Applications for Summer 2026 are now open - invite-only round closes December 19 at 11:59 PM EST. Apply here now.
Venture & Tech Summer Program
The Venture & Tech Summer Program (VTSP) is the premier high school innovation academy. Previously run as the Harvard Undergraduate Ventures–TECH Summer Program (HUVTSP) in collaboration with Harvard Undergraduate Ventures and the Technology & Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard (TECH) within the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), VTSP has since evolved into an independent, globally-recognized innovation institution.
VTSP offers an unparalleled opportunity for ambitious, high-achieving high school students to immerse themselves in the innovation ecosystem. This selective online program connects students with cutting-edge startups across diverse industries, providing hands-on experience in the field of their choice. Participants work directly with founders and C-suite executives, gaining personalized mentorship and real-world exposure to technology, business strategy, innovation, and leadership.
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Since its founding, VTSP has grown exponentially, now receiving thousands of applications each summer from over 50 countries. The program continues to be supported by Harvard University faculty and a global network of distinguished researchers, founders, and investors—world-renowned leaders united by a shared commitment to advancing innovation and entrepreneurship education for high school students.​​​
VTSP is the perfect way for young innovators to learn by doing. The ideal way to gain experience and develop critical thinking skills is through hands-on socially constructed learning.
— Paul Bottino, Executive Director, Innovation Education, Harvard SEAS
Program Components
Internship Projects At Cutting-Edge VC-Backed Startups
The capstone of this program is your internship project. We match every student with a real, industry leading, venture capital-backed startup run by entrepreneurs solving world-changing problems. Students work directly with the CEOs and founders of these firms throughout the 6-week internship in an industry and role tailored toward their individual career interests and goals.
Workshops Taught by Top Founders and Investors
Students attend daily interactive seminars and workshops run by founders of multimillion-dollar companies, world-class investors, and Harvard University faculty. Workshops teach students about technology, innovation management, and problem-solving skills. Classes range from fireside chats with key thought leaders to hands-on sessions covering MBA-level case studies.
One-On-One Mentorship From Innovation's Brightest Minds
Every student works with our core team to discover and develop their ambitions. In addition to their academic experience as educators, the VTSP team has collectively scaled products to millions of users, IPO'd a company on the NASDAQ, raised $300M in funding, invested in startups like OpenAI, and joined Y Combinator. We help students find their path to college and beyond.
Learn From World-Class Experts
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In addition to their internship experience and mentorship from the startup, students will have numerous opportunities to learn more about startups and entrepreneurship and experience personal growth through classes and events. VTSP features almost daily fireside chats led by luminaries in their respective fields. There will also be skill-building sessions and workshops that cover innovation management, strategy, operations, and investing in various verticals.
Featured Past Guest Speakers:
Mark Cuban
Mavericks Owner
Nick Green
Thrive Market CEO
Ted Sarandos
Netflix CEO
Thomas Deng
Goldman Sachs MD
Thomas Kurian
Google Cloud CEO
Ania Smith
TaskRabbit CEO
Chris Barton
Shazam Founder
Ratnakar Lavu
Nike Former C-Suite
Paul Bottino
Harvard SEAS Lecturer
Lila Snyder
Bose CEO
Josh Silverman
Etsy & Skype CEO
Cory Levy
Z Fellows Founder
Work with a VC-Backed Startup
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At their startups, students tackle a real-world challenge by building a product or deliverable from scratch over the course of their internship project. They collaborate directly with startup founders while working through a reverse-engineered case study designed around the company’s needs. It’s similar to the business case studies taught at schools like HBS—but fully interactive and tied to real outcomes. At every stage, students work directly with CEOs and founders, learning to make critical business and product decisions while building a real project for a real company.​
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VTSP partners with leading companies across a wide range of industries, all supported by some of the world’s top venture capital firms. Our partner organizations span cutting-edge STEM fields—including AI, engineering, and medical/biotech—as well as fintech, nonprofits, and arts/media collectives. Students work in teams at innovative startups backed by leading investors such as Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins, Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, and Y Combinator. Collectively, the venture capital firms supporting VTSP’s participating startups manage over $200 billion in assets and were among the earliest investors in companies like Google, DoorDash, Dropbox, Coinbase, and Cruise.​​
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Enrollment
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The Venture & Tech Summer Program runs entirely online across two, six-week summer sessions:​​
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Session I: June 8 to July 17, 2026
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Session II: July 6 to August 14, 2026
Leading up to the official start date, admitted program participants will be invited to exclusive, virtual networking opportunities and fireside chats with various entrepreneurs, investors, and faculty.
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Tuition for the 6-week program is $4750, regardless of whether a student enrolls in Session I or Session II. There is also a $35 application fee. Financial aid scholarships are available based on a holistic review of both demonstrated need and merit. More information on admissions and financial aid can be found here.
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