Entrepreneurship Courses for Kids at Aspen Academy
Empowering Visionary leaders through entrepreneurship.
The world our children are growing into will reward the ability to turn ideas into action. That demands creativity, courage, and collaborative skills, all of which can be developed and fostered right now. Entrepreneurship at Aspen Academy is how and where students learn to build what comes next—not just for our school community, but for the world.
Our middle school entrepreneurship curriculum is a cornerstone of an Aspen education, even for students whose dreams don’t necessarily involve business. We nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of all learners so they leave our community able to lead confidently, fail gracefully, and face any challenge the future may bring. In other words, they’re building the skills that make leaders leaders.
Most importantly, Aspen students develop these future-proof skills because the businesses they create at school matter. Skills develop, not through drills and copy work, but through the power and energy of intrinsic motivation. Through sheer emotional engagement, learners at every level are driven toward authentic growth.
An Elementary and Middle School Entrepreneurship Curriculum That Goes Beyond Simulations
Through our LiFE (Leadership, Finance, and Entrepreneurship) program, Aspen Academy offers entrepreneurship programs for elementary students in Colorado and a middle school experience that goes far deeper than case studies or hypothetical projects.
Our curriculum grows with the child, building a mindset ready to take on a changing world:
- Entrepreneurial Mindset & Execution: Students learn to turn challenges into opportunities and ideas into actions.
- Critical & Creative Thinking: We emphasize innovative problem-solving that pushes beyond the conventional.
- Opportunity Identification: Training students to spot and seize opportunities in challenges.
- Resilience and Work Ethic: Encouraging perseverance, tenacity, and a capacity to withstand setbacks
A PK–8 Journey Where Students Build Real Businesses (Not Just Projects)
At Aspen, we take kids seriously, so they take themselves seriously. This is where entrepreneurship programs for elementary in Colorado and the region’s most advanced middle school entrepreneurship curriculum truly come to life.
By the time they graduate, Aspen students have managed real revenue, collaborated with professional mentors, and launched more than ten original businesses. And, yes, it all begins with our youngest PK learners.
Here’s how our students progress throughout the years.
PK–4:
Early Foundations in Financial Literacy & Mini-Economies
Our early elementary entrepreneurship curriculum is one of the few of its kind in Denver. All of our lower school classrooms operate as mini-economies, which is where the entrepreneurship curriculum for elementary in Denver takes root.
Students apply for jobs, earn paychecks, save for goals, and participate in marketplace events where they create and sell real products they’re proud of.
Every single student has the ability to make decisions with genuine consequences. More critically, even our youngest learners make contributions to the community that genuinely matter. Even our littlest entrepreneurs pitch ideas to administrators for products they hope to sell in the Bear’s Student Enterprises Store!
Grades 5–6:
Social Entrepreneurship & Design Thinking
By fifth grade, students shift from mini-economies to creating products and ventures designed to solve real problems. They explore social entrepreneurship, design thinking, and early-stage product development using the same tools professional makers use. At Aspen, they have access to 3D printers, laser engravers, graphic design software, and more.
Students learn to:
- Prototype and iterate
- Build simple supply chains
- Brand and package products
- Pitch ideas to peers and adults
This is where we see that intrinsic motivation really shines forth. Our fifth and sixth graders frequently have lightbulb moments as they recognize they are capable of creating something that didn’t exist before. It’s amazing to watch them transition into capable creators and innovators—a shift that defines their thinking for life.
Grade 7: Bear’s Student Enterprises:
Real Revenue, Real Teams
Seventh grade is a huge year for Aspen students! It’s when they step into Bear’s Student Enterprises, Colorado’s youngest operational C-suite. There, they rotate through Aspen’s three student-run businesses: the Store, the Café, and the Broadcast Team.
Students learn to:
- Run L10 meetings and manage deadlines
- Read P&L statements and track revenue
- Design marketing campaigns and measure performance
- Manage vendor relationships and inventory
- Serve real customers
In 2024–25, these businesses generated more than $76,000 in revenue! Why? Because every decision the students make has a visible, measurable impact. This is one of the most unique entrepreneurship lessons for middle school in Denver.
Grade 8: Capstone with Professional Mentors
Eighth graders spend sixteen weeks designing, building, and launching a business of their own. Each student is paired with a professional mentor, who may be a serial entrepreneur, an executive with IPO experience, an EO and YPO leader, or another expert from across industries.
With guidance, students:
- Identify a problem worth solving
- Develop products or services based on real user feedback
- Build financial projections and marketing plans
- Launch their ventures
- Pitch to a panel at Aspen’s Shark Tank event
After the capstone experience, many students leave our school with a functioning business. Some students even enter high school able to skip introductory business courses because of the depth of their work at Aspen.
For families seeking entrepreneurship courses for middle school in Colorado schools, this is the most advanced and immersive option available.
Entrepreneurs Expo
Once a year, the entire school transforms. Hallways turn into marketplaces. Classrooms become pop-up shops. And students—from our youngest learners to our eighth-grade leaders—finally, triumphantly launch the businesses they’ve spent weeks creating.
At the Expo, every single Aspen student experiences the thrill and responsibility of bringing something new into the world. They practice resilience, collaboration, creative thinking, and ethical decision-making naturally.
Revenue generated at the Expo is invested into a long-term student-driven portfolio, guided by our parent-led finance committee. That allows students to watch their impact compound over time.
Skills That Stand Up in the Real World
Future-Ready Skills
Our curriculum incorporates essential durable skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership, ensuring our students are well-prepared for the demands of tomorrow's economy. We also emphasize the importance of ethical decision-making and social responsibility, preparing students to use their entrepreneurial skills for the greater good.
Community and Mentorship
We leverage a strong network of community leaders, alumni, and business professionals who mentor our students, offering insights and real-world challenges that enhance the learning experience. This community involvement ensures our students not only learn about entrepreneurship but live it through actual interactions and feedback from successful practitioners.
Continuous Innovation and Evaluation
Our curriculum is regularly updated to reflect the best practices in entrepreneurial education, ensuring it remains dynamic and relevant. Through annual evaluations and consistent feedback loops with educators and students, we adapt and evolve our offerings to meet the highest educational standards.
FAQs About Entrepreneurship at Aspen
- What does entrepreneurship look like for children at Aspen Academy?
- How is Aspen’s youth entrepreneurship program different from others?
- Is Aspen Academy known for strong entrepreneurship education?
- What kinds of businesses do Aspen students create?
- Ready to See What Your Child Can Build Here?