Step inside a startup team and turn an idea into a real product. Students take on roles like Founder, Product Manager, UI/UX Designer, and Web Developer as they create, design, and code their own marketplace app.
What does it actually take to turn an idea into a tech startup? In the Startup Spark workshop, students find out by doing it themselves.
Working in teams, students take on real startup roles including Founder, Product Manager, UI/UX Designer, and Web Developer as they create a marketplace app that connects buyers and sellers. Along the way, they’ll name and brand their company, figure out who they’re building for, decide which features matter most, sketch out the app experience, and customize a working interface with CSS.
Students get a hands-on look at how different people and skills come together to build a product, from the first idea to the way it looks and works. By the end of the challenge, they’ll have a better understanding of entrepreneurship, product development, design, and coding, plus the confidence to see themselves as someone who can build something of their own.
• How a tech startup turns an idea into a product
• How different startup roles work together to build and launch an app
• How to identify a target audience and create customer personas
• How product teams decide which features to build first
• How branding, color, and interface design shape the user experience
• How to sketch wireframes and plan an app before building it
• How CSS can be used to customize the look and feel of a web product
• How startups think about monetization and building a sustainable business
• Students in middle school (6th - 8th grade) and high school (9th - 12th grade) in the Philadelphia area.
• This workshop is for beginners, newbies & amateurs in the field of tech and entrepreneurship.
In fall 2026, Coded by: is offering two different sessions of the Startup Spark workshop - one for middle school and one for high school students. Registration is NOW OPEN.
Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)
• Date: Tuesday, December 1st
• Time: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
High School (9th - 12th Grade)
• Date: Tuesday, December 8th
• Time: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Check out the full calendar of Coded by: programs here.
Coded by: Hub Site
Temple University
Ritter Hall Annex, Room 324
1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Who can sign up for the program?
The program is open to middle and high school students in the Philadelphia area.
Do you need previous experience to register?
No, this is a workshop perfect for beginners.
Is there a cost for enrollment?
No, Coded by: programs are free for all participants.
Do you host this course at partner sites?
Yes, please email programs@codedbykids.com if you are interested in hosting Coded by: program.
Coded by Kids runs free programs and competitions throughout the year. Don't miss the opportunity to grow and showcase your tech skills.
