Program Overview

Offered through Lehigh College of Business, Startup Academy is an immersive, 10-week academic practicum and entrepreneurial talent accelerator based in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area—one of the world’s most vibrant startup ecosystems.

Through a three-credit course, students engage in rigorous, hands-on learning while contributing directly to high-growth startups and innovation teams. Paired with Bay Area founders and industry leaders, students apply entrepreneurial thinking, market analysis, innovation strategy, and product development skills to real business challenges, creating measurable value for host companies.

Students live in residence in San Francisco for 8-weeks during the summer program, with housing, daily breakfast, and dinner provided* (lunch is self-arranged), fostering a tight-knit, collaborative community. The combination of academic rigor, industry immersion, and network access makes the Lehigh Startup Academy a powerful launchpad for both student career trajectories and the growth ambitions of participating companies.

 

What you get

  • Hands-on venture projects with startups
  • Integrated classroom learning & faculty oversight
  • Personalized coaching & mentorship
  • Guest speakers & Silicon Valley site visits
  • A strong cohort experience
  • Housing and two meals a day are provided
     

Why It Matters

  • Academic First: This is about your growth and entrepreneurial leadership through a real-world academic and integrated internship experience
  • Prestige & Ecosystem Access: Embedded in the world’s leading innovation hub - Build your network and learn from Silicon Valley leaders and entrepreneurs
  • Career Outcomes: Alumni have gone on to work at Google, Netflix, Accenture,  venture firms, and even launch startups