Inkling Labs is a 6-week remote accelerator for high school students. You'll build a product, find real customers, and pitch to investors on Demo Day.
Inkling isn't a classroom simulation. It's the real thing, compressed into six intense, unforgettable weeks.
Build a real startup from scratch. Validate an idea, talk to customers, and ship a product - not a school project.
Learn directly from startup founders, YC alumni, and venture capitalists who've been in the trenches.
Stand out in admissions with a real venture on your resume. Demonstrate initiative, leadership, and grit.
Master pitching, product thinking, team leadership, and financial modeling - skills that last a lifetime.
We modeled Inkling after real startup accelerators, so you leave with more than a certificate.
Starts mid-June. 6 weeks, multiple cohorts staggered by one week based on demand.
6 hours/day, Monday–Friday. Live sessions plus async team work.
100% virtual. Work with teammates from across the country in teams of 2–4.
$4,999 per student. Includes all curriculum, mentorship, and Demo Day access.
Inkling may invest in standout startups from the cohort at the end of the program.
Pitch your startup to a panel of real investors on the final day of the program.
Every week builds on the last, from raw idea to investor pitch.
You do not need to know how to code.
Two weeks of the program are a hands-on building track we call the Manifest Bootcamp. Students use AI tools - the same ones working founders use today - to turn their business idea into a working prototype. The focus is on what to build and why, not on memorizing syntax.
By Demo Day, every student has something live to show investors, something they built themselves over six weeks.
On the final day of the program, you'll present your startup to a panel of investors. The best teams may receive actual investment from Inkling, turning your summer project into something real.
Inkling Labs was built to give ambitious high schoolers the same tools, network, and mindset that top founders get, without waiting for college.
We don't teach entrepreneurship from a textbook. We run a real accelerator for real teenagers with real ambitions.
30 hours a week isn't for everyone, and that's the point. We select students who mean it.
Founders and operators who've actually built things will guide you, not just lecture you.
You own what you build. We're here to help you build it better.
Limited to 30 students · Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Applications for Summer 2026 are now open. Spots are limited - rolling admissions.
Limited to 30 students · Applications reviewed on a rolling basis