Program Overview
Learn lean start-up methods, coding, UI/UX, & leadership skills
Lean Start-up Methods
Coding
Leadership
Critical Thinking
Collaboration
Program Partners
Challenging Young Minds
2019 Summer Program
Summer Program 06/17/19 - 07/26/19


What’s a goal without a deadline?
In six weeks, students learn the technology and business skills required to develop a civic-oriented startup. The application and admissions process is competitive, curriculum learned in lightspeed pace, but the achievement is worth the effort!
Eligibility
No previous experience in business or technology required
Who Can Apply
Students enrolled in 9th-12th grade and attending high school in Santa Monica are eligible to apply.
Residency: Students enrolled in 9th-12th grade currently residing in Santa Monica, but attending a high school outside of Santa Monica are also eligible to apply.
Cost
Free of charge!
Admitted Students
Must be capable of learning advanced technology and business concepts while working in a fast paced environment.
Behavior Policies
Students are required to follow strict behavior and attendance policies for the duration of the program.
Attendance Requirements
Students are required to attend Monday through Friday from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Alumni Requirements
Alumni are required to participate in annual alumni events and quarterly mentor meetings until their college graduation to maintain their active status.
Competitive Application Process
Application Period 01/01/19 - 03/15/19
A blast from the past
Here's what our alumni have to say
Previous Teams
Our students have built 23 companies during our 6-week program

Cart Savy

Coblic

Domo Chef

Dynami Systems

Find Some Yum

Foodonym

Frame Finds

InFarmMe

Inspoeta

Interest Alley

Khordify

Lyrnics

Merit Hero

PolyBoxy

QckPrk

ResidenTours

SMFitNet

Spinzie

StreetGlyph

The OddSpots

Tsunimby

TutorPlug

Zermely
Awards
People are talking about us
2015 - The Youth Tech Program has been designated as a “Bright Idea” by the Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. The Ash Center’s Bright Ideas initiative identifies and promotes promising government programs and practices so that government leaders, public servants, and other individuals can learn about these ideas and adopt initiatives that work.
2014 - Santa Monica’s Youth Tech Program ranked 54th in InformationWeek Elite 100, a list of the top business innovators in the U.S. Santa Monica was the only local government to obtain an Elite100 ranking, attesting to a level of IT innovation on par with Fortune100 companies. The program was also featured in InformationWeek’s article, “Twenty Great Ideas to Steal,” which encourages the adoption of successful business models.
Program Staff
Our alumni have joined the team

Carla Fantozzi
Program Consultant

Gary Carter
Founding Program Director

Jamila Haji
Lead Program Specialist
2012 Alumni

Kenneth Bales
Program Supervisor

Kevin Grossi
Program Specialist/Lead Coding Instructor
2012 Alumni

Brownie Sibrian
Program Specialist

Omar De Arcos
Networking Instructor
2013 Alumni

Samantha Hsieh
Lean Start-up Instructor
2014 Alumni

Kevin Tran
UI/UX Instructor
2014 Alumni

Maanav Ahluwalia
App Development Instructor
2016 Alumni

Leiloni Reynoso
Business Development Instructor
2015 Alumni

Omzee Pitchford
Collaboration Instructor
2015 Alumni

Sai Maddali
Finance/Economics Instructor