Empower teens to
build anything.
A selective three-week online program where teens build a real product with professional tools, then leave ready to build the next one on their own.
A selective three-week online program where students build a real product — iOS app or web app — with professional tools, and leaves with everything they need to launch whatever they want next, completely on their own.
Led by builders from TikTok · Amazon · MIT · Harvard
Applications for the Founding Cohort are open now.
Founding Cohort: May 2–May 22 · Online · Free*
*Requires showcase participation and permission to feature student work
Their first launch is with us. Every launch after that is on their own.
Every coding camp ends the same way.
The program is over. Your kid goes home. And they can't build the next thing without signing up for another program.
Camps teach syntax, not independence
Most programs teach coding in isolation. When it's over, your teen can't start a project from scratch.
Toy tools that disappear
Drag-and-drop builders vanish when the program ends. Nothing transfers to the real world.
Ideas with no way to build them
Your kid has a dozen app ideas. Without the right tools, those ideas stay in their head.
Dependency, not empowerment
Traditional programs create repeat customers, not independent builders.
We built this program to end the cycle.
Two weeks. Real professional tools. A complete workflow they keep forever. After First Launch, your teenager has everything they need to turn any idea into a real product — without anyone's help.
Apply NowReal output. Real tools. Real independence.
Working Product
A real iOS app built with React Native or a live web app built with Next.js — deployed and shareable.
Pitch Deck & Demo Video
A tight five-slide presentation and recorded walkthrough. They learn to explain what they built.
College-Ready Portfolio
A live app or website, a GitHub repo with real code, a pitch deck, and a demo video. Tangible proof for any college application that your teen can build on their own.
Toolchain Fluency
Codex, Xcode, and GitHub. The same tools pros use, fully learned and ready for the next project.
Live Showcase
A polished live demo to parents and guests. Real presentation experience with real feedback.
Complete Independence
The ability to take any idea and turn it into a working product, on their own. Ever again.
Real apps. Built by teens.
During the program.
These are examples of what a student could build during the program — each one intentionally scoped so students can build it within the program.
SAT Words
Next.js · Web AppA gamified vocabulary trainer with timed rounds, streak scoring, and multiple choice. Students study for the SAT while competing against themselves.
Pitch Checker
React Native · iOS AppA real-time vocal tuner that listens through the microphone and shows whether you're on pitch, sharp, or flat. Instant visual feedback with a live gauge.
My Dog Walker
React Native · iOS AppA personal business manager for teen dog walkers. Track clients, check off completed walks, see daily and weekly earnings, and manage your schedule.
From foundation to launch.
A focused three-week arc: learn the workflow, scope the product, build the core experience, and end with a polished launch students can explain.
The same tools real engineers use.
No toy environments. Every tool your teen learns is professional, permanent, and available the day after the program ends.
OpenAI Codex (or Claude Code)
An AI that sees their actual codebase and generates working code in context. Your teen talks to it like a senior engineer.
React Native & Next.js
React Native for iOS apps, Next.js for web apps. Both use the same language, so skills transfer between them. Industry-standard.
GitHub & Vercel
GitHub for version control and portfolio. Vercel for instant deployment — every push goes live. A real URL or a real app on their phone.
These tools don't disappear when the program ends. After the program ends, your teen opens their Mac, opens their AI tools, and starts building — exactly the way they did during the program.
Not teaching assistants. Industry leaders.
Lead Technical Instructor
MIT-educated machine learning engineer. Built the recommendation engine at TikTok. Research developer on Alexa AI at Amazon.
Business & Product Mentor
Wharton graduate. Former partner at Boston Consulting Group, where she advised Fortune 500 companies on product strategy.
Commercial Thinking Mentor
Harvard graduate. Former portfolio manager at Goldman Sachs.
Application-based. Small cohorts,
real attention.
Designed for ages 13-17. Outside this range? We welcome your application and evaluate every candidate individually based on maturity and fit.
Prior coding experience is not required—we’re looking for curiosity, seriousness, and follow-through.
Curious and motivated—they want to build, not just attend
Ready to work—this is a studio, not a camp. The pace is real.
Mac strongly recommended for both tracks. Required for iOS (React Native) track; strongly preferred for web (Next.js) track.
Active AI subscription required—parent provides OpenAI Plus/Pro or Claude Max 5x for the duration of the program
Application includes
Everything parents ask.
No. Prior coding experience is not required. We’re looking for curiosity, seriousness, and follow-through.
Yes. The program is designed for ages 13-17, but we review every application individually. If your child is outside this range, we welcome your application and will evaluate based on maturity, seriousness, and fit on a case-by-case basis.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Because the founding cohort is small, free, and application-based, we’re looking for curiosity, seriousness, and follow-through, not prior coding experience. Once we receive your application, we’ll schedule a short conversation to assess fit and answer questions.
Priority deadline is April 26. Applications are still reviewed on a rolling basis after that if space remains. If your child is not selected for the first founding cohort, we’ll let you know when the next cohort opens.
Yes, for this founding cohort we strongly recommend a Mac so every student can work in a consistent setup during live online sessions. We’ll share the full setup requirements after acceptance.
Parents must provide an active Codex or Claude Code subscription for the duration of the program. We’ll send setup instructions after acceptance.
No. First Launch is a serious builder program, not a camp. Your teen learns the tools and workflow to build real products independently long after the program ends.
A working iOS app or live deployed website, pitch deck, demo video, GitHub portfolio, and lifetime alumni community access. Most importantly: the ability to build their next project completely on their own.
It is fully online on Zoom and Discord.
Because this is our founding cohort, we’re offering it at no cost in exchange for showcase participation and permission to feature student work. This is a one-time founding-cohort offer.
Yes. Because the founding cohort is collaborative and fast-moving, students should be able to attend at least 80% of the program.
Yes. That's the entire point. React Native, Next.js, GitHub, Vercel, and Xcode are all free. The AI tool requires a subscription, but it's the same tool they used during the program—no transition, no new platform. The workflow they practice during the program is the exact same workflow they use at home.
Three weeks. Then they never need help again.
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Priority deadline: April 26.
*Requires showcase participation and permission to feature student work
Apply Now