Spike Lab
Are you a budding entrepreneur or aspiring change maker? Check out Spike Lab, which promises to help you “launch an impactful and meaningful project.”
In today’s ultra-competitive college admissions world it’s often said applicants need a “spike” in their profiles to stand out from their peers. Colleges are looking for ultra-motivated kids who can make a difference on their campuses. And what’s a great way to show this? Point to a “spike” that you’ve already successfully developed.
Spike Lab is part of a growing list of companies that provide a platform for ambitious teens to ideate, validate, launch and scale their business or social entrepreneurship ideas. It looks like Spike Lab has a rigorous screening process to identify mentors with (1) proven track records; and (2) the desire to help high schoolers achieve their goals. The program includes weekly 90-minute meetings, as well as comprehensive (and maybe even around-the-clock) support for night owls, or international students. For the right kid with the right idea, it’s an interesting - and potentially game-changing - opportunity.
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How do I expand this narrative arc? Take your SPIKE to the next level. It’s impressive when a motivated teen launches a business. It’s compelling when that same teen sees the business through and continues to ideate, pivot and scale. Your spike - whether through Spike Lab or otherwise - is only as impressive as you make it. If you’re having trouble moving forward with the nascent company on your own, consider one of the many school-year and summer entrepreneurship programs. Many companies, like Launch X, encourage students to show up with fully or mostly baked ideas. It’s a new network, and potentially a bigger platform, to really help grow your spike. Here are a few more ideas if you want a more structured group setting:
Have a look at Wharton’s Management and Technology summer program.
If you are interested in the intersection between sustainability and entrepreneurship, consider Sustainable Summer, which includes a program at Dartmouth at which students develop commercial solutions to climate change problems.
Want to do something similar through a different organization to expand your network and try your ideas in a different setting? Check out Leangap Entrepreneur.
The Knowledge Society runs year round programs in an number of cities across the country. Find out if there’s a cohort near you.
HOT TIP: Don’t be intimidated by other founders’ stories. Often, the most impressive ideas are ones that address local, community-based problems or issues that teens face in everyday life. Dream big, but don’t just focus on building a unicorn. As the Spike Lab team would acknowledge, the “founder’s story” - meaning why you started the company and why it has authentic relevance to your life - can be as important as the ultimate success of your product.