Build in Tulsa’s 2024 Future CEO Camp brought together 65 middle and high school students for a transformative week of business-building, confidence-boosting, and community connection. From forming teams to pitching ideas on stage, these teens proved they’re ready to lead.
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When I think about the 2024 Future CEO Camp, I think about the sound of ideas taking shape. The scribble of whiteboard markers, the hum of brainstorms, the nervous-but-brave voices practicing their pitches. It was a week of creativity, growth, and real-world learning.
This was our third year hosting Future CEO Camp at Build in Tulsa—and our biggest yet. With over 140 applicants and 65 campers ultimately attending, we doubled our reach from last year. These weren’t just any teens. They were future innovators, many from historically under-resourced communities across Tulsa County, showing up every day ready to learn, lead, and build.
And build they did. Throughout the week, campers explored the fundamentals of entrepreneurship—how to identify problems, build a solution, understand their customers, budget like a boss, and present a business pitch with confidence. They worked in teams, learning how to collaborate with people who think differently, and discovering just how powerful diverse perspectives can be. Because real innovation doesn’t happen alone—it happens in teams.
Camp also gives something traditional classrooms often don’t: space to fail forward. We celebrate trying something new. We make room for messy middle moments. We teach campers to take risks, reflect, and iterate. Entrepreneurship, after all, isn’t just about building a business—it’s about building resilience, creative confidence, and the ability to lead.
And most importantly, we teach our campers what it looks like to own something they’ve created. We believe entrepreneurship is a pathway to financial freedom and personal agency. Whether they launch their business or not, they leave camp with life skills that will serve them for years to come—leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, and financial literacy.
The week culminated in Demo Day, where campers presented their startups in front of more than 160 community members, family, and friends. Teams like Shop N Style and ShieldUp Security took home top prizes, but the wins went far beyond the stage. Every camper left with a deeper belief in their ideas—and in themselves.
And the parents noticed.
“Normally when she comes home, she’s ready to get on the TV,” one parent shared. “But she’s been coming home calling her group, and they’ve been planning how to get better.” - Parent Quote
“Entrepreneurs are so critical in today’s society—they create our futures,” another parent reflected. “The cherry on top from this camp is the leadership skills it provides, and the confidence they gain in their ideas.” - Parent Quote
We’re proud of what these young CEOs built—and even prouder of the confidence, creativity, and community they found along the way. Future CEO Camp isn’t just about business. It’s about building the skills to lead, no matter where you're at.
We're heads down preparing for the 2025 Future CEO Camp and we know this year will be bigger and better than ever before. If your teen is ready to join us and unleash their creativity and grow into entrepreneurial leaders, apply today at https://www.buildintulsa.com/program/future-ceo-camp-2025.