BUILDing Futures
Teaching the next generation the entrepreneurial mindset and skills that will lead to college, career and life success.
Through the empowering experience of running a real business, students demonstrate increased proficiency in six critical competencies we call Spark Skills: Communication, Collaboration, Problem Solving, Innovation, Grit, and Self Management. Most importantly, BUILD students develop a vital sense of self-agency over their education and careers.
BUILD currently serves thousands of students in New York City, Boston, San Francisco Bay Area and Washington, DC with our 4-year model. Our continued growth is through our 1-year programs and virtual offerings nationwide. Our 1-year programs provide a turnkey experience for educators throughout the country with professional development and ongoing support.
Programs
BUILD's Design Challenge
10 hours of engaging, culturally responsive, project-based digital content that inspires entrepreneurial innovation
- An immersive online experience for students, complete with a facilitators guide
- 2-hour training for teachers, school districts, and nonprofits organizations
- Explore being a social entrepreneur
- Connect with community mentors
- Launch mini-ventures to address local problems
- Virtually compete against other Explore students on a national level
Explore Entrepreneurship
This program consists of a yearlong, 24-unit turnkey credit-bearing curriculum designed to be taught during the school day. Students:
- Utilize design thinking to assess social problems
- Understand root cause analysis
- Assess individual strengths and form diverse teams
- Ideate and prototype solutions
- Build business models, cost and revenue structures
- Form pitch decks, and compete with other students on a national level
Entrepreneurship 1.0 and Entrepreneurship 2.0
This program consists of 18 units that are designed for schools that have implemented Social Entrepreneurship 1.0 and have advanced students launching ventures. The yearlong course is designed to help students:
- Rapidly prototype solutions
- Iterate through customer feedback
- Launch go-to-market strategies
- Define scalable business models
- Build-out team and advisors
- Design a pitch deck to raise capital
BUILD 4-Year Program
This program consists of a yearlong, 24-unit turnkey credit-bearing curriculum designed to be taught during the school day. Students:
- Utilize design thinking to assess social problems
- Understand root cause analysis
- Assess individual strengths and form diverse teams
- Ideate and prototype solutions
- Build business models, cost and revenue structures
- Form pitch decks, and compete with other students on a national level
FAQ
Is there a deadline to apply?
There is no deadline. It all depends on how easily and quickly your school and school district can approve new curriculum. The BUILD program can launch based on your schedule. Please complete the interest form and let us know your schedule.
Who teaches the curriculum in the classroom?
BUILD uses a train-the-trainer model and partners with a teacher on campus to teach the curriculum. Virtual teacher training is conducted annually before the school year begins, and teachers receive dedicated staff support and on-call assistance throughout the year.
Are teachers responsible for creating lesson plans?
Nope! BUILD offers a turnkey proprietary curriculum that has activities and lesson plans already built in.
What types of schools and community centers does BUILD work with?
The curriculum is designed specifically for grades 8 – 12. Our team has supported all kinds of schools – charter, private, public, independent, Montessori, etc. Our courses have also been used in afterschool programs and community centers.
How long does the program last?
Explore is a flexible 6-unit, 20-lesson program that can be taught during the school day or after school. It’s up to individual teachers to determine how long it takes their students to grasp the contents of each lesson.
Social Entrepreneurship 1.0 is a year-long, 24-unit curriculum that is taught during the school day. While less flexible than our Explore curriculum, it gives students a more comprehensive and thorough understanding of social entrepreneurship.
Social Entrepreneurship 2.0 is a year-long, 18 units that are designed for schools that have implemented Social Entrepreneurship 1.0 and have advanced students launching ventures.
How much does the program cost?
The Explore program fee consists of a one time launch fee, annual licence fee and professional development and support for the educator fee.
- One time launch fee that covers the onboarding and orientation of the new partner is $2,500
- Curriculum license fee (includes the curriculum, guides, and resources for the teacher to effectively lead the program) is $2,500 per year.
- Teacher training and support fee (which helps to advance each teacher’s professional development) is discounted based on how many years the teacher has taught the program. A first-year teacher costs $2,500 to train and support, a second-year teacher costs $1,500 to train and support, and a third-year teacher costs $500 to train and support. Discounts are offered for multi-year contracts, the purchase of multiple programs, the training of 5+ teachers, and district wide integration.
The Social Entrepreneurship 1.0 program fee consists of a one time launch fee, annual licence fee and professional development and support for the educator fee.
- One time launch fee that covers the onboarding and orientation of the new partner is $5,000
- Curriculum license fee (includes the curriculum, guides, and resources for the teacher to effectively lead the program) is $5,000 per year.
- Teacher training and support fee (which helps to advance each teacher’s professional development) is discounted based on how many years the teacher has taught the program. A first-year teacher costs $5,000 to train and support, a second-year teacher costs $3,000 to train and support, and a third-year teacher costs $1,500 to train and support. Discounts are offered for multi-year contracts, the purchase of multiple programs, the training of 5+ teachers, and district wide integration.
The Social Entrepreneurship 2.0 program fee consists of an annual licence fee and professional development and support for the educator fee. The $5,000 one time launch fee is waived as Social Entrepreneurship 1.0 is a prerequisite for this program.
- Curriculum license fee (includes the curriculum, guides, and resources for the teacher to effectively lead the program) is $5,000 per year.
- Teacher training and support fee (which helps to advance each teacher’s professional development) is discounted based on how many years the teacher has taught the program. A first-year teacher costs $5,000 to train and support, a second-year teacher costs $3,000 to train and support, and a third-year teacher costs $1,500 to train and support. Discounts are offered for multi-year contracts, the purchase of multiple programs, the training of 5+ teachers, and district wide integration.
Do students actually launch their own venture?
Some do, and some do not. The end goal is for students to see themselves as change-agents, entrepreneurs, and innovators ready to tackle any problem they are passionate about, whether during the program or beyond.
School Partners
BUILD partners with public, private, and charter schools. Here are some of our current partner schools:
