Frequently Asked Questions

General Topics

How are applicants selected for Leangap?

We use a variety of factors in our admissions process to determine a good fit between student candidates and our program. For more details, please visit our admissions page.

What sets Leangap apart from other entrepreneurship programs?

Leangap® is the most execution-based entrepreneurship program for high school students. No other program offers a real-world experience into entrepreneurship.

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Leangap’s unique approach doesn't rely on mock companies or simulations; you will experience entrepreneurship in the real world, not through PowerPoint slides, allowing you to cultivate the crucial skills of successful founders: leadership, creativity, public speaking, and more.

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Our schedule and curriculum are flexible to accommodate the challenges that each team will face throughout their journey, unlike similar programs that give canned lectures to accommodate overcrowded classes. In contrast, our classes are small in size, which results in tailored attention to each carefully selected student, and a unique program modeled after a startup incubator.

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‍Spend this summer with your future co-founders and customers, and build your first of many companies!

Can I switch programs if I already paid my tuition?

Yes, you are free to choose which program you want to attend.

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If you have already paid your tuition for the in-person program and you wish to switch to the online program, we will issue a refund for the difference.

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Similarly, if you have paid your tuition for the online program but wish to attend the in-person program, we will issue an adjusted invoice for you to make the remaining payment.

When did Leangap start?

Leangap started in 2015 with its first summer program. 40 students from 10+ countries participated in a 4-week journey that transformed them into marketers, business professionals, developers, designers, leaders, and founders. Since then, Leangap has provided a transformative experience for teenagers and continues to be the best choice for both personal and professional growth.

Do students need any prior experience with business or coding to participate in the program?

No, there are no prerequisites to attend our programs in terms of prior knowledge. While previous experience with business or coding is helpful, so too is experience in marketing, design, sales, and other areas. Our application is designed to showcase students' interests, passions, and drive, which are what we are ultimately looking for. The only prerequisite is a great attitude!

Can parents, family, and friends attend the final presentations?

Parents, family and friends are welcome to attend the final presentations on the last day to watch the teens pitch their ideas. This is a great opportunity to see everyone's progress and achievements.

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For San Francisco, we'll inform students in advance of the date, time and location to share with guests.

For Online, we'll provide a registration link for guests to attend online.

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Please reach out if you have any other questions about attending the exciting final presentations! We hope to see you there.

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How long has leangap been running?

Leangap has been running for 10 years, and since then hundreds of alumni have grown into successful startup founders, venture capitalists, prominent community leaders, outstanding business men and women, brilliant students at Ivy League colleges, remarkable interns at top tech companies, and more.

Tuition

Do you provide financial aid?

Yes! Financial aid is available and is completely need-based, meaning we will provide a scholarship if you are admitted and you demonstrate you can't pay in full due to your financial situation. If you're driven, passionate and accomplished, we will make it possible for you to attend.

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You can receive anywhere from 10% to 80% off the tuition cost for the Online program, and anywhere from 10% to 50% off for the San Francisco program. We do not offer full-ride scholarships at this time. During the application process you will need to upload a document with your parent's income statements for the last 12 months. We will review your case then.

What are the next steps after a student is accepted?

When you are accepted to Leangap®, a non-refundable deposit of $700 USD must be paid within 14 days of acceptance. If the deposit is not received within 14 days, your spot may be opened up to other applicants.

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The remainder of the tuition will be automatically charged to your credit card on file 14 days after your deposit is made. You also have the option to pay the full tuition upfront during checkout to immediately confirm your place at Leangap.

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Feel free to read our Payment Terms here.

How much is tuition and what does it cover?

Tuition for Leangap® Online is $6,450 USD.

Your tuition covers curriculum, classes, remote group activities, mentorship by entrepreneurs in all timezones, access to the platforms necessary to attend the program, special startup resources, and remote recreational activities.

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Tuition for Leangap® San Francisco is $9,950 USD.

Your tuition covers accommodations in San Francisco for the duration of the program, curriculum, classes in a college campus, group recreational activities in San Francisco and the associated transportation, special startup resources, and all transportation associated with the Leangap core program and group activities. Meals are included in the program tuition. Vegetarian options will be included. Please let us know ahead of time of any dietary restrictions or allergies. Students are free to plan their own activities during the weekends, however, transportation and activity costs related to these activities are not included in the tuition.

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Is there a refund policy for tuition and fees?

The initial $700 USD deposit is non-refundable; however, it counts towards the overall tuition.

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The remainder of the tuition is refundable if the program start date is more than 60 days away. If the start date is less than 60 days away, no refund will be issued as all costs have been paid upfront by that point. Any and all refunds are subject to a 3% processing fee to cover payment processor charges. This is a standard fee set by our payment platform, Stripe, and not a fee imposed by us.

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By requesting a refund, you acknowledge and agree that 3% will be deducted from the refunded amount.

Leangap San Francisco

Where will the meals be served during the program?

Meals will be provided by a catering company and will be served near the facilities where our students will be situated during that part of the day.

Will daily attendance be recorded and will there be regular updates on the students' progress?

Ensuring the accountability and progress of our students is a top priority for us. Therefore, we have implemented a comprehensive attendance system that includes diligent check-ins upon departure and arrival between any two travel points, whether in-campus or off-campus. Additionally, we are committed to providing regular updates on the students' activities, accomplishments, and progress. These updates will be conveniently shared through our official social media platform, Instagram. We encourage you to follow our Instagram account @leangap to stay updated on our program and the achievements of our students.

Is there a laundry facility available within the premises?

The availability of a laundry facility within the dormitory may vary each year, depending on the specific facilities provided. We kindly request that you reach out to us via email to inquire about the availability of a laundromat for the upcoming program.

Will there be regular head counts and check-ins with responsible adults throughout the day?

To ensure the well-being and safety of our students, we conduct regular head counts and check-ins throughout the day. These check-ins occur regardless of whether a mentor is present with the students at the time. Additionally, we conduct a final check-in each night to account for all students. Students are required to report to a designated staff member who will diligently track their presence.

How does Leangap provide safety and supervision to the students?

Dormitories on campus all require an issued ID or passcode to enter the building and there is a security staff on duty 24/7. Any visiting guests (parents or friends not part of the program) are required to register at the front desk with proof of identification and are not allowed to stay past 8pm.

In addition to the building security, our staff also live in the dorms with the students. Our staff are assigned to small groups of 4 or 5 students to mentor and supervise. Any small group trips off campus to a restaurant, store, or college visit are always supervised by at least one staff member and formal program trips are supervised by all staff. The staff is personally available to the students every night to check them in for the day and enforce curfew.

Our staff are there not only to provide supervision and technical insight to startups, but also to provide emotional and interpersonal support. In the past, we have found that the students will often come to rely on more than one staff member for different kinds of advice and will often include our staff in their activities as peers. These close relationships that our staff develop with the students have always helped us gain a better sense of the well-being and safety of our students.

The Head of Staff is always available to both students and parents to speak about any concerns that may arise during the program. All students and parents will be given the Head of Staff's contact information at the start of the program.

What does a general day look like?

Breakfast is available between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM in the dining area and our daily program activities start promptly at 9:30 am. Our students generally have a morning lecture with some days having a guest speaker or lecturer. That is usually followed by an hour for the students to apply what they've learned to their own product, which they will be working on throughout the duration of the program.

Lunch is served from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM in the campus. The time after lunch is unscheduled so that students can work on their different products (sometimes students require equipment in different buildings or set up meetings with customers). In the evenings and on weekends, we like to plan some team bonding activities or take the students off campus to explore the bay area.

What if a student has dietary restrictions and cannot eat all of the meals provided?

We have vegetarian and gluten-free options available. No meals containing pork will be served. We ask our students to notify us of any dietary restrictions they may have prior to the program's start date. A student can choose not to eat a meal for varied reasons. Unused meals are non-transferable.

What are the arrival and departure details for the program in San Francisco?

The arrival day for the program in San Francisco is the day before the program officially begins, specifically the Sunday prior to the first Monday. We request that students book their flights during reasonable arrival times, which is between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM, so that our staff can be available to pick them up from the airport.

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Similarly, the departure day is one day after the program officially ends, which is the immediate Saturday after the last Friday. Our staff will provide transportation to the airport, and we kindly ask that students schedule their departure flights during reasonable times for our staff.

Do you offer a commuter option for students who are local residents?

We require all students in our summer program to live on-premises regardless of whether they reside locally or not. While we understand the desire of local students to commute, we have seen the tremendous benefits, both professional and personal, in having all students immersed in the on-campus entrepreneurial environment we have cultivated. From group collab sessions, to networking events, to social activities, our holistic approach depends on students working and living closely together to make industry connections, learn from each other’s experiences, and develop strong bonds.

For these reasons, we include shared accommodations, meals, and transportation in the comprehensive program fee for all students rather than offer a commuter discount.

Will parents be promptly notified if a situation arises that directly impacts the students?

We consider it crucial to keep parents informed about any significant activities or experiences involving their child. This includes instances of misconduct, unavailability of the student, or any sickness and injuries sustained by the student.

Where are Leangap students housed?

We stay in student housing located a few blocks from our chosen campus. The housing complex is primarily used by college students during the academic year. By staying here, our students are fully immersed in the college environment while attending Leangap.

How many students typically share a room?

Students in the San Francisco program typically share dorm rooms with one or two other students. This setup promotes companionship and offers a supportive atmosphere.

Can parents or guests visit students?

Yes, parents and guests are welcome to visit students as long as they check in with our staff and depart by 8pm. Family members can also take students off campus during the weekends.

Can you provide a sample menu of the meals that will be served during the program?

A sample meal plan can be downloaded in this link.

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Please note that while these items are representative of our offerings, actual meals may be subject to change. We take common allergens into consideration, such as all kinds of nuts, gluten and lactose. Please reach out if you have any specific restrictions.

Leangap Online

Is it possible to innovate in hardware-related businesses during the online program?

Yes, innovation in hardware-related fields can certainly occur during our Online program, and has indeed taken place in previous cohorts. To facilitate this process, Leangap provides participating teams with a budget to purchase necessary hardware components. The team can then determine which member or members will be responsible for constructing the prototype, and have the required parts shipped to them for assembly. Meanwhile, other team members can focus on other crucial aspects of the business, such as sales and marketing, while still offering remote support to those constructing the prototype.

What is the expected commitment for the online program?

Our summer program is intensive and requires a full-time commitment.

Here's what your schedule will look like (all times expressed in PST/San Francisco time):

Early Morning Classes: 4 hours of interactive classes and workshops.
Afternoon/Evening: You'll work on your startup, collaborate with your team, and meet with mentors. This work is flexible; however, expect to dedicate significant time to it.

We ask for a full-time commitment because our program doesn't just teach entrepreneurship; it immerses you in the real process of creating actual companies. Entrepreneurship is complex and ever-changing, requiring you to adapt quickly and focus deeply. To successfully build a company, you need to be fully engaged and dedicated to your team and the work.

Please plan to focus solely on the program to get the most out of it. Balancing other activities is possible; however, it may affect your ability to fully engage and complete the work.

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Post-program

What happens to Leangap students after Leangap?

50% of our graduating alumni will continue their companies for at least six months after attending the program. Close to 100% of our graduating alumni attend college/university, and over half are accepted to at least one Ivy League university. Our alumni network is unparalleled in terms of engagement, with constant interaction and internship opportunities between different classes of Leangap alumni.

What other educational opportunities does Leangap provide?

Leangap® provides sponsorships and entrepreneurship-based content to qualifying hackathons, schools, and other events sharing our mission. Please contact our team if you are planning an event, or would like Leangap to come to your school.

Can the startup be entered into entrepreneurial competitions like the Diamond Challenge, even if not all team members are interested?

Absolutely, as Leangap takes no ownership of the business. You and your team members are at liberty to pursue any opportunity that aligns with your interests and goals. However, it is advisable that any decisions relating to the business after the conclusion of Leangap be discussed and agreed upon amongst all team members.

I have a question that is not covered here...

We're always here to assist you. Head over to our contact page to get in touch with us!

Frequently Asked Questions

General Topics

Tuition

Leangap San Francisco

Leangap Online

Post-program

Join Leangap® '25 online or in-person, you choose.