San Antonio-based innovation and entrepreneurship academy partners with Capital Factory to host High School Startup, one of four summer youth programs providing hands-on instruction to help local students learn the key mindsets of entrepreneurial thinking, leadership, design and creativity

(Austin, TX) June 5, 2015 – VentureLab, a non-profit entrepreneurship and innovation academy for young people, today announced its Austin debut with High School Startup, one of four entrepreneurship education programs launching this summer to teach students startup fundamentals to help them discover their passions and use technology to turn ideas into products or services that can possibly change the world. High School Startup is an in-depth two- week camp that will run from June 15-June 26, 2015 at Capital Factory in the heart of downtown. Cost for the course is $650.

“Austin is a mecca for budding entrepreneurs, and we saw an opportunity to bring our academy to the market as an extended resource to help high school students take what they learn in the classroom, and physically apply that knowledge in an inspiring entrepreneurial environment,” said Cristal Glangchai, founder and CEO, VentureLab. “By partnering with Capital Factory, we will give students the full experience of taking an idea and carrying it through to fruition. High School Startup is the first of four camps scheduled this summer with the latter focusing on K-8. We couldn’t be more excited to be part of Austin’s rich entrepreneurial spirit, and look forward to what’s to come.”

VentureLab is strongly committed to the Austin Community and are offering ten course scholarship opportunities. Students can apply for the scholarship here. Registration is now open to all Austin and surrounding area high school students who are interested, and encouraged, to enroll.

High School Startup is designed as a fun, hands-on knowledge academy to teach students, aged 14-19, what it takes to start a business. They will learn to develop leadership and team building skills, and establish stronger critical and creative thinking that will be applied to creating tangible products or services. Students will experience a new found confidence that will carry into their primary education as they move towards future career endeavors—and possible entrepreneurship.

Student teams will each have a mentor throughout the course to help brainstorm, conduct market research, customer development, build, prototype and launch their product or service, and crowd fund for startup cash. The program concludes with ‘demo day’ where teams have the opportunity pitch and demo their offerings to experienced Austin investors and entrepreneurs, and launch on the spot to potentially generate sales. Post academy, students will be given tools and access to mentors to continue pursuing their ideas.

“When VentureLab approached us to host their first camp for high school students in the Austin area, we jumped on the chance to introduce more entrepreneurial young people into our community,” said Joshua Baer, founder, Capital Factory. “I applaud VentureLab for inspiring the next generation of world-changers, and look forward to seeing them working on a business at Capital Factory some day.”

VentureLab develops experiential learning summer programs that introduce, inspire and encourage young people as young as five to be next generation innovators and entrepreneurs through inspiration, experiential learning and mentorship. With school education focusing on teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts, VentureLab underscores the importance of, and is the extension for, students to learn how to apply this knowledge to develop fundamental skills that can help them create inventions, solve society challenges and launch their own startup.

Meet VentureLab Founder Cristal Glangchai and watch her explain why she started VentureLab.

About VentureLab

Founded in 2013, VentureLab is a non-profit innovation and entrepreneurship program that teaches young people to be next generation innovators and entrepreneurs through hands-on innovative programs, scholarships, experiential learning and mentorship. We’ve made a difference with 724 students, $240K raised, 51 percent scholarship seats, 60 percent female participation and three companies launched.

Using our ESTEAM framework, we provide experiential learning in Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, teaching students the key mindsets of entrepreneurial thinking, design thinking, creativity, and we provide hands on instruction in technology. We love what we do and want all youth to have access to our programs. We are particularly passionate about encouraging and empowering young women to enter and succeed in technical and entrepreneurial fields. We strive to create a friendly environment where next generation youth can innovate, create and discover their potential. For more information, please visit www.venturelab.org. Follow on Twitter @ourventurelab or on Facebook at /ourventurelab.