SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and Extended Education are accepting applications for Launch It!, a five-day summer entrepreneurship camp for kids in grades five through eight.

Students in the Launch It! program will be introduced to the concept of innovation and entrepreneurship in a fun and engaging way. Through hands-on, team-based activities, students will learn about the process of customer development, marketing and basic finance. They will learn how to identify and solve problems, build a prototype, and pitch a product.

They will also get to experience the Cal Poly campus, the downtown SLO HotHouse, interact with business professionals and young entrepreneurs, and discover the benefits of a college education.

“Entrepreneurial skills are going to be the competitive advantage for 21st century kids,” said Jonathan York, CIE co-founder and faculty director. “Though many dream of minting the next Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs, entrepreneur camps aren’t just about making future tech billionaires; they are also about igniting the campers’ spirit of creativity, innovation and learning.”

Two Launch It! sessions are planned from 8:15 to 4 p.m. June 13-17 and 20-24. Families are encouraged to register soon because space is limited. To learn more about the program or to register, visit summer.calpoly.edu.

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