Camp BizSmart

What Camp BizSmart does

Camp BizSmart is a privately held, founder-owned education business founded in 2007/2008 by Mike Gibbs and Peggy Gibbs, headquartered in Los Gatos, California. The company runs team-based entrepreneurship workshops for youth ages 11-19, using a proprietary LDCA (Learn, Do, Coach, Act) learning methodology developed by CEO Mike Gibbs, an industrial psychologist with prior Fortune 500 training experience at General Electric and Texas Instruments. Students work in teams with assigned executive roles (CEO, CFO, CTO) to solve real business challenges posed by sponsor companies, culminating in pitch presentations before venture capital and angel investors from Keiretsu Forum and the Band of Angels.

The product portfolio spans five core programs: Camp BizSmart (10-day in-person, ages 11-15, $2,495), BizSmart Accelerator (10-day in-person, ages 13-17, $2,495), BizSmart Challenge (5-6 day virtual, ages 12-16, $595), Innovate This! (weekend maker's lab, ages 13-18, $95), and Alumni Club ($395). Optional residential packages at Santa Clara University add $1,200. The company reports 9,000+ alumni across 150+ summers of operation, with international programs held in India, Switzerland, Peru, and UAE. Innovation Case sponsors have included Netflix, Token, Notpla, ActivArmor, Bell Flight, and New Story.

The business model is tuition-based, direct-to-consumer, with seasonal/event-driven enrollment. GTM relies on word-of-mouth referrals from a 9,000+ alumni network, school partnerships (15 international, 60+ Bay Area), and content marketing. The company is small (1-10 employees), has no disclosed institutional funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. Founders maintain full operational control. No public financials are disclosed.

Name

Camp BizSmart

Legal name

Camp BizSmart

Website

https://campbizsmart.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Camp BizSmart is a privately held, founder-owned education business running team-based entrepreneurship workshops for youth ages 11-19, founded in 2008 by Mike and Peggy Gibbs in Silicon Valley. Programs ($95-$2,495) have served 9,000+ students globally across 150+ summers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Entrepreneurship Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMALAL

Entrepreneurship, Business & Innovation Camps

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Summer & Holiday Enrichment Camps (Multi-Activity, Academic)

Keywords

• Youth entrepreneurship programs
• Teen business workshops
• Summer innovation camps
• Experiential business education
• Student startup training

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Gatos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Camp BizSmart generates revenue through program tuition fees for various workshop experiences including Camp BizSmart, Accelerator, BizSmart Challenge, Innovate This!, and Alumni Club. Additional revenue comes from residential/dorm packages.
2. Residential Package Add-ons: Optional add-on revenue from on-campus housing and meal plans at Santa Clara University for in-person programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Camp BizSmart is an education company that runs team-based entrepreneurship workshops and summer camps for young people ages 11-19. Students work on real business innovation challenges supplied by company founders and CEOs, assuming executive roles (CEO, CFO, CTO) within teams, and culminate their programs by pitching business plans to panels of venture capital and angel investors including Keiretsu Forum. Offerings include in-person camps at Santa Clara University, virtual global programs, weekend maker's lab competitions, and an alumni network of 9,000+ participants.

Product overview

Camp BizSmart is an entrepreneurship education company offering a portfolio of team-based workshops and programs for young people ages 11-19. The core offerings include Camp BizSmart (a 10-day in-person product invention and pitch competition for ages 11-15), BizSmart Accelerator (an advanced 10-day in-person program for ages 13-17 focused on bringing products to market), BizSmart Challenge (a virtual 6-day global team product invention program for ages 13-17), and Innovate This! (a weekend maker's lab competition for ages 13-18). Supporting offerings include the Alumni Club (professional development for graduates ages 18+), an Alumni Network platform connecting 9,000+ members, Innovation Cases (partnered challenges with real companies), BizNews (company blog), Pro-Tips (entrepreneurship educational content), and BizSmart Inventions (student design showcase). All programs emphasize team-based learning with students assuming executive roles (CEO, CFO, CTO, etc.) while mentored by industry professionals and pitching to real investors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp BizSmart: 10-day team summer camp experience for ages 11-15 focusing on product innovation and business pitching.
• BizSmart Accelerator
• BizSmart Challenge
• Innovate This!
• Alumni Club

Products and services

• Camp BizSmart A 10-day in-person team summer camp experience where students ages 11-15 invent next-generation products by solving real business innovation challenges supplied by company founders and CEOs, culminating in a pitch competition before venture capital and angel investors. Includes lunch at Santa Clara University dining hall. Priced at $2,495 with a $1,000 early bird deposit available.
• BizSmart Accelerator A 10-day in-person advanced team summer camp for students ages 13-17 in which teams invent and launch a business to market, managing budgets and purchasing specialist lessons for product design, marketing, video creation, and investor pitching. Priced at $2,495.
• BizSmart Challenge A 5-6 day virtual experience (2 hours/day, 5:00-7:00pm) in which students ages 12-17 virtually team up with peers worldwide to invent products that can make a difference, working through customer discovery, prototyping, and presentation. Priced at $595.
• Innovate This! A two-day team fast-cycle product invention competition in which teams of 3-8 members ages 13-18 are challenged to solve real-world product invention challenges, such as designing water filtration systems for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Priced at $95 per participant.
• Alumni Club An exclusive membership for BizSmart graduates ages 18+ providing access to interactive virtual and live events, seminars, workshops, career networking with 9,000+ alumni, and professional development opportunities. Priced at $395.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,000+ students trained since 2008
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alliance of Chief ExecutivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn exclusive organization for chief executives that provides a forum for deep thinking and breakthrough ideas. Founder/CEO Paul Witkay and other CEO members inspire students through insights on developing skills like vision, leadership, raising capital, and team building.
• Santa Clara UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue partner for Camp BizSmart and Accelerator programs. Provides campus facilities including classrooms, dining hall, and dormitory accommodations for residential packages.
• MicrosoftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier venue for final competition presentations where BizSmart teams pitch their business plans before panels of venture capital and angel investors.
• TokenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation Case Sponsor - wearable technology company that challenged students to invent a Metaverse Access Ring for safe, secure experiences.
• NotplaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation Case Sponsor - seaweed-based materials company that challenged students to develop new applications for their bio-degradable materials.
• ActivArmorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation Case Sponsor - 3D printed medical device company that challenged students to design custom splints for Gamer's Thumb.
• Bell FlightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation Case Sponsor - aviation company that challenged students to design the next generation Passenger Air Vehicle (flying car) for the Accelerator program.
• NetflixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation Case Sponsor (2017) - challenged students to invent a more immersive movie watching experience.
• New StoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation Case Sponsor - 3D printed housing company that challenged students to create affordable housing solutions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LaunchX: LaunchX runs summer entrepreneurship programs for high school students — directly comparable in target customer (ages 14-19), team-based venture creation format, and premium tuition model. Camp BizSmart and LaunchX compete for the same affluent parent segment seeking teen business education.
• Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE): NFTE teaches entrepreneurship to young people from underserved communities through school-based programs and summer camps. Comparable in target age group, entrepreneurship curriculum, and experiential learning model, though focused on a different socioeconomic segment.
• iD Tech: iD Tech runs premium technology and STEM summer camps for kids and teens across the US, with similar price points, venue partnerships with universities, and direct-to-parent enrollment. Comparable business model and customer demographic, though technology/STEM rather than entrepreneurship focused.
• Enactus: Enactus is a global organization that mobilizes university students to develop entrepreneurial projects addressing social and business challenges. Comparable on experiential entrepreneurship education and team-based venture creation, though the primary audience is university rather than teen students.

Broad incumbents

• Junior Achievement USA: Junior Achievement is the largest and most established youth entrepreneurship and financial literacy education provider in the US, reaching K-12 students through in-school and after-school programs. Comparable on mission (youth business education) but operates as a nonprofit at far greater scale.
• DECA: DECA is a major US organization preparing high school students for careers in business, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship via chapters, competitions, and conferences. Comparable in target audience (high schoolers) and business/entrepreneurship focus, but operates as a school-club model rather than paid summer programs.
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA): FBLA is a national student organization for middle and high school students interested in business and leadership, with competitive events and conferences. Comparable on the youth business education mission and competitive event format, though delivered via school chapters rather than paid summer programs.

Emerging players

• Wharton Moneyball Academy: Wharton Moneyball Academy is a selective summer program from the Wharton School for high school students focused on business analytics and decision-making. Comparable premium-pricing, brand-credentialed teen enrichment model in the same category.
• AI Camp: AI Camp runs summer coding and AI programs for teens with similar direct-to-parent enrollment and premium pricing tiers. Comparable in target age (13-18), format (team-based project work), and short-duration premium summer camp model, though focused on AI rather than entrepreneurship.
• Kode With Klossy: Kode With Klossy runs free and low-cost summer coding camps for young women ages 13-18 with a team-based project model. Comparable in target demographic and team-based summer camp format, though focused on tech rather than business/entrepreneurship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BizSmartKids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-bizsmart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Camp BizSmart