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.
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: Online / Offline Cohorts Or Individually online.
You will: Validate your idea and talk to customers, build your landing page or website using no-code tools, launch your product/service to real users, and get mentored on how to execute further.
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.
Online sessions
Phase 3: Accelerate
Experience a Real Startup.
Format: An internship with a startup, remote or hybrid.
You will: Work at a startup for 4-6 weeks typically during summer or winter break, learn how founders work, and get practical experience.
4-6 weeks online
Next Cohort Dates
Mumbai In-Person Winter Cohort: 19–23 December 2026
Online Winter Cohort: 2–6 January 2027
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 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
“I enjoyed this program as it taught me valuable business skills that I can use in the future. I learned how to identify and solve a problem using multiple techniques, and how to create an MVP.”
Vansh Shah, 14
Overseas Family School, Singapore
“I really liked this program. I appreciated how thoughtful and engaging the program was, and how each student’s ideas were valued. Highly recommended.”
Aanya Chandarana, 16
Lick-Wilmerding High School, San Francisco
“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.
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 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.
Winter 2026