Network of like-minded high-school and college innovators and inventors from around the world

Our Syllabus:

Week 1: Ideation and Building Teams

Objective: Understanding the market and validating the startup idea.

Topics: Introduction to YES HS Fellowship program & structure, introduction to Lean Startup, methodology, market analysis techniques, customer discovery process, tools for validating business ideas

Week 2: Business Model and Planning

Objective: Developing a sustainable business model.

Topics: Business Model Canvas overview revenue models for startups, financial planning basics, introduction to business plan writing.

Week 3: Product Development and MVP [MASTERCLASS]

Objective: Understanding product development and creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

Topics: Agile and Scrum methodologies, building an MVP, user Experience (UX) design principles, Prototyping tools and techniques.

Week 4: Marketing and Customer Acquisition [MASTERCLASS]

Objective: Strategies for marketing and acquiring customers.

Topics: digital marketing fundamentals, content marketing and SEO, social media strategies, customer acquisition channels and metrics.

Week 5: Sales and Networking

Objective: Sales strategies and building a professional network.

Topics: Effective sales techniques and pipeline management, networking and relationship building, elevator pitch development.

Week 6: Pitching and Presentation Skills

Objective: Mastering the art of pitching.

Topics: Crafting a compelling pitch, storytelling and presentation skills, handling Q&A sessions, investor pitch formats

Week 7: Negotiations and Dealmaking

Objective: How to create mutually beneficial agreements, topics principles of effective negotiation, Best Alternative to a Negotiated, Agreement (BATNA) and leverage, creating and evaluating win-win deals, game theory and the prisoner’s dilemma

Week 8: Pitch Day

Pitch day:

• Pitch your idea to VC managing directors and veteran serial entrepreneurs

• Win a cash prize to invest towards bringing your startup to fruition!

Who you are:

• A motivated high school student passionate about the world of entrepreneurship

• A problem solver who loves to think outside the box

• A team player willing to work closely with others to grow together

Cost:

• The full program cost for one, 8-week session is $199

• YES offers Need-Based Financial Aid that covers the full-cost of the program for all domestic and international students

Apply:

• Applications for the Fall 2025 Cohort are now open! Please fill out the form below to apply! As a reminder, the applications are read on a rolling basis, so, the sooner you apply, the sooner will we read them.

• Applications close on September 19th at 11:59 EST.

Are you a yale student?

Join the YES HS fellowship operations team!

What you’ll do:

• Help develop an exciting and engaging curriculum for the upcoming program

• Become a lecturer for a class, teaching a cohort of 10-15 high school students

• Gain access and priority to other YES events, programs, and opportunities

Who you are:

• A motivated Yale student with some entrepreneurship experience and an interest in start-ups

• A leader who is excited to help others begin their journey in entrepreneurship

• A fun and social person looking to be a part of the YES community

Apply:

• Applications to be a High School Fellowship Leader for the Fall 2025 cohort will open after the extra-curricular bazaar on 8/31! Please contact charlie.stemerman@yale.edu and constantine.semka@yale.edu if you have any additional questions!