San Francisco, CA: Innovation and Startup Culture
Set on Wharton’s San Francisco campus, Innovation and Startup Culture provides a whirlwind introduction to the world of new venture creation. Throughout the intensive two-week summer program, students will learn the strategies successful entrepreneurs use to generate new ideas and develop them into disruptive high-growth ventures.
Overview
Wharton’s Innovation and Startup Culture program immerses students in the dynamic world of entrepreneurship through direct exposure to the San Francisco startup ecosystem. Blending innovation, venture creation, and the practical use of AI tools, students will collaborate to develop and pitch original startup ideas. Through site visits, hands-on projects, and Wharton-led instruction, participants gain valuable skills in communication, teamwork, and business model development.
By the end of the program students will be able to:
- Apply idea generation strategies to identify and develop innovative solutions that create value for both people and the planet.
- Evaluate the profit potential of new venture ideas through market research, competitor analysis, and customer discovery.
- Design innovative business models and assess product-market fit using industry frameworks and entrepreneurial practices.
- Use AI tools to effectively support ideation, collaboration, communication, and venture development.
- Collaborate in teams to develop, refine, and deliver a persuasive startup pitch.
- Demonstrate strong communication and presentation skills, particularly in pitching venture concepts to an audience.
- Explore the practical applications of AI in innovation and entrepreneurship through hands-on activities and case studies.
- Gain exposure to the San Francisco startup ecosystem through site visits and interactions with local entrepreneurs and tech leaders.
- Experience business education at Wharton, applying academic concepts to real-world startup scenarios.
All participants who successfully complete the program will earn a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion.
Instructional Team
Program Leader: Stefano Rumi
Stefano Rumi is a doctoral candidate at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and a former Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Marshall School of Business. His research interests revolve around non-market strategy related to social and environmental impact, examining how a variety of actors, including entrepreneurs, traditional firms, and impact investors make decisions and navigate challenges related to social change. His research has been published in Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, and the DeGruyter Handbook of Social Entrepreneurship, among other outlets. Over the years, he has also advised several foundations and philanthropists on impact strategy related to a variety of social challenges. He holds a BA magna cum laude in sociology from the University of Virginia, where he studied as a Jefferson Scholar.
Academic Director: Tyler Wry
Professor Tyler Wry is an award-winning researcher and teacher at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania who studies how entrepreneurs create new products, services, and business models that successfully merge purpose and profits. Professor Wry’s research has been published in the field’s top academic journals and is featured widely in the popular business press. For the past 10 years, he has taught venture creation to students at levels that range from high school to PhD studies, and everything in between. Professor Wry is also a sought-after speaker and consultant who works closely with social entrepreneurs and venture capital investors to help them understand, scale, and sustain their positive impacts.
Academic Directors provide guidance to the Wharton Global Youth team on instructor hiring and lead the development of program curriculum. Their responsibilities include designing course topics, recommending activities, selecting readings, and creating capstone projects that align with Wharton academic standards and enrich the summer learning experience.
“My classmates and I completed a very fun and interactive course about entrepreneurship where we learned everything from idea creation to pitching an idea to investors. The program got me super excited about entrepreneurship and creating my own business in the future." – Mahin H., Pennsylvania, USA