Splash Biography

Did you know that startups less than 3.5 years old create nearly 85% of new jobs worldwide? Join the next generation of young innovators as you master the entrepreneurial journey. This hands-on class equips you with immediately applicable skills in customer discovery, company & board formation, equity structuring, incubation models, designing for scale, and fundraising strategies—from venture capital to grants and alternative financing. You'll explore thriving startup ecosystems across industries like healthtech, climate innovation, AI, consumer products, and social enterprises through case studies. Whether you're already running a small business or nurturing a groundbreaking idea, you'll develop a practical toolkit to transform your vision into reality while learning how diverse perspectives drive innovation. By the end of the hour, you'll walk away with valuable resources to immediately advance your entrepreneurial journey, whether you're launching your first company or planning to join a startup while still in high school.

37.4 billion metric tons of CO2 were emitted in 2024. But there's still hope -- learn what YOU can BUILD to save our planet. This course is an invigorating introduction to emerging climate technologies, technologies that mitigate, prevent, or build resilience against climate change. Starting with an overview of nature-based solutions vs. geoengineering, we will dive into a selection of the following climate technologies: carbon capture and storage (CCS), enhanced rock weathering, direct air capture, reforestation/afforestation, biochar, sustainable steel and cement, sustainable aviation fuel, batteries and the power grid, maritime decarbonization, biodiversity tech, and more. Emphasis on both the built environment and hardware, as well as software and artificial intelligence applications. We will explore the technology, leading companies pioneering in this space, and financing the pathway to net-zero.

How do groundbreaking companies like Tesla, Airbnb, and Spotify go from an idea to a billion-dollar business? How can great businesses make great impact? Welcome to Venture Capital 101, an exciting introduction to the world of startup investing! This course is designed for middle and high school students eager to learn how investors fund the future of innovation. Students will explore: - How Venture Capital (VC) Works: The VC fund cycle and what investors look for in a startup. - Tracking Market Trends: How do VCs predict which companies will succeed, when, where, and for how long? - The Startup Lifecycle: From a founder’s first pitch to term sheets, IPOs and acquisitions. - Alphabet Soup! B2B, B2C, DTC, SaaS – an introduction to business models. - Industry Overview: Consumer, software, hardware/deep science, fintech, and more. - Why Diversity Matters: Diverse investors make better investments, and diverse founders build better businesses. - Big brands you should follow today and current market trends. Where does artificial intelligence fit into all this?! - Becoming an Entrepreneur!