Go from a 4% to a
75% chance of acceptance to the Ivy League

How? By putting yourself in the top 1% of
real-world achievement.
  • Trusted by 1500+ kids (and parents) with high standards
  • Programs for Grades 6-11
  • 55% US T20 and 80% UK/Canada T10 Acceptance Rate
Learn More

top schools our alumni have been admitted to

College admissions are not random!

You've probably seen the daunting Ivy League acceptance rate of 4%. The biggest mistake you can make? Trying to be "well-rounded."

Here’s the truth: The 4% acceptance rate doesn’t apply equally. If you have an outstanding academic record and a world-class extracurricular, your chances jump to 90%. If you don’t stand out, your odds drop to near zero.

Prequel helps you build a world-class extracurricular project that puts you in the top 1% of applicants

Prequel helps students build startups, publish books, create viral content, conduct published scientific research and secure elite internships - all before they turn 18.

Our Summer Cohort is now accepting applications.

Learn More

Stand out as the TOP 1% doing what you LOVE

Forget building a generic passion project or joining the same extracurricular clubs that millions of other students do. If you want a solid chance of acceptance at a top school, you need to build a world-class, stand-out masterpiece project—one that Ivy League admissions officers can’t ignore.

"Well-Rounded"
Path
Compete against 100K+ students

Unrecruited Varisty Athlete

530,000 students compete as Varsity or NCAA athletes in the United States.

Win a
Hackathon

20,000+ high school students participate in Hackathons in the US each year.

School
Newspaper
Editor

76% of high schools have school newspaper publications or student-run blogs.

FBLA 
Chapter
President

Over 500,000 students participate in clubs like FBLA, HOSA, JA and BPA.

Volunteer
for a
non-profit

4M+ students volunteer and fundraise at least $500 for a charity or non-profit in the US.

Unrecruited Varisty Athlete

530,000 students compete as Varsity or NCAA athletes in the United States.

Win a
Hackathon

20,000+ high school students participate in Hackathons in the US each year.

School
Newspaper
Editor

76% of high schools have school newspaper publications or student-run blogs.

FBLA 
Chapter
President

Over 500,000 students participate in clubs like FBLA, HOSA, JA and BPA.

Volunteer
for a
non-profit

4M+ students volunteer and fundraise at least $500 for a charity or non-profit in the US.

Prequel's
Standout Path
Compete against < 1000 Students

Built a Mountain Bike Park

Built a mountain bike park business raised $3.2M and earning $500k/year.

UATX inaugural class

Intern at a
VC-Backed
Startup

Got a paid internhship at a VC-backed med-tech startup that has raised $170M USD.
Duke University (6% acceptance rate)

Published a
Children's
Book
Series

Shreeya published a full children's book series to teach students about STEM topics like aerodynamics and computer science.
Columbia University (4% acceptance rate).

Raised 1.6 M for
his Tech
Startup

Built a technology startup and raised $1.6M funding round led by Arielle Zuckerberg

MIT (4% acceptance rate)

Raised $1M for
Charity

Raised $1M to launch an education program for 50,000 Ukrainian refugee children.
Northeastern (6% acceptance rate)

Built a Mountain Bike Park

Built a mountain bike park business raised $3.2M and earning $500k/year.

UATX inaugural class

Intern at a
VC-Backed
Startup

Got a paid internhship at a VC-backed med-tech startup that has raised $170M USD.
Duke University (6% acceptance rate)

Published a
Children's
Book
Series

Shreeya published a full children's book series to teach students about STEM topics like aerodynamics and computer science.
Columbia University (4% acceptance rate).

Raised 1.6 M for
his Tech
Startup

Built a technology startup and raised $1.6M funding round led by Arielle Zuckerberg

MIT (4% acceptance rate)

Raised $1M for
Charity

Raised $1M to launch an education program for 50,000 Ukrainian refugee children.
Northeastern (6% acceptance rate)

HOW PREQUEL WORKS

Prequel Explore

Grade 6-8
Next Intake: September - June

Read more

Prequel Foundations

Grades 9-11
Months 1-3 of Prequel's 1-Year Journey
Next Intake: June 10

Read more

Prequel Scale

Grades 9-11
Months 4-12 of Prequel's 1 Year Journey

Read more
MIDDLE SCHOOL PREQUEL EXPLORE

8 Months: Real World Outcomes

Prequel Explore is an 8-month program designed for middle school students who want to develop real skills, build confidence, and create meaningful projects—all while exploring what they love.

Millie

wrote a newsletter & book on nature & sustainability

at the age of 12, she has:
  • Created her own blog and newsletter, Adventures of a Young Naturalist

  • Interviewed conservationists, professors, and nonprofit directors to share their work

  • Published a book that educates kids about the natural world

  • Had her blog featured by Harvard Business Publishing after covering the Mt. Everest teamwork simulation

Matthew

Created & sold his own space-themed coloring books

at the age of 11, matthew has:
  • Created Spacecraft Designs, a company that sells coloring books on Etsy with 34+ sales

  • Built video games and videos using AI

  • Wrote a book that educates kids about the natural world

Eleanor

BROUGHT CREATIVITY TO HEr family's business

at the age of 10, she has:
  • Built a website and marketing materials for her family's bee far, Hive Hideaway, and expanded the product line to "Adopt a Hive" subscription and farm tours - which made over $1500

  • Wrote a book that educates kids about the natural world

  • Building a website and blog to teach kids about space travel, and working to land an interview with her role model, Neil de Grasse Tyson

HIGHSCHOOL PREQUEL FOUNDATIONS

Build Competence through Confidence.

You don’t have to wait to "grow up" to make an impact. In Prequel Foundations (Months 1-3), you’ll build the skills to turn your passion into a high-impact project that stands out in college admissions.

By the end of your first three months, you will:

  • Define Your Masterpiece – turn your passion into a standout project
  • Develop Your College Plan – work with an advisor to position your masterpiece for admissions success
  • Build & Launch Your MVP – Create something real, solve problems, and gain traction
  • Share Content & Build Your Audience – attract followers, mentors, and opportunities
  • Master Your Expertise – Develop a bold perspective that sets you apart
Hugo 16 years

“I’m building a contract-free record label that allows musicians to retain the rights to their music”

Isha, 15 years

“I invented a product and struck a deal with a $200m company”

Gulbin, 18 years

“I revolutionized crop irrigation and got into Stanford”

Create value, solve real problems, and build ventures that matter. You’ll go beyond theory and launch real projects that make an impact. You’ll master budgeting, cash flow, AI-driven solutions, marketing, and sales—the core skills every successful entrepreneur needs.

SESSION

DESCRIPTION

Build Something That Matters

Skip the theory—learn how real businesses tackle problems. Master hypothesis testing, market research, and business models to validate your idea.

MVP Mastery

Stop waiting. Turn your idea into a working product—fast. Use AI and no-code tools to launch your MVP and start gaining traction immediately.

First 10: The Sales Sprint

Turn your project into a customer magnet by mastering sales and launch strategies, cold emails, and partnerships to land your first customers.

Making Money Moves

Make your project financially sustainable by developing a clear pricing, revenue, and long-term growth strategy—whether it’s a business, nonprofit, or media venture.

The best product doesn’t always win; the best distribution does. Your ideas are only as powerful as the people they reach. At Prequel, you’ll learn how to build an audience, attract the right customers and mentors, and create a brand that opens doors.create a world of endless opportunities.

SESSION

DESCRIPTION

Your First 1,000 Followers

Define your niche, craft a content strategy, and establish yourself as an expert. Learn how to attract your first followers and turn them into a loyal community.

The Viral Blueprint

Master visual storytelling, video content, and digital marketing to make your ideas spread. Get industry feedback, pitch your work, and learn how to capture attention at scale.

Connect & Conquer

Great ideas need great mentors. Learn how to pitch yourself, land high-value advisors, and build credibility that unlocks life-changing opportunities.

The future belongs to those who don’t just use AI but master it to create original ideas, build fast, and stand out in a crowded world. At Prequel, you’ll learn to think beyond AI, challenge conventional wisdom, and execute like a founder.

SESSION

DESCRIPTION

AI’s Everywhere—What Makes You Different?

In a world flooded with AI-generated content, your original thinking is your edge. You’ll develop a bold perspective, challenge the status quo, and craft ideas that get noticed.

Build Fast, Build Smart

Stop overthinking—launch now. Use AI and no-code tools to build a product, from landing pages to web apps, without waiting for perfection. Learn by doing.

Be The Expert

Become the go-to authority in your niche. You’ll refine your online presence, build a personal brand, and craft a long-term strategy that positions you as an industry leader.

Learn how to create value, solve real problems, and build ventures that matter. You will learn to balance a budget and project cash flows, build technical solutions using no-code and AI, and get comfortable with selling, marketing, and negotiations.

Build Something That Matters

Forget the theory—this crash course shows you how businesses solve real problems. You’ll learn the fundamentals like hypothesis testing, market research, business models, and customer personas. Through hands-on activities and analyzing real case studies, you’ll define your project type—whether it’s a business, non-profit, or media—and conduct user research to validate your idea. By the end, you'll have the tools to turn your idea into a real-world project.

MVP Mastery

In this workshop, you'll learn how to turn your ideas into real products—fast. Using AI and no-code tools, you'll define your MVP strategy and launch your first version, getting your project off the ground in no time.

First 10: The Sales Sprint

In this workshop, you'll learn how to turn your project into a customer magnet. From creating a launch plan to using outreach strategies like cold emails and partnerships, you’ll experiment with sales tactics to secure your first  customers.

Making Money Moves

:In this workshop, you’ll learn how to make your project not just work—but thrive financially. Whether it’s a business, non-profit, or media project, you'll map out your financials, pricing structure, and sustainability plan, then integrate it into your Masterpiece Memo. By the end, you’ll have the financial strategy to make your project a real success.

The best product doesn’t always win; the best distribution does. At Prequel, students learn how to get their ideas out there, attract the right customers and mentors, and build a loyal following. This is how you create a world of endless opportunities.

Your First 1,000 Followers

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to position yourself as an expert and start growing a loyal audience. You’ll define your content pillars, set up your accounts, and craft a solid content plan to attract your first followers and create meaningful connections. By the end, you’ll have the foundational skills to build a real audience that supports your work.

The Viral Blueprint

Be an ambassador for your favorite company. Create a marketing video for your favorite product and have the company use it.

You’ll learn essential visual and video communication skills, how to grab and hold attention, and digital marketing fundamentals. By pitching to companies, you’ll also get an opportunity to see your ideas come to life, understand how businesses operate, and receive feedback from the industry.

Connect & Conquer

Great ideas need great mentors. This week, you’ll learn how to connect with high-value advisors who can help you level up. You’ll research potential mentors, craft outreach messages that grab attention, and set up meetings with people who can open doors for your project. By the end, you'll have secured your first advisor and built the credibility you need to push forward.

AI is taking over entire teams, and the future belongs to those who can harness it to amplify their abilities. At Prequel, we teach students how to go beyond what AI already knows—creating new insights, thinking for themselves, and staying agile in a fast-moving world. This isn’t just about using AI; it’s about mastering it to stay ahead of the curve.

AI’s Everywhere—What Makes You Different?

In a world where AI can create content in an instant, what makes you stand out is offering something truly original. This week, you’ll learn how to think differently by developing your own unique perspective that challenges the usual way of thinking. You’ll build a system to organize your research and ideas, then dive deep into your topic to find that fresh angle. By the end, you’ll have a bold, original viewpoint that makes you stand out from the crowd.

Build Fast, Build Smart

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to rapidly build and launch a product using AI and no-code tools. The goal? To move from idea to action without getting bogged down in perfectionism. You’ll pick a small project—whether it's a landing page, web app, or automation tool—and rebuild it using AI tools. If you're already working on your masterpiece, you can dive right into building something related. By the end, you’ll have the confidence to execute quickly and get your project off the ground fast.

Be The Expert

In a world overwhelmed by information, standing out means becoming the go-to expert in a specific area. This week, you’ll learn how to build your personal monopoly by dominating a niche that aligns with your expertise. You’ll refine your online presence, develop your personal brand, and create a long-term strategy for authority-building that keeps you at the top of your field. By the end, you’ll have a plan to not just participate in your industry—but own it.

HIGH SCHOOL PREQUEL SCALE

Grow your project with Prequel Scale

Over eight months, you’ll refine, scale, and monetize your masterpiece while building deep expertise that sets you apart as an industry leader. The core lessons stay the same, but each cycle pushes you further, helping you sharpen your skills and expand your impact.

In Scale, you will:

  • Refine, scale, and monetize your project to create real-world impact.
  • Build authority, expand your reach, and attract meaningful opportunities.
  • Create original, world-class insights that AI can’t replicate.
  • Become a self-sufficient creator, ready to tackle any project or challenge.
  • Have a project that hits $10,000 in revenue, 10,000 users, or $10,000 in funding—or equivalent).

Learn how to create value, solve real problems, and build ventures that matter. You will learn to balance a budget and project cash flows, build technical solutions using no-code and AI, and get comfortable with selling, marketing, and negotiations.

SESSION

DESCRIPTION

Crack the Customer Code

Get inside your customers’ minds by conducting user research, analyzing behavior, and gathering real feedback. Learn to spot patterns, uncover pain points, and refine your product for real impact.

Product Upgrade Lab

Your product is live—now it’s time to level up. Use user research to refine features, enhance usability, and reposition for a stronger market fit.

Profitable by Design

Your idea is solid—now make it sustainable. Refine your revenue streams, pricing strategy, and business model to drive long-term growth and profitability.

Pitch Perfect

Level up your sales game by mastering the perfect pitch, closing deals with confidence, and turning leads into loyal customers. Use direct outreach strategies to refine your approach and drive real results.

The best product doesn’t always win; the best distribution does. You will master the art of getting noticed, attracting the right people, and building a loyal audience.This is how you create a world of endless opportunities.

SESSION

DESCRIPTION

Growth Engine

Aanalyze and optimize your customer journey, identifying weak points, boosting conversions, and testing new distribution channels. Whether it’s refining messaging, improving landing pages, or experimenting with new platforms, this session is all about maximizing impact.

From Zero to Viral

Position yourself as an expert, craft compelling content, and implement proven strategies to attract and retain followers. You’ll develop a personalized growth plan, ensuring your audience is not just bigger—but more engaged and valuable.

Growth Hacks Lab

Run real-time experiments on audience engagement, revenue models, and distribution channels. Using data-driven insights, you’ll refine your approach, double down on what works, and pivot where needed.

AI won’t replace you—unless you let it. At Prequel, you’ll go beyond AI-generated insights, think independently, and stay ahead in a fast-moving world. Master AI as a tool to multiply your impact, automate smarter, and outthink the competition.

SESSION

DESCRIPTION

AI Breakthroughs in Action

Test and apply the latest AI tools that are reshaping industries. Whether it’s automation, content creation, advanced analytics, or new creative applications, you’ll experiment with cutting-edge tools and learn how to integrate them into your work.

From Opinions to Authority

Sharpen your thinking and refine your unique point of view—one that challenges the norm and makes people pay attention. You’ll learn how to frame your expertise in a way that resonates, communicate ideas with impact, and position yourself as a go-to voice in your field.

Learn how to create value, solve real problems, and build ventures that matter. You will learn to balance a budget and project cash flows, build technical solutions using no-code and AI, and get comfortable with selling, marketing, and negotiations.

Crack the Customer Code

Get inside your customers’ minds! In this session, you’ll conduct user research, analyze customer behavior, and gather real feedback to refine your product. Learn how to spot patterns, uncover pain points, and turn insights into action.

Product Upgrade Lab

Your product is live—now make it better. Using user research, you'll define and implement the next iteration, whether it’s adding new features, improving usability, or repositioning for a stronger market fit.

Profitable by Design

Your idea is solid—now let’s make it sustainable. You’ll refine your revenue streams, pricing strategy, and overall business model to ensure long-term growth and profitability.

Pitch Perfect

Time to level up your sales game. Learn how to craft the perfect pitch, close deals with confidence, and convert leads into loyal customers. Through direct outreach strategies, you'll refine your approach and drive real results.

The best product doesn’t always win; the best distribution does. At Prequel, students learn how to get their ideas out there, attract the right customers and mentors, and build a loyal following. This is how you create a world of endless opportunities.

Growth Engine

Your marketing funnel is the key to growth—so let’s make it work. You’ll analyze and optimize your customer journey, identifying weak points, boosting conversions, and testing new distribution channels. Whether it’s refining messaging, improving landing pages, or experimenting with new platforms, this session is all about maximizing impact.

From Zero to Viral

An engaged audience creates unlimited opportunities. Learn how to position yourself as an expert, craft compelling content, and implement proven strategies to attract and retain followers. You’ll develop a personalized growth plan, ensuring your audience is not just bigger—but more engaged and valuable.

Growth Hacks Lab

Growth is about testing, learning, and iterating fast. In this session, you’ll run real-time experiments on audience engagement, revenue models, and distribution channels. Using data-driven insights, you’ll refine your approach, double down on what works, and pivot where needed.

AI is replacing entire teams, and the future belongs to those who can harness it to multiply their capacity. At Prequel, we teach students how to go beyond what AI already knows—creating new insights, thinking for themselves, and staying agile in a fast-moving world. This isn’t just about using AI; it’s about mastering it to stay ahead of the curve.

AI Breakthroughs in Action

AI is evolving fast—are you keeping up? In this rotating session, you’ll test and apply the latest AI tools that are reshaping industries. Whether it’s automation, content creation, advanced analytics, or new creative applications, you’ll experiment with cutting-edge tools and learn how to integrate them into your work.

From Opinions to Authority

Bold ideas open doors. In this session, you’ll sharpen your thinking and refine your unique point of view—one that challenges the norm and makes people pay attention. You’ll learn how to frame your expertise in a way that resonates, communicate ideas with impact, and position yourself as a go-to voice in your field.

Maddie

Created the first teen-produced Broadway musical

In 1.5 years of Prequel, Maddie:

  • Wrote a full Broadway musical
  • Collaborated with songwriters from around the world
  • Pitched her musical to Broadway investors
  • Planned her first musical showing at theater festivals
Hugo

Disrupting the music industry with a contract-free record label

In 1 year of Prequel , Hugo:

  • Helped 10+ International artists go viral with  50+ million views, 3.6+ million likes across platforms for his artists
  • Landed two paid internships in the music industry
  • Co-Founded an music marketing agency with artist contracts from $10K-$100K
Eric

Bringing financial literacy to millions of young people

In 6 months of AlphaX, Eric:

  • Ran a successful pilot program with a middle school in his area
  • Connected with several schools to launch pilot programs
  • Got advisors from Fidelity and University of Rhode Island on his Board of Advisors
Joshua

Empowering millions of students to land a spot at their dream university

In 9 months of AlphaX, Joshua:

  • Built a 1000-person waitlist for his upcoming course launch
  • Grew from 0 to 20k followers on Instagram within 4 months
  • Has been featured and interviewed by Forbes and New York Times
  • Wrote & working on publishing a book
Anaiah

Tackling the teen mental health crisis

In 9 months of AlphaX, Anaiah

  • Developed the first generation of her mental health app with 3,000+ users
  • Reached 50M+ views on social media with her mental health content
  • Built an anxiety bot for a hackathon which was used by a middle school
  • Become an advisor on a teen mental health crisis support app (Teen Talk App)

Clara

Creating the first AI health coach based on your genome

In 1.5 years of AlphaX, Clara

  • Built an prototype AI bot that uses your genomic data to give you personalized health advice
  • Tested this with 100 users
  • Built an audience of 1,000 followers on Twitter
Corey

Built an AI-powered public-speaking coach

In 6 months of AlphaX, Corey

  • Built an MVP of the AI public speaking tool
  • Got an internship with a public speaking company
  • Secured 3 key partnerships with local businesses to help bring his idea to life
Elle

Built an AI-driven dating app with 200K followers

In 1.5 years of AlphaX, Elle:

  • Launched an AI-driven dating advice app, AskL, which receives 10,000+ messages a month
  • Grew her audience to 200k followers across platforms to promote her app
  • Met with the ex-CEOs of Bumble & Tinder to help bring her app to life
Maddie

created the first teen-produced broadway musical

in 1.5 years of alphax:
  • Wrote a full Broadway musical

  • Collaborated with songwriters from around the world

  • Pitched her musical to Broadway investors

  • Planned her first musical showing at theater festivals

Maddie

created the first teen-produced broadway musical

in 1.5 years of alphax:
  • Wrote a full Broadway musical

  • Collaborated with songwriters from around the world

  • Pitched her musical to Broadway investors

  • Planned her first musical showing at theater festivals

Maddie

created the first teen-produced broadway musical

in 1.5 years of alphax:
  • Wrote a full Broadway musical

  • Collaborated with songwriters from around the world

  • Pitched her musical to Broadway investors

  • Planned her first musical showing at theater festivals

Maddie

created the first teen-produced broadway musical

in 1.5 years of alphax:
  • Wrote a full Broadway musical

  • Collaborated with songwriters from around the world

  • Pitched her musical to Broadway investors

  • Planned her first musical showing at theater festivals

Program  OuTCOMES

World-class outcomes don't happen overnight. Success at Prequel comes from consistent action and real-world application.

Here's what students can expect to achieve in our middle school program, Explore, and over the course of our year-long high school program (Foundations, which takes three months to complete, and Scale, which takes nine months to complete).

Prequel Explore

Discover your passions, build confidence, and develop real-world skills—without pressure.

By the end of middle school, you will have:

A 60-second elevator pitch – Master public speaking, communication, and confidence.

A broken world record – Learn goal setting, resilience, and problem-solving in just 4 weeks.

A podcast with 3 expert interviews & 100 listeners – Build authority, network with professionals, and create impactful content.

A  functional web app with 100 users – Gain technical skills, self-learn, and adapt based on real-world feedback.

A profitable business ($100+ in revenue) – Understand entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and market testing.

Millie

WROTE A BOOK ON SUSTAINABILITY

At the age of 12:
  • Created her own blog and newsletter, Adventures of a Young Naturalist, on her interests in nature, sustainability, conservation and reptiles
  • Interviewed conservationists, professors, and non-profit directors to understand their work
  • Wrote a book that educates kids about the natural world
  • Her blog on the Mt. Everest teamwork simulation was shared by Harvard Business Publishing
Matthew

CREATED AN AI-GENERATED BOOK 
Business

At the age of 11:
  • Created Spacecraft Designs, a company that sells coloring books on Etsy with 34+ sales
  • Built video games and videos using AI
  • Self-taught programmer by completing Replit’s 100 days of coding challenge
Prequel foundations

In Prequel Foundations (Months 1-3), you’ll go from idea to execution—defining your Masterpiece, developing core skills, and creating something real. Whether you're building a startup, launching a research project, or developing a product, this phase is all about action, validation, and progress.

By the end of Prequel foundations, students have:

A college application plan with your Masterpiece as the centerpiece

A fully developed business plan & roadmap for scaling your project

1,000+ engaged followers on a chosen social platform

1 expert on your Board of Advisors

A validated Masterpiece with real-world results:

  • $1,000+ in revenue or
  • 1,000+ users or
  • $1,000+ in nonprofit donations or
  • 1,000+ signatures on a petition or
  • A successful pilot with at least 10 participants
Prequel scale

Over nine months, you’ll refine your business model, expand your reach, and leverage AI to scale faster. This phase is about serious growth—securing revenue, partnerships, and industry recognition.Growth isn’t just about visibility—it’s about mastering business strategy, securing key mentors, and building something that lasts. Use AI to automate, optimize, and accelerate your impact.

At the end of Prequel scale, you will have a project that hits $10,000 in revenue, 10,000 users, or $10,000 in funding - or equivalent). You'll get there by:

Refining, scaling, and monetize your project to create real-world impact.

Creating original, world-class insights that AI can’t replicate

Building authority, expanding your reach, and attracting  meaningful opportunities.

Becoming a self-sufficient creator, ready to tackle any project or challenge


After Prequel Scale, you’ll have built something impressive—something that sets you apart from your peers and strengthens your college application. But standing out isn’t enough to reach a 75% chance at top schools. That level of success is reserved for those with truly world-class projects.

That’s where Prequel Beyond comes in…

Prequel Beyond

Reaching the top 1% in your field—and a 75% chance at Ivy League acceptance—takes long-term commitment. Prequel Beyond is for students ready to push further, scale their impact, and achieve truly elite outcomes.
In this phase, you’ll grow your project to 100,000 to 1,000,000+ users, dollars in revenue, or measurable impact.

Depending on the nature of your project, here are some paths to achieving these outcomes

Entrepreneurship:

  • Start a business making $300k+
  • Start a nonprofit that raised at least $250k
  • Found venture-backed startup that raised $500,000+
Rhett

Launched a world-class mountain bike park

In 1.5 years of AlphaX:
  • Built mountain bike parks in Austin and for SpaceX
  • Raised $350k from investors and secured 
a $3 million land lease
  • Earned $100k+ in revenue in first 3 months 
of business

Research:

  • Have a significant research breakthrough and get published in a Top 10 Scientific journal as the lead on the experiment or study
Grace

CREATED A VIRAL DOCUMENTARY

In 1.5 years of AlphaX:
  • Wrote, filmed, and produced a full-length documentary called "Cancer: A Food-Borne Illness" featured on Fox News Prime Time
  • Connected with world-renowned experts like Andrew Huberman and Dr. Thomas Seyfried
  • Built a following of 60k+ on Twitter which helped her land an internship with a Stanford and Harvard educated Medtech founder

Music:

  • Be amongst the top 2-3 people at the national level at my instrument for your age group
  • Sign a record deal worth $100,000+
  • Record a song with substantial, quantifiable internet traction e.g. 1M plays on Spotify on one song and the winner of music awards
HUGO

Launched a CONTRACt-FREE record label

In six months of AlphaX:
  • Launched his own record label, HUM Marketing
  • Signed seven artists to his label
  • Landed two paid internships in the music industry

Writing:

  • Be a featured writer for a top-tier national publication (e.g. Forbes, Buzzfeed, NY Mag, Sports Illustrated)
  • Get published in multiple literary journals like New Yorker, Ploughsares and got a book deal with a Big 4 publisher

What’s not world-class: Self-published authors, school newspaper or local editors

Kate

launched a newsletter that earned $30K

In 1.5 years of AlphaX:
  • Grew to 11,000 subscribers and earns $30,000 per year in revenue
  • Grew an audience of 27k+ on Twitter and hosted Spaces with education experts and 5k+ attendees
  • Used her audience to connect with industry titans like Sam Altman, Sahil Bloom, and Austen Allred

Arts:

  • Sell a piece of art for $100,000
  • Get a film screened at a top international film festival like Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca, or TIFF
  • Have a substantial YouTube or video network presence, consistently getting over a million views/video
Maddie

created a teen-produced broadway musical

In 1.5 years of AlphaX:
  • Wrote a full Broadway Musical
  • Collaborated with teen songwriters from around the world
  • Premiered her sold out musical at 54 Below

Software:

  • Build an app with more than 500,000 downloads
  • Create a web app with more than 1 Million visitors a year
Elle

created a safe-teen dating app

In 1 year of AlphaX:
  • Launched an AI-driven dating advice app, AskL, with 30K users
  • Grew her audience to 200k followers across platforms to promote her app
  • Met with the ex-CEOs of Bumble & Tinder to help bring her app to life

YOUR PREQUEL JOURNEY

Whether you join in Grade 6 or Grade 11, your journey will be tailored to help you make the biggest impact possible with as much time as you have before college applications.

Business and Entrepreneurship

AI-First Learning

Audience and Distribution

Elle’s High School
Journey

Mathew's Middle School
‍Journey

Join Prequel's Foundations Program

Completed Passion 
and Purpose Workshop:

Discovered her interest lies in changing the toxic online culture of teen dating.

Completed College Conquerer Workshop:

The youngest student to ace a Parsons Fashion Course.

Completed First Profit Workshop:

Built a Twitter analytics platform for creators and earned $200.

Completed Develop Deep Expertise Workshop:

Developed a mindmap and became an expert on teen dating.

Joined Prequel and pitched her masterpiece: a teen-safe dating app

Grew to 
100,000 followers 
on TikTok.

Launched an AI chatbot MVP with 10,000 monthly messages.

Launched a full app on the app store with 2k downloads (launched at end of year).

Grew to 200,000 on TikTok.

Focused on getting users 
& monetization.

Generating publicity 
(Today Show, Boston Globe).

GRADE 6-8

Complete Prequel Explore

Find Your Passion

Define your passions
and Ikigai and create a vision board.

Communication Skills

Create a 60-second
elevator pitch about your passions.

Record Breaker

Find a world record
you can beat,
building confidence
& grit.

Your First App

Bring your first app
to life with no-code,
AI & other tools.

Your first 100 Users

Learn about marketing
and get your first 100 users on your platform
for feedback.

First Profit

Learn about market
research, product design, business financials and earn $100 on your first business.

Creators Studio

Create and publish a piece of creative work online, achieving at least 100 downloads, reads, or likes.

GRADE 9

GRADE 11

Join Prequel's High School Program to Build Your Masterpiece

Build a 1000-person fan base on your chosen social media platform.

Create a board of advisors with at least three experts in your field.

Depending on your masterpiece, any of:
• 100 paying customers• $10K in revenue
• 10,000 person fan base
• 3 partnerships
• 100,000 signatures on your petition
• Run a pilot for at least 100 people

Students take their masterpiece to the next level, join the top 1% of their field, and have a 75% chance of making the Ivy League.

Entrepreneurship
• Start a business making $300K
• Start a nonprofit that raised at least $250K
• Found a venture-backed startup that raised at least $500K

Example

GRADE 10

Tuition

Join the top 1% of high school students in real world success.

Prequel is now enrolling teens for our
Summer Cohort, which kicks off on June 10.
Starting at
$450/month
* Billed annually
Sign Up

MEET THE FOUNDER

Hey parents & students —

I’m Ivy, the founder of Prequel.

Let’s be real—schools aren’t teaching everything kids need to thrive in today’s world. Sure, they cover the basics, but what about the life skills that really matter? That’s where Prequel comes in.

Take my sister Jane, for example. She loved art but couldn’t see how she could make it real. At 15, with Prequel’s support, she launched her own design business. She wasn’t just learning—she was doing. And that’s the difference.

But it’s not just teens who need this. Preteens are ready to take on 
the world, too. At Prequel, kids aged 9-13 are starting real projects, 
like building apps, creating businesses, and launching blogs. 
They’re not waiting to grow up—they’re doing it now.

Jane’s journey started with Prequel, leading to a dream internship 
in Amsterdam and top college acceptances.

And she’s not alone. Many Prequel kids, from preteens to teens, 
have found their paths and built skills that schools don’t teach.

If you want your child—whether they’re 9 or 15—to get excited 
about what they can achieve, come join us at Prequel.

Let’s help them dream big and make things happen. 
Because kids are more capable than we think.

Ivy XuFounder and CEO, Prequel

Meet the team behind it all

Maria Edison
Program Associate

A human Rubik's Cube, solving problems with a twist

Amin Bashi
Head of Product

Listening sometimes and shipping products most of the time

Essam Aboukoube
Program Manager

You would think I run a kitchen the way I help teens cook.

Zaki Hirji
Social Media & Content

Creator, photographer, and occasional skydiver - when I’m not diving into social analytics, I’m flying high making content.

Donnie Yee
Head of Operations

Operations leader by day, noodle connoisseur, and squat champion by night.

JP Guerra
Program Director

A new age polymath: professional athlete, gamer, social media influencer, and educator.

Katarina Smith
Program Director

Katarina is the head of Programs at Prequel. She has spent the last 8 years helping students discover their passions and interests in the world of tech & business. She's taught and worked with thousands of students and young professionals through her programs at On Deck, a VC-backed startup, and UBC Geering Up, a non-profit.

common questions

Is Prequel online?
How long is the program?
How do I join Prequel?
Who is Prequel for?
Do I need a startup, a startup idea, or a team before applying?
What happens when Prequel ends?

More students in Prequel

“My daughter loved Prequel. She's learning real-world problem solving, communication, and ideation skills that aren't honed in schools. She is emerging with newfound confidence and important skills for the future. Really impressed by the program.”

Kayla
Emily's Mom

"Prequel's exposure to incredible speakers in leadership positions of the world's greatest companies opened up a world of possibilities for me, painting a clearer picture of future roles I can now work towards."

Sarah
Student

“I am extremely excited about Prequel and the challenge that this learning process represents to our kids. My son shared his TikTok content with me and I was amazed by the business ideas, the product, and all the world behind the production of this content. This is a real taste of the real world."

Maribel
Luis's Mom

"Connecting with others who are all as interested as I am in this field was one of the best feelings, especially when able to challenge my limits alongside them. "

Cianna
Student

"I liked that at Prequel, you don't learn by listening to a lecture, you learn by actually completing real-world case studies. This makes learning very fun."

Erick
Student

"I never thought that a 16-year-old high schooler could become an entrepreneur in a business world dominated by adults with degrees. However, at BETA Camp I acquired business and technology skills from industry professionals then co-founded SteerClear."

Michelle
Student

“My daughter went from struggling to find her place in extracurriculars to landing an internship with a global startup based in Amsterdam through Prequel connections and launching her own graphic design agency."

Jeff
Parent of Jane

“Prequel has been an excellent outlet for my daughter to express her creativity and work with others who share the same interests."

Michelle
Danielle's Mom

WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING

Students and parents love Prequel and the program's ability to help them achieve world-class outcomes.

Read all reviews
MI
Millie
1 review
US

Why I Love the Prequel Program

As a current student in the Prequel program, I've found it to be an incredible experience filled with mission-driven activities like beating the Harvard Mt. Everest Simulation and interviewing inspiring CEOs. The excitement of what's next always keeps me engaged and eager to learn.

The program has given me the opportunity to connect with classmates who share my enthusiasm and motivation. Together, we've formed a supportive and dynamic community where teamwork and collaboration thrive.

During my time at Prequel, I've gained invaluable skills in building a portfolio, running a business, and networking, among many other 
areas. The enthusiastic teachers make every class not just educational, but incredibly enjoyable.

I recommend Prequel to anyone ready to explore innovative ways of applying their knowledge to real-world projects.

E
Ellen Smalley
1 review
US

Transformative!

As a mother witnessing the transformative power of the Prequel program on my daughter, I am filled with awe and gratitude. This remarkable program not only kindles her sense of exploration and wonder but also cultivates her critical thinking skills in ways I could have never imagined. Watching her work collaboratively with other students to tackle challenges has been a joy to behold, as it fosters a strong sense of teamwork, adaptability and agency.

ZE
Zeleen
2 reviews
CA

I am beyond impressed the…

I am beyond impressed the transformation Prequel has given my son. Not only has it increased his confidence and thirst for knowledge in topics that are beyond a 12 year old but has peaked interest for the holistic understanding of world issues. Areez was always interested in tech but he has learned the journey and pathways tech is inter-related; can debate; promote a business; and most importantly be a global citizen. Thank you Nadim and Zain the program is beyond my expectations and is truly fostering global leaders.

MI
Ben Dao
1 review
US

My kids love Prequel

My kids love Prequel Explore. They make learning fun and interactive by playing games, working in groups etc. I like that the curriculum is really catered towards the kids. It is not stagnate and boring where you hear a lecture for so long. They break it up and about every 10 minutes they are moving it along to another activity. The stuff taught here is not the stuff the teach in school. It is more real-world preparation. I would highly recommend.

SH
Shal
1 review
US

A great community

A great community of children with incredible mentors to understand important life concepts.