yCITIES Innovation Bootcamp Application

“A feature isn’t necessarily a product, a product isn’t necessarily a company, and a company isn’t always a good investment.” Raza Shaikh, Managing Director of the Launchpad Venture Group

The #1 reason why a startup fails is because they are not addressing a user-driven need. But nobody starts a company saying that they want to create a product that no one will use!! Having a business plan…a website…a product…is not enough.

yCITIES Innovation Challenge is an entrepreneurial problem-solving bootcamp specifically designed for ambitious middle and high school students who believe they have the potential to make societal impact as an innovator and leader. Learn frameworks and processes to determine how to go from an idea to a commercially viable solution.

Accepted students will be placed in small teams to tackle a centrally-issued challenge for this 2-round elimination competition. Acceptance into this program is based on quality/thoughtfulness of answers to illustrate strong work ethic and leadership potential. While 3D printed prototypes and other physical/virtual outputs are required, students do not have to have a technical background. Many different types of skills, background, and personalities are required to make a solid team to design, create, analyze data, assess risk, determine the best business models, and beyond. Deadline to submit is October 29th, 2022.

First Name: *

Last Name *

E-mail *

example@example.com

Home City/State *

Country *

Current Grade (5th thru 12th only) *

Current School *

How did you hear about yCITIES *

Please list your past/present extracurricular activities and hobbies. If you have/had a leadership role, please expand upon the responsibilities/impact of that role. *

Tell us what you hope to get out of this Bootcamp experience. If you haven't had any exposure/experience with entrepreneurship before, what inspired you to apply for this Bootcamp now? If you have had entrepreneurial experience (whether via class or having started something before), what intrigued you about this Bootcamp? *

If you were involved in making a movie, what role would you choose: *

Tell me about yourself 5 years from now. *

This Bootcamp requires working in a team. Do you enjoy working in a team? What do you feel are strengths you bring to any team. What do you believe are your weaknesses in a team environment, and how will you work to address that? *

Select a Deep Dive Track. In this Bootcamp, everyone will be exposed to frameworks of entrepreneurial problem-solving, concepts of inclusive & universal design, storytelling, mitigating startup risk, and the prototyping process. In addition, students will delve deeper via specialized small group discussions and more targeted support. Select (1) Prototyping for Product Dev - this track will allow students to dive deeper into feature/function design, technological requirements/constraints/feasibility, rendering/modeling; (2) Business Models, Risk Analysis, and Angel Investor Mindset - working alongside angel investors and startup CEO’s, this track is for students interested in deeper dives about finding fresh ways to convert value into revenue, opportunity identification/evaluation, and startup risk analysis. Select a Deep Dive Track you'd like to focus on. (you have the option to select both, but you must select one). *

If you have a friend who's also applying to this program that you'd like to be teamed up with, please indicate their name, grade, city/state. If both of you are accepted into this program, we will accommodate your request.

There are limited slots in this Bootcamp. Record an "elevator pitch" of yourself, telling us why you believe you will be a valuable contributor to your team *and* to class discussions, and why you should be selected. (verbal response required via Voice Recorder) *

Program fees should never be an obstacle for participation. Financial Aid is available for students accepted into the program. If you're accepted, will you need financial aid? *

Virtual Classes will be held on Saturdays (except for certain holiday weekends) for 90 minutes @ 1:30pm Eastern Time to 3pm Eastern Time.

Class 1 begins on Saturday November 12th, 2022.

Last class for Round 1 is Feb 4th, 2023.

In-person Conference in TN (https://www.3dexperienceworld.com/event/183e8765-55d4-4b1b-a738-755f833722e8/summary) for Round 1 finalists to present at is week of Feb 12th (exact date for students will be confirmed during Bootcamp). Students' airfare and accomodations will be provided.

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For teams that make it to Round 2 in-person Demo Day in Boston April 29th, 2022. (Keep in mind that Round 1 finalists may not be the winners of Round 2). Portolio creation for college and internships will be provided to Round 2 participants, and recruiters will be available to meet with students and review their portfolio during Demo Day. (Round 2 students outside of New England will be flown to Boston).

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Fee is $650 ($575 programming + $75 registration). Needs-based sliding scale & program waivers are available. Finances should never be an obstacle, so we're happy to accommodate any special circumstances as well for any student that has been accepted into the program based on this application.

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Email vicky@youthcities.org with any questions.