Entrepreneurship Program for Teens in Dubai
A 3 to 4 month teen startup accelerator for high school students (13 to 18) across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Students build and launch real ventures, mentored by real founders as well as mentors from reputed colleges like IIT, Harvard, Stanford, and Babson.
— Founder City
Why Dubai is the Ideal City for Teen Founders
— The Program
How StarterSky Lab Works in Dubai: 3 Phases Over 3 to 4 Months
Phase 1: Build
Launch Your First Project or Startup.
Format: 20 hour intensive cohort with other students
You will: Validate your idea and talk to customers, build your your landing page or website using no-code tools, launch your product to real users, and present your pitch on Demo Day.
Outcome: Your first live product, real user feedback, and confidence to call yourself a founder.
Phase 2: Grow
Get Traction and Earn Recognition.
Format: One on one 6 mentorship sessions online
You will: Strengthen your project based on feedback, apply to elite global competitions like Diamond Challenge, WSI and others, refine your business model and pitch, and execute your idea further.
Outcome: Traction + global competition applications + momentum.
Flexible sessions
Phase 3: Accelerate
Experience a Real Startup.
Format: An internship with a startup
You will: Work at a startup for 4 weeks typically during summer or winter break, learn how founders work, and get practical experience.
Outcome: A résumé worthy internship, possibility of a recommendation letter, and clarity on your next chapter.
4 weeks online
Next Cohort: Online, October 2026
Phase 1: Online: October 17th, November 13th. Offline in Dubai: October 30th, 31st and November 1st, 27th, 28th, 29th.
Open to students across the UAE - Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Session timings adjusted for the UAE.
Interested in an offline Dubai cohort? Book a consultation - we run in-person cohorts in Dubai when 10+ students commit.
— The Result
What UAE High School Students Walk Away With
— testimonials
What StarterSky students and parents say.
“The Startersky Lab program was an excellent experience, and helped me achieve what I thought was impossible – starting a business. Despite my fear that I would not be able to come up with an idea, their thought out exercises and facilitators made it much easier than I expected. They gave continuous feedback throughout the workshop, and helped me create a prototype and connect with NGOs too.”
Sumer Kothari, 15
Bombay International School
“The program was very interactive and great exposure for us as students. Helpful for upcoming entrepreneurs to understand the startup space or just help in grooming them.”
Saahir Mohindru, 15
Pathways School, Delhi
“The StarterSky Idea Validation experience was an incredibly rewarding one for my son. It gave him the grounding to take his idea seriously and the structure to pursue it forward with conviction. Above all, I was amazed at how the program encouraged curiosity, critical thinking, and application to real-world situations. He learned about prototyping his ideas, getting to know his customers, and adapting based on feedback. These are lessons that apply long after the classroom. The guidance he received was practical, insightful, and encouraging. I’ve seen a noticeable boost in his confidence and clarity about what it takes to bring an idea to life. I’m truly grateful for the opportunities this program and the mentors have given him.”
Sharmila Sathe, mother of Siddhartha Sathe
Oberoi International School, Mumbai
“The entire StarterSky journey was a great experience, from when we came (without even a definite idea) to actually launching it. It helped me in various ways as I developed new skills throughout the program and I really enjoyed the full process. I would definitely recommend joining the program, as it was really helpful and different from anything I’ve done before.”
Raghav Jatia, 15
Bombay International School
“Before the StarterSky program, I had an idea based on observation and theory. After the program, I have an idea that’s been validated through real market research and direct conversations with potential customers. The program’s hands-on approach was a game-changer. It pushes you to move beyond ‘bookish stuff’ and gain the tangible experience necessary to build a real venture. For a student founder, it’s like a mini-MBA that provides the practical toolkit you need to confidently take the next steps. I highly recommend it to any aspiring entrepreneur who wants to turn their concept into a validated business.”
Siddhant Gujar, 17
IIT Madras
“I liked how StarterSky was very supportive and even if you did not come with an idea, they would help you find one. At the beginning, I was nervous since I did not have an idea, and I did not know how to make a product, but I started to become more confident with it as we got a lot of help from the teachers. This is a very fun and interesting program that is worth it and I would recommend this to others.”
Dia Dwarkadas, 14
Bombay International School
— The Mentors
Mentors who have actually built things.
Aditi Chandarana
Finix · Stripe · J.P. Morgan
NYU
Baljeet Gujral
Academic Mentor & Investor
Harvard Business School
Varsha Lalwani
Coach · Ex-Grammarly, Trivago
IIT Kanpur
Prakhar Porwal
Startup Mentor · Google for Startups
IIT E-Cell
Vaishali Shah
Brand Strategist
London School of Economics
Amar Haksar
Founder, Matterz Sports
Boston University
Namrata Malu
Co-founder, Second Brick · Board Member × 10
Founder
Srishti Mittal
Founder
Plus additional mentors across tech, design, business and domain expertise - matched to each student's venture.
— designed for students
Why StarterSky for IB, IGCSE, and CBSE students in UAE?
StarterSky Lab is built around the academic calendars of IB, IGCSE, and CBSE schools across the UAE. Sessions are timed for UAE students, and the program runs in formats that fit around school including weekends,breaks and the summer holiday.
The program is especially relevant for NRI families and students targeting top US and UK universities. A launched startup is one of the strongest “spikes” a high school student can have on their application. Admissions officers at universities see thousands of essays about leadership, clubs and passion. They don’t see a lot of applicants who have actually built and launched a real product with users.
— FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
That's completely fine. Half of our students come in with no idea and discover a problem to solve on the first day or two. Our structured exercises and mentors help you find a meaningful problem to work on.
Not at all. We use no-code tools like Figma, Lovable, and Carrd with simple drag-and-drop features. You can also use Canva, Wix, or other tools you're comfortable with.
Yes. StarterSky runs cohorts specifically for students in Dubai and across the UAE. We run both online and offline cohorts. Book a consultation to learn about upcoming dates.
Phase 1 is an intensive programme spread over two weekends. After that, depending on each student, expect 2–4 hours per week during Phases 2 and 3.
That's totally fine, that's what the sprint is for. The average founder pivots 2–3 times. Failing fast is a skill top universities value. Admissions officers love stories about resilience, not just success.
Yes, we do. Reach out to us at admin@startersky.com or book a consultation to discuss a programme tailored to your schedule and goals.
Every student gets 1:1 mentorship with a startup founder over 6 sessions. They also receive support for applying to global competitions (Diamond Challenge, WSI, NFTE) and can opt into a 4-week startup internship.
Yes. If you're looking for a fully individualised program built around one student, email us at admin@startersky.com or book a consultation.
StarterSky runs in Dubai and across the UAE with mentors from Harvard, IIT, Stanford, and Babson. The program is built around the IB, IGCSE, and CBSE calendar so students from the UAE can join during weekends or summer without interfering in school. Students build and launch real products over 3 to 4 months rather than travelling abroad for a 4 week summer program.
Yes. Students walk away with a launched product, a founder title on their résumé and LinkedIn, mentor recommendation letters, and authentic material for Common App and UCAS personal statements. Several students apply to global competitions like Diamond Challenge and WSI.
Cohorts are capped at 12 students. Admissions are based on application quality and a short conversation with our founder.
Summer 2026