Our BUILD Programs
Teaching the next generation the entrepreneurial mindset and skills that will lead to college, career and life success.
Are you ready to BUILD?
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 3-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.
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, student-facing workbook, and platform
- 60-minute training for teachers, school districts, and nonprofits organizations
- Rated a 9+ by students and educators
- Create youth-driven solutions to promote mental and physical wellness
BUILD YOUR BUSINESS
A flexible 6-unit program integrated into core or CTE classes or as a standalone elective. 60 – 120 hours of lesson plans that can be taught in a semester, year-long, or after school. Grades 8 – 12.
Students will:
- Engage and have fun in a project-based experience incorporating 21st Century Skills
- Discover personal strengths & passions
- Get an introduction to Entrepreneurship that focuses on developing an entrepreneurial mindset, skill acquisition, and prototyping a business
- Experience three events: Personal Pitch + Career Panel, Idea Pitch, and a Business Plan Competition
BUILD YOUR VOICE
A flexible, 6-unit curriculum that expands on our BUILD Your Business curriculum with a focus on skill development, exploration and growing a profitable business, marketing, scaling a business and building social capital. 60 – 120 hours of lesson plans that can be taught in a semester, year-long, or after school. Grades 8 – 12.
Students will:
- Continue building their skills in product design, then launch into an engaging real-world branding and marketing campaign, finishing the year with a selling event and portfolio defense
- Ideate, create a pitch for funding, and run a real business
- Learn financial literacy, marketing, and sell their products
- Build social capital and regularly practice newly learned 21st Century skills
- Experience four events: Marketing Campaign Pitch, Investor Meeting, Sales Bazaar and Personal Pitch
BUILD YOUR FUTURE
BUILD Your Future offers themed lessons that help students develop navigational capital around career pathways, financial wellness, networking connections, college pathways, building structures of support, and persistence.
- 60 hours of themed curriculum content combined with Post-Secondary Pathways (PSP) Experiences
- Curriculum offered to school partners as both 11th and 12th-grade experiences and who have completed BUILD Your Business and BUILD your Voice
- Managed by Program Managers and College & Career Access Coaches in each region with support and oversight from the BUILD PSP team
Students will:
- Learn Advanced Design Thinking, Measuring Impact and Personal Branding
- Learn Financial Wellness, Social Capital & Work-Based Learning; Persistence & Well-Being, Building Community and Networks of Support
- Experience seven events: Alumni Panel - “Trailblazing”, Design Challenge Hackathon, Marketing Your Assets Workshop , College Campus Visit, Interviewing Workshop, Imposter Syndrome Workshop and Portfolio Pitch
BUILD 3-YEAR INTEGRATED MODEL
BUILD’s unique 3-Year Model offers students entrepreneurship experience designed to reinforce the Common Core and develop 21st Century Skills. We connect our students to a powerful network of mentors who support them as they realize their potential and abilities. BUILD staff work closely with teachers by providing ongoing coaching on the day to day program facilitation. BUILD also provides mentorship from local businesses to support in the classroom. BUILD staff assist with all student events. BUILD’s 3-Year Program is currently offered in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA; Washington, DC; Boston, MA; and New York, NY.
Students will:
- Learn to become the CEO of their own lives through this immersive 3-year program
- Experience dynamic and relevant project-based learning and exercise 21st-century skills
- Solve real-world problems with support from BUILD staff, a strong educator, and corporate mentors
- Explore college & career options with the support of advisors and coaches who also provide the opportunity to build social capital
FAQ
Why is there a difference in the offerings in certain cities?
BUILD offers three levels of support based on in-person or remote support from BUILD Staff.
- BUILD your Business can be offered anywhere in the United States to Title 1 Schools or Community-Based Organizations. Partnerships include initial training, ongoing Coaching, How-To-Manuals, the platform, and all the resources for educators and students to experience the program.
- BUILD Your Voice is offered as an add-on program in Pittsburgh, PA, Los Angeles, CA, and our Hub Cities. This program delivers more touchpoints and supports from BUILD Staff.
- BUILD Your Future is an additional add-on program for 11th and 12th graders and is offered in our Hub Cities. This program is managed by BUILD staff with the assistance of the Partner School or Community-Based Organization
Is there a deadline to apply?
There is no deadline. It all depends on how easily and quickly your school or community-based organization 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 and in-person 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 after-school programs and community centers.
How long does the program last?
BUILD can be taught as a standalone elective in year one, as a three-year elective pathway, or be integrated into an existing Career and Technical or other classes. It can be taught as a semester-long, year-long, integrated, or after school. Each year is 60 - 120 hours of lesson plans
How much does the program cost?
Pricing is based on location and support. The true cost of BUILD far exceeds the amount we charge as we receive amazing support from Foundations, Corporations, and individual donors. We do ask for fees from partners and extend a scholarship opportunity if the full amount is not within your budget.
Each Program is between $5000 and $10,000 per year pending location and support.
- BUILD Hubs: the San Francisco Bay Area, CA; Washington, DC; Boston, MA; and New York, NY. $10,000 Per program, per year
- Pittsburgh, PA, Los Angeles, CA $7,500 Per program, per year, BUILD your Business and BUILD your Voice
- 90 minutes from each of the above locations $5,000 for BUILD Your Business per year.
The program fee per site consists of integration with partners, annual license to the platform, professional development and support for the educator, how-to manuals, lesson plans, and presentations, as well as student-facing workbooks and activities. Discounts are offered for multi-year contracts, the purchase of multiple programs, and district-wide integration.
Do students actually launch their own venture?
The students launch a prototype and learn the elements of running a business in our BUILD your Business Program. They do a funding pitch and start a business and sell their products in the second year, BUILD your voice.
Through these experiences, the 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 or community-based organization to provide $50 – $100 of seed money to each student team.
