Design and pitch your own social impact organization
Learn how to create an organization or nonprofit and put your knowledge into action
The Startup UCLA: Social Entrepreneurship Summer Institute will introduce students to social entrepreneurship, including starting social enterprises and non-profits. In this hands-on program, students will design their own social good organization. They will learn the basics of starting, building, and running non-profit organizations and social impact businesses.
The program will focus on the creation of new organizations designed to contribute to the greater good. Students who are interested in learning how to start their own organization for social good or leading social impact movements are encouraged to apply!
In the first half of the program, students will learn the basics of researching and creating a mission-oriented venture. In the second half of the program, students will put that knowledge into action by creating their own ventures. Students will form teams to work on their startup ideas. Each team will prepare a 5-minute pitch to present to a panel of entrepreneurs and investors for feedback.
Startup UCLA: Social Entrepreneurship Summer Institute Overview
This program has application requirements for admission. Eligible applicants who submit all requirements successfully and timely, will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision within 3 weeks. See Application Requirements below for more details. Early application is strongly encouraged.
Applicants are required to provide essay responses to the following prompts during the online registration process:
- Why are you applying for this program? What interests you about social entrepreneurship? (250 words or less)
- What strengths would you bring in terms of skills, passion, and knowledge to the program? (250 words or less)
- Do you have any experience with social entrepreneurship, such as working or volunteering with a non-profit or a business involved in social impact? (optional, 125 words or less)
UCLA Summer Sessions Summer Scholars Support
Qualified students attending grades 8th – 11th in Spring 2023 in the state of California may be eligible for Summer Scholars Support, a need- and merit-based scholarship offered by the UCLA Summer Sessions Office. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available to support enrollment in SCIP/eSCIP, one Summer Course, or a Precollege Summer Institute.
Summer 2023 deadline to apply: March 15.
Students will receive a Letter Grade grade upon completion. See University Credit, Grades and Transcripts for more information about academic credit.
The Startup UCLA: Social Entrepreneurship (Virtual) – Session A will be conducted virtually (online). All meeting times will take place in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), unless otherwise noted on program schedule and syllabus. Participants must log-in to virtual sessions at the times indicated on the program schedule.
Students in the virtual program will not be offered housing.
Due to the intense nature of the Startup UCLA: Social Entrepreneurship Summer Institute (In-Person) – Session B and the time commitment involved, living in on-campus housing is mandatory.
For more information on UCLA housing precollege programs, please see the Housing for Minors page.
Session A:
June 26 – July 7, 2023
Application based / Virtual
Session B:
July 9 – July 22, 2023
Application based / In-person
Program Eligibility: 10th-12th grade in Spring 2023; Ages 16-18
UCLA Coursework: CESC 98A; 2 units
Application deadline: June 1, 2023
Enrollment deadline: June 15, 2023
The schedule and syllabus are subject to change.
Fees and Payment Info
The program fee includes the unit fees for the UCLA coursework offered as part of the program and thus varies by UC student status. In addition to the program fee, students are assessed other campus and administrative fees during the summer. This is a summary of fees that commonly apply to the selected student type.
Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California. Visit the fees, payment, and financial aid section for important disclaimer, as well as more details on fees, payment instructions, and information on delinquency, refunds, and financial aid.
Virtual Program Fees:
In addition to the program fee, students are assessed other campus and administrative fees during the summer.
High School Student: $1650
Incoming UCLA Student: $1488
Incoming UC Student: $1488
| Program Fee | $2,964 |
| Registration Fee | $350 |
| IEI Fee | $61 |
| Document Fee (for first-time Summer Sessions students) | $50 |
Meet your instructors
Shelby Kretz
LecturerShelby Kretz is a social entrepreneur, activist, and educational researcher. She is the founder of Little Justice Leaders, a social justice education subscription box for families and educators. Previously, Shelby co-founded the non-profit organization 1girl, which brings leadership programming to middle school girls. She is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Education at UCLA, and her research focuses on the connection between the education system and the juvenile (in)justice system.
Startup UCLA: Social Entrepreneurship Summer Institute FAQ
The maximum number of allowable absences for the program is one day.
No. Exceptions to eligibility will not be considered. Students who do not meet the eligibility requirements should not apply and are encouraged to explore other opportunities.
Still have questions? Check out the general Summer Institutes FAQ.