This summer, Michigan State University will once again welcome ambitious high school students from across the state to campus for the High School Entrepreneur Leadership Camp, a four-day immersive experience designed to introduce the next generation of founders to the power of entrepreneurship.
Hosted by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Multicultural Business Programs (MBP), the Entrepreneur Leadership Camp will take place June 22-25 at the Eli Broad College Business. Open to all rising high school juniors and seniors, the Entrepreneur Leadership Camp invites students from across Michigan to explore entrepreneurship as a pathway for leadership, innovation, and impact. Through hands-on workshops, team-based problem solving and direct engagement with entrepreneurs and business leaders, students gain real-world skills while building confidence and community.
“Early exposure to entrepreneurship empowers students to see themselves as problem-solvers and leaders, giving them the confidence and tools to make an impact,” said Lori Fischer, director of operations at the Burgess Institute.
Founded in 2022, the camp transforms MSU’s Entrepreneurship Lab into a high energy launchpad where students work in teams, learn to collaborate effectively, and engage with experienced entrepreneurs within Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. From Grand Rapids to Detroit and communities in between, students arrive not just as visitors, but as emerging innovators ready to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset.
“What makes this camp is special are the many relationships that students have been able to forge with one another, which has helped to spark lasting friendships that have carried on beyond the length the program. Seeing how former camp participants have emerged as student leaders on MSU’s campus has also been a sight to behold considering that we were first introduced to them as high school students,” said Marquis Taylor, assistant director for strategic partnerships, alumni, and employer relations at MBP.
A key pillar of the program is the continued support of Tamira Chapman, MSU alumna, Detroit native, nationally recognized entrepreneur and premier event sponsor. Through the Chapman Family Foundation, Chapman invests in the next generation of Michigan entrepreneurs by providing financial support, mentorship and lived experience.
Through the four-day experience, students participate in workshops led by accomplished business leaders and industry professionals, gaining exposure to entrepreneurship, leadership development, and Michigan’s broader innovation ecosystem.
Applications for the 2026 Entrepreneur Leadership Camp are now open.
For more information and to apply, visit: https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d1fBpajJzTdUTOK
About the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is the destination where students launch high-impact, entrepreneurial journeys at Michigan State University. The Burgess Institute empowers students to learn through action by providing global mentors, courses, seed funding, entrepreneurship competitions, student organizations, resources, and campus-wide co-working spaces.