A one-year extracurricular educational program designed to teach teenagers the basics of entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial mindset, and venture building — while helping them develop their own idea.
Most teenagers are never taught how to think like entrepreneurs. School teaches them to follow instructions, memorize answers, and fit into systems. Nobody teaches them how to build one.
Yet some of the world's most impactful companies were started by people in their teens and early twenties — not because they were geniuses, but because they had the courage to start early and the environment to support them.
Startup Cielo™ for High Schoolers creates that environment. It gives young people aged 13 and above the language, the tools, and the confidence to take an idea — however rough — and begin building something real with it.
This is not a theoretical class. Students leave with an executive summary, an investor pitch deck, and potentially a side business generating real income. The program is also suitable as a 1–1.5 credit equivalent for homeschooling programs in the United States.
The best time to learn entrepreneurship is before the world tells you it's too late. That time is now.
We know the decision to enroll your child in an extracurricular program involves real questions about safety, supervision, content, and value. Here are the answers.
All sessions are led by a trained, experienced coach with a background in entrepreneurship and education. Coaches are vetted professionals — not anonymous tutors or AI tools. Your child will work with the same coach throughout the full 12 months, building a consistent and trusted relationship.
All sessions are conducted virtually in a structured, one-on-one or small group format. There are no open chat rooms or unsupervised peer environments. Sessions are scheduled in advance, with parents welcome to be present during any session, especially for students under 16.
The curriculum is a simplified, age-appropriate version of a business school baccalaureate program. Topics include entrepreneurial mindset, idea generation, market research, basic financial concepts, leadership, and communication. All content is positive, constructive, and free of adult themes.
The program is designed to fit around a full school schedule. Students can expect to spend approximately 3–5 hours per week on the program — including coaching sessions, independent work, and reflection activities. Sessions are scheduled flexibly around your family's calendar.
By the end of the year, your child will have developed real entrepreneurial skills, produced a professional pitch deck and executive summary, and potentially launched a small side business. These are tangible, portfolio-ready outputs — not just participation certificates.
The program is structured to qualify as a 1–1.5 credit equivalent for homeschooling curricula in the United States. For traditional school students, the skills and outputs developed — pitch decks, executive summaries, market research — are strong additions to a university application portfolio.
Still have questions? We encourage parents to reach out before applying — we're happy to schedule a short call to walk you through the program, introduce you to the coaching approach, and answer anything specific to your child's situation. Email us at hello@purplesuncorp.com and we'll be in touch within 24 business hours.
A simplified business school curriculum adapted for high schoolers — without dumbing down the substance.
A clear, concise document summarizing their business concept and strategy.
A professional slide deck presenting their idea to a real audience.
The habits, thinking patterns, and resilience of a real founder.
A real venture with the foundations to generate income.
A structured, age-appropriate curriculum drawing from real business school subjects — strategy, marketing, finance, idea generation, and leadership — applied to the student's own idea.
Regular sessions with a dedicated coach who understands how to work with young people — building confidence, accountability, and the habit of showing up for your own ideas.
Students explore and develop their own business idea throughout the year — from a rough concept to a tested, structured startup with real market exposure.
The program is structured to qualify as a 1–1.5 credit equivalent for homeschooling curricula in the United States, making it a recognized academic achievement alongside traditional subjects.
A simplified version of our four-phase framework, with clear milestones so students always know what they're working toward.
Explore entrepreneurial mindset, identify values and strengths, and begin shaping a business idea. Learn the basics of how and why businesses succeed.
Shape the concept into a structured idea — defining the problem, the customer, and the solution. Begin the executive summary and pitch foundations.
Talk to real potential customers, test assumptions, and refine the idea based on actual feedback. Learning by doing.
Complete the investor pitch deck and executive summary. Present to the cohort and walk away with a polished, professional output — and potentially a business generating real income.
12 monthly payments — billed automatically via PayPal
One-time payment — save €185 vs monthly
A simple presentation of the student's business idea. It can be rough — we want to see their thinking, not a polished product.
A short video where the student introduces themselves and shares their idea and why they want to explore it.
Fill out the application form below. Parents or guardians are welcome to apply on the student's behalf.
Note: Students must be 13 years of age or older to enroll. Applications from parents or guardians on behalf of the student are welcome.
PhD · Executive Coach · Entrepreneur · TEDx Speaker · Adjunct Professor
Elena Emma is the founder of Startup Cielo™ and a catalyst for entrepreneurial transformation. With a PhD in alternative entrepreneurial education, 19+ years of coaching experience, and a background spanning CEO, crisis coach, academic, and TEDx speaker — she brings rigorous methodology and deeply human practice to every founder she works with, from teenagers exploring their first idea to executives building within global organizations.
Alongside Elena, Startup Cielo™ participants are supported by a diverse community of mentors — business professionals drawn from a wide range of industries, cultural backgrounds, professional disciplines, and age groups. This diversity is intentional: the most powerful entrepreneurial insights emerge from the collision of different lived experiences.
elenaemma.com → ▶ TEDx TalkNext cohort starts September 5, 2025. Applications close August 20. Only 12 spots available — parents and guardians welcome to apply on behalf of the student.