What if your student’s next project wasn’t just a prototype, but a market-ready solution guided by Stanford’s top AI mentors and entrepreneurs?
The AI Application & Startup Track is part of our **Stanford Grad AI Accelerator Program,** tailored for high school students passionate about transforming ideas into tangible products or social ventures. This is a selective program: students must first complete our Weekend AI Spark Program; following Spark, our team and the student will jointly determine if this Application & Startup Track or the alternative AI Research Track is the best fit.
Whether your child dreams of founding a startup, designing a digital tool for social good, or competing in business‑plan competitions, this track empowers them to:
- Validate real user needs through market and stakeholder research
- Rapidly prototype using lean UX, design thinking, and next‑gen AI
- Iterate based on feedback with structured coaching and peer reviews
- Launch a polished deliverable—an MVP, pitch deck, or pilot program
Ideal for students aiming to build standout portfolios for entrepreneurship programs (LaunchX, Young Entrepreneurs Academy), college applications, or early‑stage startup ventures.
Program Supported and Awarded by:
🚀 Application & Startup Track Example Structure: 10‑Week AI Application & Startup Accelerator
- Format: Online. 1 hr Session Each Week.
- NOTE: This is an example structure. The final curriculum and learning objectives will be personalized based on the students’ interests and experience level.
- Weeks 1–2: Problem Discovery & User Research
- Conduct market scans and stakeholder interviews
- Define user personas and pain points
- Craft a clear value proposition and project scope
- Set success metrics (e.g., engagement, sign‑ups, impact)
- Weeks 3–4: Ideation & Lean Prototyping
- Brainstorm solution concepts with design thinking exercises
- Sketch wireframes and storyboards
- Build rapid clickable prototypes (Figma, low‑code tools, AI‑assisted mockups)
- Perform quick usability tests and refine based on feedback
- Weeks 5–8: Development & Iteration
- Develop the MVP using appropriate tech stacks (web, mobile, no‑code platforms)
- Integrate AI features or data pipelines when relevant
- Run A/B tests or pilot sessions with target users
- Iterate on UI/UX, functionality, and performance
- Weeks 9–10: Launch & Pitch
- Prepare a compelling pitch deck or business plan
- Develop go‑to‑market strategies (growth channels, partnerships)
- Conduct a live demo or soft‑launch event
- Gather analytics and craft a roadmap for next steps