StarterSky Lab
A Teen Startup Accelerator for High School Students in India
StarterSky is a selective 3 to 4 month teen startup accelerator for high school students (13 to 18) in India where students build and launch real ventures, get mentored by real founders , participate in global competitions and intern with a startup.
— The Program
How the program works.
⚡ 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.
⏱ 20 hour program over 5 days or 4 weekends ONLINE
📈 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
What you leave with:
- A launched startup, a mentor network
- Competition applications
- A startup internship
- A founder story that no other student has.
— 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.
— The REsult
What high school students walk away with.
— Internships
Startup internships.
— 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
— designed for students
Why StarterSky for IB, IGCSE, and CBSE students?
StarterSky Lab is built around the IB, IGCSE, and CBSE academic calendar. Phase 1 runs as a 5 day intensive or across 4 weekends, so students can join during weekends or summer without disrupting school. The program is designed for high school students aged 13 to 18 targeting top India, US and UK universities. This is for students who want to show real initiative, not just clubs and certificates.
A launched startup is one of the strongest spikes a high school student can have on their college application. Admissions officers at universities see thousands of essays about leadership, starting a club and passion. Students who have actually launched their own startup are fewer and stand out.
— FAQ
Frequently asked questions about StarterSky Lab.
That's ok. Half of our students come in with no idea and discover a problem to solve on the first day or two. You don't have to know how to code. We use simple drag-and-drop tools like Figma, Lovable, and Carrd. You can also use Canva or Wix.
For the 1st phase, it is a 20 hour program. Post this, depending on each student, 2-4 hours a week.
That's totally fine and really what the sprint is for! The average founder pivots 2-3 times. Failing fast is a skill top universities value. Admissions love stories about resilience, not just success.
Yes. For more information, please book a call with us to learn more details including price.
StarterSky runs in India and Dubai mentored by real founders as well as mentors from reputed colleges like IIT, Harvard, Stanford, and Babson. The program is built around the IB, IGCSE, and Indian school calendar, so students can join during weekends, breaks, or holidays without worrying about their academics. Students build and launch real products over 3 to 4 months rather than attending a summer program abroad.
Yes. Students walk away with a launched product, a founder title on their résumé, mentor recommendation letters, and authentic material for Common App essays and genuine story for admissions interviews. Students also apply to global competitions like the Diamond Challenge and WSI.
Cohorts are usually capped at 12 students. Admissions are based on application quality and a short conversation with our founder.
You can book a 15-minute call with our founder for more information here.
You can reach out to us at admin@startersky.com and let us know you are interested in a Personalized Program or book a consultation with us.
Yes. StarterSky runs cohorts in Dubai for students across the UAE.
— Summer 2026