This upper school Startup Accelerator functions as a true mini-incubator, guiding students through the end-to-end process of building and launching a real business idea or project. Students begin by identifying meaningful problems, conducting customer discovery interviews, and validating whether an idea is worth pursuing. From there, students develop prototypes—physical, digital, or service-based—learn the basics of branding and positioning, and launch a real-world test version of their idea. They will analyze feedback, iterate on their concept, and ultimately present their startup idea during a pitch day evaluated by industry professionals. This session is ideal for students who want to explore what it’s like to build a business or project from start to finish. If you’ve ever had a great idea that you wish you could put into action, this is the perfect place to start it. Many students that have taken this accelerator have gone on to create real businesses leveraging the ideas and tools from this course. The course is led by Rachel Farris, a nationally recognized CPA, entrepreneur, and thought leader in accounting and business, named by Forbes as one of America’s Top 200 CPAs and by CPA Practice Advisor as a 40 Under 40 Top Accounting and Tax Professional. She is the Founder & CEO of Tax Stack AI and Managing Partner of a tax advisory firm. Her background in startups and large companies allows students to get a real taste of entrepreneurship and the fast-paced startup environment. Students enrolled or considering enrolling in the Upper School Academies Programs (Civic Leadership, Service Learning, or Global Engagement) may want to participate in this camp to further their knowledge in their field of interest. See the link to the Academies page on the PRS website.