ENROLLMENT IS OPEN

At Teen Business Academy, we focus on businesses that teens can start with low risk and the potential for significant earnings. Examples include service-based ventures like lawn care or landscaping, mastering and selling a specific skill, or launching creative side hustles. Throughout the program, we’ll explore hundreds of business ideas and interview dozens of successful entrepreneurs, providing real-world insights and inspiration. In addition to entrepreneurial knowledge, students will develop character traits such as initiative, responsibility, and perseverance—essential qualities for success in both business and life.

Unlike college programs that often focus on theory, this program emphasizes practical, hands-on experience. Students will learn from incredible, industry expert guest speakers—entrepreneurs who have built businesses from the ground up—and from lead instructor Chris Coughlin, who has started, invested in, and coached over 100 startups. By the end of the course, each student will have developed a business plan, built a website, and either launched a business or created a clear, actionable path to entrepreneurship. Along the way, they will also cultivate essential character traits such as resilience, responsibility, and confidence—skills that will serve them in all aspects of life.

This isn’t your typical classroom experience! Our main campus is in Colorado Springs at Mountain Springs Church, with two Hybrid Project Pod locations in South Denver and Northern Colorado. We also plan to incorporate field trips to local businesses for hands-on learning and lessons from other successful owners. All times and locations will be communicated in advance to accommodate your family’s schedule.

While the program includes engaging projects and instructor/peer feedback to build business skills, there is no mandatory homework.

Even if your student doesn’t plan to start a business, this program offers valuable insights and skills. Understanding entrepreneurship fosters critical thinking, creativity, self-reliance, and character development—building a strong foundation for success in any path they choose, both personally and professionally.

Yes, this program is specifically designed for junior high and high school students, typically ranging from 6th to 12th grade. The curriculum is tailored to meet the developmental and educational needs of this age group, focusing on entrepreneurial skills, leadership, character development, and personal growth during these formative years.

Students’ siblings of any age may watch the online classes, though, and families will have access to the on-demand online content anytime.

At Teen Business Academy, our instruction is designed to be engaging and understandable for all ages. While all students learn the same foundational material, our expert instructors personalize the experience through age-appropriate group projects. Students are paired with peers of similar grade levels, and projects are tailored to ensure they can apply the lessons in ways that match their developmental stage. This ensures that every student, whether in 6th grade or 12th, can fully grasp the concepts and grow their entrepreneurial and leadership skills.

The Three-Hour Learning Block includes live instruction led by expert teachers, covering essential business topics such as business formation, finance, and marketing. Lessons are structured using the Pomodoro Method (25-minute focused sessions followed by 5-minute breaks) a scientifically proven method to maximize productivity and retention