About

The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) is a pre-college program offered by the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. It introduces motivated high school (and, in a separate program, middle school) students to foundational business thinking, entrepreneurship, and leadership through hands-on coursework and team-based learning. Limited need-based scholarships are available.

The B-BAY High School Entrepreneurship track is a two-week residential experience that immerses students in business fundamentals—marketing, finance, accounting, leadership, and innovation—culminating in a group “Shark Tank-style” venture pitch. There is also an Academic Year track, spanning two semesters, that combines lectures, case studies, and collaborative business plan development. The program emphasizes creative problem-solving, data-driven decision-making, and real-world application through presentations and mentorship.

B-BAY does not release admissions data but is considered moderately selective, especially for its high-school tracks, which enroll roughly fifty students annually. Admission is based on academic record, essays, and teacher recommendations. Applicants should demonstrate curiosity, initiative, and a strong interest in business or entrepreneurship. The program is open to both domestic and international students, with rolling admission that favors early applicants (the program almost always fills up prior to its stated application deadline).

Courses are taught by UC Berkeley Haas faculty and graduate students, with guidance from undergraduate mentors and guest speakers drawn from Silicon Valley. The small cohort format encourages close interaction between students and instructors. Each team receives faculty and mentor support while developing and refining its business plan—a central goal of the program.

BBay does not offer a transcript but students who complete the program earn a Certificate of Completion from Haas. The program is known and respected, especially by the UC admissions system, and has produced more than 1,700 graduates across its various tracks.