Athena Summer Innovation Institute

The Athena Summer Innovation Institute is a three-week entrepreneurship program at Barnard College in New York City for high school students. It is run by Barnard Pre-College Programs together with the Athena Center for Leadership. The 2026 session ran from June 29 to July 17, 2026. Students work in teams to build a new venture, such as a startup business, a nonprofit, or an advocacy campaign. Classes cover product ideation, customer research, branding, marketing, and startup finances. Students meet with a Mentor-in-Residence and practice public speaking with Barnard's Speaking Fellows. The program also includes visits to startups to meet women entrepreneurs. It ends with a final pitch event where teams present their ventures. Students can commute or live on campus. Tuition in 2026 was $8,160 for commuters, and on-campus housing cost an extra $2,611. Barnard offers a limited amount of need-based financial aid.

Applicants must be current high school students who are rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors and at least 14 years old when the program starts. You do not need a business idea before you arrive. To apply, students submit an online form, an unofficial transcript, a list of extracurricular activities, teacher recommendations, and a 500-word statement of purpose. A $75 application fee applies after the priority deadline. The final deadline for 2026 was April 15, 2026. Applications for Summer 2027 open on December 1, 2026.