The Vision
Entrepreneurship is learned by building. We give high-school students the mentorship and the real stakes to turn an idea into a company — and to grow into confident future leaders.
Build a real startup, one Saturday at a time.
High-school students form a team, partner with local founders, and grow one idea into a real company across a single school year — entirely in English.
VLC Young Entrepreneurs is an independent program where students build a company from the ground up over one school year.
Teams of four or five are each paired with a local founder who mentors them from first idea to finished product. Across the year they work through the six steps every startup takes — and on the final Saturday, they pitch the result to a panel of judges. No prior experience and no affiliation required: just real entrepreneurship, on Saturday mornings.
The Leadership
VLC Young Entrepreneurs is led by a diverse group of parents, executives, and founders — volunteers who share one goal: fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in young future leaders.
Community
We’re building a community, not just a course — connecting young, aspiring entrepreneurs with the experienced founders who have built companies of their own.
The program
One school year, one real company — here is how the year is shaped.
- Team size
- 4–5
- Each session
- 2 hrs
- Season
- Sep–May
- Program fee
- €70/mo
- Format
- Teams of four or five high-school students build one startup across the school year.
- When
- Every Saturday, 10:30 AM–12:30 PM, from September 12, 2026 to May 29, 2027 (final pitches).
- Where
- Valencia area, Spain.
- Mentorship
- Each team is paired with a local executive or founder who coaches them through the six steps.
- Guest speakers
- Founders join select Saturdays to share their journey in 30-minute talks.
How a Saturday works
10:30 AM–12:30 PMEvery session keeps the same two-hour shape — the same morning whether you join as a student building a startup or a mentor guiding a team. The time splits into four compressed blocks:
-
A founder’s real story
A guest founder opens with the honest version of their journey — the setbacks and wrong turns, not just the wins.
-
The week’s lesson
A focused teaching session on that Saturday’s topic — one idea taught well, from spotting a problem to
pricing a product. -
A hands-on task
Students put the lesson to work right away with a short, practical exercise tied to their own startup.
-
Team work time
Teams regroup to push their own company forward, applying what they just learned with mentors close by.
Between the Saturdays
Regular mentor check-ins
Beyond the sessions, every team meets its dedicated mentor on a regular cadence — roughly every two weeks — for guidance as the company takes shape.
Within every team
A role for every student
Each student holds a defined role, so everyone owns a real part of the company:
Who should apply
Any high-school student curious about entrepreneurship, business, or building something real. Open to students at the American School of Valencia, Caxton College, and across the wider international community. The year reaches well beyond business mechanics, too — students build durable skills they’ll carry long past the final pitch, from looking after their wellbeing and energy and working through stress with mindfulness, to communicating and resolving conflict as a team, using AI responsibly, shaping a personal brand online, and taking social responsibility seriously — always with an emphasis on solving real problems close to home.
Program fee
€70 / per month
For the full school-year program —
September to May.
The six steps
Every team walks the same arc —
from a shared interest in September to a
final pitch in May.
-
Form a team
Find three or four classmates who care about the same kinds of problems you do — your team is who you’ll build alongside all year.
-
Create a solution
Choose one real problem worth solving and shape the product or service your team thinks could fix it.
-
Talk to potential customers
Get out and interview the people you’re building for, then let what they tell you sharpen the business plan.
-
Create a prototype
Build a rough first version you can put in real hands — and pay close attention to where it breaks.
-
Develop your business model
Work out how the idea actually makes money, then turn the whole story into a pitch deck.
-
Present your work
Stand up on the final Saturday and pitch everything you’ve built to a panel of judges.
The Saturday schedule
Phase 1
Foundations & Team Formation
Step 1Sep122026
Launch Day: Welcome to VLC Young Entrepreneurs
Students meet the cohort, mentors, and program team, and learn how the year ahead is structured. We set expectations, introduce the six steps of building a startup, and kick off the entrepreneurial mindset. Teams begin to form around shared interests and passions.
Speaker · TBA — founder keynote
Sep192026
What is Entrepreneurship? Finding Your Team
Students get a clear picture of what entrepreneurship really is and why a strong founding team matters more than any single idea. Through structured activities, participants find collaborators whose skills complement their own. By the end of the session, teams of four to five begin to take shape.
Speaker · TBA
Sep262026
What’s a good business opportunity?
Students learn to tell a real business opportunity from a passing idea. We look at how successful founders spotted gaps worth pursuing and sized up their potential. Teams start a running list of opportunities they care about.
Speaker · TBA
Oct32026
The Entrepreneurial Mindset / Mindfulness & Stress Management
We explore how founders think differently about risk, failure, and opportunity, and why resilience matters more than any single idea. Students also learn practical mindfulness and stress-management tools to stay steady through the year ahead. Teams reflect on the mindset shifts they will need to thrive.
Speaker · TBA
Phase 2
Creating a Solution
Step 2Oct102026
What Makes a Great Problem? From Problem to Solution
Teams learn what separates a great problem from a merely interesting one, then choose the one they will spend the year solving. We introduce frameworks for
moving from a clear problem to a focused solution. Each team commits to a direction and a working hypothesis.
Speaker · TBA
Oct172026
Ideation & Creative Thinking
Students learn structured brainstorming techniques used by real product teams.
We push past obvious answers toward more original solutions. Teams sketch several possible versions of their idea.
Speaker · TBA
Oct242026
Defining Your Value Proposition
Teams articulate exactly what value their solution delivers and to whom. We introduce the value proposition canvas as a working tool. Each team drafts a one-sentence statement of what they do and why it matters.
Speaker · TBA
Oct312026
Market & Competitor Basics
Students learn to size a market and map who else is solving the same problem. We discuss how competition validates rather than kills an idea. Teams research their landscape and find their angle.
Speaker · TBA
Nov72026
Solution Workshop & Mentor Check-In
Teams work hands-on with their assigned mentors to pressure-test their solution. Mentors share where similar ideas succeed or struggle in the real world. Each team leaves with a sharpened concept.
Speaker · TBA
Phase 3
Talking to Customers
Step 3Nov142026
Why Customers Come First
Students learn why talking to potential customers beats guessing in a room. We cover the most common founder mistake: building before listening. Teams identify who their first customers actually are.
Speaker · TBA
Nov212026
The Art of the Customer Interview
We teach how to ask questions that reveal real needs instead of polite encouragement. Students practice interview techniques on each other and on mentors. Teams prepare an interview script to use in the field.
Speaker · TBA
Nov282026
Listening & Synthesizing Feedback
Teams return with what they heard and learn to find patterns in the noise. We separate signal from flattery and surprise from confirmation. Each team refines its business plan based on real input.
Speaker · TBA
Dec52026
Refining the Business Plan
Students translate customer insight into concrete changes to their concept. We revisit the value proposition and adjust based on evidence. Teams document what they learned and what they changed.
Speaker · TBA
Dec122026
Mid-Year Progress Showcase
Teams present their progress so far to peers and mentors in a low-stakes setting. We celebrate momentum and surface challenges before the winter break. Constructive feedback sets up a strong second half.
Speaker · TBA
Dec192026
Pre-Break Working Session
A flexible studio day for teams to catch up, plan, and set goals for January. Mentors are available for one-on-one guidance. Teams leave with a clear plan for the new year.
Speaker · TBA
Dec26
No session — Christmas break
Jan2
No session — New Year break
Phase 4
Prototyping & Testing
Step 4Jan92027
Welcome Back: Build to Learn
We restart the year focused on making ideas tangible. Students learn why a rough prototype teaches more than a perfect plan. Teams scope the simplest version of their product they can build.
Speaker · TBA
Jan162027
Prototyping Fundamentals
Students learn low-cost ways to prototype digital and physical products. We cover mockups, paper prototypes, and no-code tools. Teams begin building their first testable version.
Speaker · TBA
Jan232027
Building Your First Prototype
A hands-on studio session dedicated to making. Mentors help teams overcome technical and design hurdles. Each team aims for something a customer can actually try.
Speaker · TBA
Jan302027
Testing with Real Users
Teams put their prototype in front of potential customers and watch what happens. We teach how to run a usability test and capture honest reactions. Students learn to separate what users say from what they do.
Speaker · TBA
Feb62027
Iterating on Feedback
Teams analyze test results and decide what to change. We introduce the build-measure-learn loop as a working rhythm. Each team plans its next iteration.
Speaker · TBA
Feb132027
Prototype Refinement Studio
Another dedicated build day to act on test feedback. Mentors guide teams through tough product decisions. Teams move toward a version they are proud to demo.
Speaker · TBA
Phase 5
Business Model & Pitch Deck
Step 5Feb202027
How Startups Make Money
Students learn the main ways startups generate revenue. We map business model options against each team’s product and customers. Teams draft a first version of how they will make money.
Speaker · TBA
Feb272027
The Business Model Canvas
We introduce the business model canvas as a one-page strategy tool. Students fill in each block for their own startup. Teams identify the riskiest assumptions in their model.
Speaker · TBA
Mar62027
Pricing, Costs & Unit Economics
Students learn the basics of pricing, costs, and whether a business can sustain itself. We work through simple unit-economics examples together. Teams build a rough financial picture of their startup.
Speaker · TBA
Mar132027
Anatomy of a Great Pitch Deck
We break down what every strong pitch deck includes and why. Students study real decks from successful startups. Teams outline their own deck slide by slide.
Speaker · TBA
Mar202027
Building Your Pitch Deck
A working session to turn the outline into real slides. Mentors review structure, story, and clarity. Each team produces a first full draft of its deck.
Speaker · TBA
Mar272027
Storytelling & Persuasion
Students learn how to tell a story that makes judges and customers care. We cover narrative structure, hooks, and handling tough questions. Teams sharpen the story behind their numbers.
Speaker · TBA
Apr3
No session — Semana Santa / Easter break
Phase 6
Rehearsal & Presenting to Judges
Step 6Apr102027
Welcome Back: The Road to Pitch Day
We return with the finish line in sight. Teams assess where their deck and prototype stand. We set a clear plan to be pitch-ready by the end of May.
Speaker · TBA
Apr172027
Public Speaking & Stage Presence
Students learn techniques to present with confidence and clarity. We practice voice, pace, body language, and managing nerves. Each student delivers a short segment for feedback.
Speaker · TBA
Apr242027
Pitch Practice Round 1
Teams deliver their full pitch to mentors and receive structured feedback. We focus on timing, flow, and answering questions. Teams leave with a prioritized list of fixes.
Speaker · TBA
May12027
Handling Q&A & Tough Questions
Students learn to field hard questions from judges with composure. We run rapid-fire Q&A drills with mentors playing skeptical investors. Teams anticipate the questions they fear most.
Speaker · TBA
May82027
Pitch Practice Round 2
A second full dress rehearsal with sharper feedback. Teams refine slides, transitions, and delivery. We measure progress against pitch-day criteria.
Speaker · TBA
May152027
Final Polish Studio
Teams make final adjustments to deck, demo, and script. Mentors give last-round guidance. Everything comes together for the final stretch.
Speaker · TBA
May222027
Mock Presentations
Teams deliver full mock presentations under realistic, pitch-day conditions. Each team presents start to finish with timing enforced and a mock panel watching. We surface and resolve any last issues before the real thing.
Speaker · TBA
May292027
Final Pitches & Demo Day
The culmination of the year: teams present their startups to a panel of judges. Families, mentors, sponsors, and the community gather to watch. Winners are recognized and the cohort celebrates everything they built.
Speaker · panel of judges — TBA
Mentors
Every team is paired with a mentor for the year — and a mentor guides rather than builds. The job is to ask the right questions, help a team narrow a broad idea into something real, keep track of progress week to week, and prepare them to present. Mentors never build the project for the students; the team owns the company, and the mentor makes sure they build it well.
Sessions are led by practitioners — local entrepreneurs, professionals from across fields, and parents with real business experience. If you have built something and want to give a few Saturday mornings to the next generation,
we would love to have you.
To be confirmed
Mentor
To be confirmed
Mentor
To be confirmed
Mentor
To be confirmed
Mentor
Guest speakers
On select Saturdays, founders join us for 30-minute talks — the honest version of how they built their company, to inspire the students mid-build. If you have a story worth telling, get in touch.
To be confirmed
Guest speaker
To be confirmed
Guest speaker
To be confirmed
Guest speaker
To be confirmed
Guest speaker
Sponsors
Sponsoring VLC Young Entrepreneurs puts your business in front of an engaged international community across greater Valencia — and directly supports the next generation of local founders. Sponsors are recognized throughout the program and celebrated at Demo Day in May.
Your logo here
Your logo here
Your logo here
Your logo here
Awards & Recognition
The year closes on May 29 with a final event that celebrates the cohort and recognizes the teams who stood out.
Awards are presented across five categories:
Most Original Business Idea
The most original and persuasive
concept of
the program.
Greatest Social Impact
The project that does
the most
good for its community.
Most Compelling Presentation
The team that pitched with the
most clarity and confidence.
Most Realistic & Viable Project
The startup closest to standing on its own in
the real world.
Most Collaborative Teamwork
The team that collaborated best
across the school year.
Main prize
An internship or professional experience
with a program partner.
Awarded alongside a number of cash prizes for the winning teams.
Every participant
A certificate of completion — plus individual feedback for each student.
Awarded upon program completion and successful Demo Day pitch.
Apply to VLC Young Entrepreneurs
Applications are open for the 2026–27 cohort. This first cohort is intentionally small — roughly 16–24 students forming 4–6 teams — so spots are limited. Fill this out together with a parent or guardian and we will be in touch.
Become a mentor
Coach one team through the six steps across the school year.
Tell us a little about yourself and we will follow up.
Apply to speak
Give a 30-minute talk on a select Saturday and share the
real story behind your company.
Become a sponsor
Support the next generation of local founders and reach an engaged international community. Tell us a little about your business.