Unicorn Factory Lisboa is accepting applications from high school students worldwide for its Innovation Summer School 2025 program, offering young innovators aged 14-18 the opportunity to experience Portugal’s growing innovation ecosystem through hands-on entrepreneurship training.
Unicorn Factory Lisboa, a flagship initiative aimed at establishing Lisbon as a leading European innovation center, supports founders in starting, scaling, and globalizing their ventures. The organization’s summer school program extends this mission to the next generation of potential entrepreneurs and innovators.
The two-week intensive program offers three separate bootcamps running from June through July 2025, each conducted entirely in English. Students will tackle real-world challenges presented by major industry partners including José de Mello, Sonae, and Columbia Business School.
“This isn’t your average summer school,” the program organizers emphasize. Rather than traditional classroom learning, participants engage in practical problem-solving exercises, working in teams to develop and pitch business solutions to actual challenges faced by major companies.
The first bootcamp takes place June 16–27 at ISEG in Lisbon, focusing on “The Future of Education.”
It’s followed by a second bootcamp from June 30 to July 11 at Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics, centered on “Future Shoppers: Winning Over a New Generation.”
The series concludes with a third bootcamp, held July 14–25 at Palácio das Artes in Porto, exploring “Powering the Next Generation of Climate Talent in Portugal.”
The program is enhanced by sessions coordinated with international experts from New York, designed to support executives from Fortune 500 companies.
The curriculum emphasizes practical skills including idea validation, market research, competitive analysis, business model development, prototype creation, and professional pitching techniques. Each bootcamp culminates in a demo day where student teams present their solutions to industry experts, with parents and guardians invited to attend.
Applications remain open until all three editions reach capacity, with selections based on applicants’ demonstrated motivation, creativity, and potential as assessed through the application process. Application decisions are communicated to students within six business days of submission.
The program welcomes participants from all backgrounds and countries, with no prior startup experience required. For students studying in Portugal who require financial assistance, free spots are available, subject to eligibility.
Further details regarding program fees, accommodation options, and application requirements are available on the official website.
Featured image: International students engage in practical entrepreneurship training through Unicorn Factory Lisboa’s innovation bootcamps. (Photo source: Innovation Summer School 2025 by Unicorn Factory Lisboa)
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