At Athena, we see entrepreneurship as a powerful way to build the world we want to inhabit. We take an approach to entrepreneurship that’s creative, collaborative, and conscious of impact, on others as well as on ourselves.

Non-credit

Residential

Commuter

Accepts International Students

Financial Aid

Final project

The Athena Summer Innovation Institute is an intensive, 3-week boot camp that provides young women with the practical skills and knowledge they need to develop ideas that will make a difference in the world. Students will work in teams to create a new venture — start-up businesses, non-profit organizations, or advocacy campaigns — that have the power to disrupt traditional ways of doing things and create lasting change.
Participants in the Athena Summer Innovation Institute should be creative, motivated young women who have an entrepreneurial spirit. You don’t need to have a business idea (in fact, it’s good if you come in with a clean slate!), but you should be interested in developing ideas for products, services, and experiences that have the potential to challenge the status quo and create social good. You should be genuinely enthusiastic about working collaboratively to learn more about the startup journey and what it takes to be a member of a founding team.
Students will benefit from coaching and mentorship from our Program Manager, Lead Instructor and Mentor-in-Residence as well participate in workshops on financing, negotiation, branding and more. Students will walk away feeling more confident and more empowered as an innovator, leader, and entrepreneur.

Program Features
Attend engaging classes on product ideation and development, customer research, branding, marketing, startup finances and more: key topics necessary for any innovator or entrepreneur.
Work on an overarching team project to design a venture — culminating in a final pitch presentation in front of your peers.
Benefit from team sessions with our seasoned Mentor-in-Residence who will provide targeting venture advice and help you refine your elevator pitch.
Practice your public speaking and presentation skills with support from Barnard’s Speaking Fellows.
Entrepreneurial site visits for a first-hand look at how start-ups run and existing companies stay innovative.
Learn, Create, and Experiment in a Supportive Environment
The foundation of Athena Summer Innovation Institute is experiential learning. Students not only learn how organizations work, but they have the opportunity to develop their o

Session 2

Jul 23 - Aug 11

3 weeks

Residential

9058 USD

Session 2

Jul 23 - Aug 11

3 weeks

Commuter

7772 USD

Tuition (Residential) - $9,058
Tuition (Commuter) - $7,772
Our office requires a $800 deposit towards tuition at the time of registration but families are welcome to pay any amount over $800 at that time. Students and families will be able to access their registration portal 24/7 to pay tuition in as many or as few installments as they want up until the deadline for tuition to be paid in full.
Our registration portal accepts all major credit cards. Please note that if you pay via credit card, you will be charged a 4.5% processing fee by the website.
Families are also able to pay tuition via check. Once your check is received and processed, your balance will update in your registration portal.

Financial Aid

Each year our office is able to provide a limited amount of need-based financial aid to students. Our aid is need based ONLY. Our office does not provide merit based scholarships.
Financial Aid is only available for our Summer Programs.
Our office does not provide financial aid for international students.
To be considered for financial aid, students must submit the required financial aid application and documents along with their Pre-College Program Application. Financial aid applications, like program applications, are reviewed on a rolling basis. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible if they wish to apply for financial aid. After a student is accepted to the program, they will receive a follow up email letting them know whether or not we are able to award them aid. Students who receive aid will receive a voucher code to reduce their tuition at the time of registration.