Student Innovation Idea Labs Hosts Successful Summer Entrepreneurship Camps
The Student Innovation Idea Labs recently concluded five highly successful week-long Summer Entrepreneurship Camps, designed to teach children aged 8-12 how to transform their startup ideas into reality. The teaching team consisted of leads from Student Innovation Idea Labs, Innovation Incubator, and student teachers from the College of Education and Integrative Studies who are in the teaching credential program. Together, they worked to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in young minds, providing them with essential skills and hands-on experience.
Throughout the camp, participants immersed themselves in a structured curriculum covering essential entrepreneurship skills. They learned to identify real-world problems and brainstorm innovative solutions. With guidance from the teaching team, the young entrepreneurs conducted customer discovery and market research to validate their ideas. The curriculum also included creating a Business Model Canvas, allowing the participants to map out their business plans, including key partners, activities, resources, value propositions, customer relationships, customer segments, cost structures, and revenue streams.
Interim Director of Student Innovation Idea Labs, Dr. Yao Olive Li, noted, “Throughout a week-long program, the campers aged 8-12 were engaged in creating a business model canvas based on their ideation and customer discovery, and then utilizing various tools at our Maker Studio to convert their idea into a prototype. The campers finished their teamwork by a pitch presentation to their parents as potential customers or investors.”
Cal Poly Pomona engineering students, working as technicians, assisted with prototyping the products using equipment at the University Library's Maker Studio. Participants learned to use various machines, including sewing machines, laser cutters, and 3D printers to bring their prototypes to life.
Camp participants also took part in workshops that emphasized critical skills such as teamwork and public speaking. These sessions were designed to help them collaborate effectively, communicate their ideas clearly, and present their project confidently.
By the end of each week, the teaching team was thrilled to see the growth and development of each participant. Each week ended with a final presentation of their projects to an audience of family and friends. Through this presentation, students showed their innovative ideas and demonstrated the skills they acquired. The children had not only gained valuable entrepreneurial skills but also formed lasting friendships and a supportive network of like-minded peers.
Innovation Incubator Director, Ericka Olguin expressed her excitement about the program’s success, saying, “We aimed to create an environment where kids could unleash their creativity, tackle real-world problems, and develop the skills they need to become the innovators of tomorrow. Watching their ideas come to life has been incredibly rewarding. This camp has shown that with the right support and guidance, young minds are capable of achieving amazing things.”
The Student Innovation Idea Labs remains committed to nurturing the next generation of innovators, providing them with the tools and opportunities to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality. This summer’s camp was a testament to the power of early education in entrepreneurship, and the team looks forward to continuing this impactful work in years to come.
For more information on the camps, visit the Student Innovation Idea Labs website or contact them directly at siil@cpp.edu.