Too many programs for young entrepreneurs fall into the same traps. They're either overly academic with no real execution, gamified simulations that feel like playtime, or tech-focused bootcamps that exclude students who don't want to code.
Worse, many are structured as competitions—where only the "winners" get recognition, and everyone else walks away feeling like they failed.
At Brill Academy, we believe entrepreneurship isn't about winning contests or building apps. It's about learning to think critically, solve real problems, and communicate ideas with clarity—skills that matter whether your child becomes a founder, a leader, or simply someone who approaches the world with confidence and creativity.
At Brill Academy, we treat middle schoolers like real founders—
because that's how they develop the judgment, confidence,
and capability that matters for the rest of their life.
We've built our program around a simple principle:
young people learn by doing, not by watching.
Here's what makes us different:
At Brill Academy, we treat middle schoolers like real founders—because that's how they develop the judgment, confidence, and capability that matters for the rest of their life.
We've built our program around a simple principle:
young people learn by doing, not by watching.
Here's what makes us different:
Every student builds their own business concept—not a group project where responsibility is diluted. They own the decisions, the iterations, and the outcomes.
Students receive mentorship from expert Silicon Valley advisors who have built, scaled, and invested in companies at the highest levels. They also serve on peer advisory boards—evaluating other ventures and providing strategic feedback, practicing the same skills used by professional investors and board members.
Entrepreneurship isn't about technical skills. It's about identifying real problems, designing solutions, understanding customers, and communicating value. Students build businesses around what they care about—digital or non-digital.
No winners. No losers. No rankings. No pressure to perform for judges. Students focus on their own progress, ideas, growth—not on beating their peers. We optimize for long-term capability, not short-term spectacle or résumé padding.
With just 8-10 students per cohort, every participant receives the individualized attention, meaningful feedback, and the support needed to develop their venture with confidence that larger programs simply cannot provide.
Ideas are tested. Assumptions are challenged. Decisions have consequences. Students learn to articulate their thinking, defend their choices, and iterate based on real feedback—not theoretical frameworks.
Students pitch to actual investors at the Brill Ventures Showcase. Not for evaluation. Not for grades. But to experience what it feels like to present an idea to people who could genuinely support its next chapter.
Students move through the full founder journey—from identifying a problem to validating a solution to presenting their business to actual investors. This isn't a simulation. It's real entrepreneurial thinking, applied to real ideas, with real stakes.
At the end, they don't just walk away with a certificate. They pitch their businesses to actual investors at our bi-annual Brill Ventures Showcase—experiencing the same pressures and possibilities that real founders face when presenting to people who can help bring their ideas to life.
Best For: Students who want a concentrated introduction or have limited availability
Best For: Students ready to build a comprehensive, well-researched venture
Best For: Families seeking maximum personalization and flexible scheduling
All programs run on Saturdays with live, instructor-led virtual sessions.
Cohorts are limited to 8-10 students and fill on a first-come, first-served basis.
Price: $4,500
Dates: February 7 - 28, 2026
Time: Saturdays, 9 AM - 12 PM PT
Price: $9,000
Dates: February 7 - March 28, 2026
Time: Saturdays, 9 AM - 12 PM PT
Price: $4,500
Dates: April 4 - 25, 2026
Time: Saturdays, 9 AM - 12 PM PT
Price: $9,000
Dates: April 4 - May 23, 2026
Time: Saturdays, 9 AM - 12 PM PT
Brill Academy Private offers 1:1 mentorship with customized timing.
Learn more about our PRIVATE PROGRAM.
Twice a year, Brill Academy graduates pitch their businesses to professional investors—angels, VCs, and family office representatives—in a demo-day format.
This isn't a competition. There are no winners or prizes. This is a high-fidelity simulation of what real founders experience when presenting to people who evaluate ventures for a living.
What makes it real:
Why it matters: For many students, this is the first time they've presented an idea to people who genuinely understand business. The experience shapes how they think about opportunity, risk, and communication—skills that last well beyond the program.
Spring and Summer 2026 graduates will be invited to pitch.
Experience the caliber of thinking from the next generation of founders.
Panelists evaluate ventures real-time and provide investor-grade feedback.
Upon successful completion of Brill Academy, students receive a comprehensive three-part graduation package designed to recognize their achievement and provide lasting value.
A personalized letter highlighting your child's strengths, areas of growth, and recommended next steps in their entrepreneurial journey.
*This can serve as a formal recommendation letter for high school or college applications.
Students leave Brill Academy with more than documents. They develop:
Brill Academy is designed for middle schoolers (ages 12-14) who are curious about how businesses work, excited to build something of their own, or simply ready to think more independently about problems and opportunities.
Creative Entrepreneurs. - Brand builders, multi-hyphenates, creators with leverage
High-Profile Builders. - Public-facing founders, investors, cultural leaders
| Title | Optional Tooltip / Subtitle |
|---|---|
| Creative Entrepreneurs | Artists, creators, and brand builders with business instincts |
| High-Profile Builders | Public-facing visionaries building scalable platforms |
| Cultural Catalysts | Individuals shaping taste, conversation, and direction |
| Design-Driven Thinkers | Founders and operators who see with aesthetic clarity |
| Founders | Startup builders, venture leaders, company architects |
| Product Leaders | Those shaping roadmaps, teams, and product-market fit |
| Solo Operators | High-agency individuals scaling without a big team |
| Strategists | Thinkers who connect vision, data, and execution |
We're looking for students ready to think hard,
build something,
and stand behind it—
even when it's uncomfortable.
We're looking for students ready to
think hard,
build something,
and stand behind it—
even when it's uncomfortable.
Give your child the opportunity to build, test, and pitch a real business—
guided by Silicon Valley advisors and surrounded by fellow young founders.
Be the first to know when new cohorts open,
plus get occasional insights on raising entrepreneurial thinkers.
Serial entrepreneur, investor, and long-time startup advisor with 30+ years in Silicon Valley. Y Combinator alumna, Thiel Foundation advisor, and graduate of innovation programs at HEC Paris and Oxford. She has built, scaled, and advised companies across technology, media, and global consumer businesses—working with Google, Apple, Meta, Disney, Adobe, and LVMH.
She founded Brill Academy to teach middle schoolers the entrepreneurial thinking she learned building and evaluating ventures at the highest levels.
