What if a student could go from idea to startup in a single afternoon? On Saturday, April 18 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PT/3-4:30 p.m. ET, Prequel will host a free virtual workshop for students in grades 8 through 11 to do exactly that. Registration is open through April 17 at lovable.joinprequel.com.
Designed for the next generation of builders, creators, and future founders, the session offers a hands-on look at how ideas come to life. Students will not just learn about entrepreneurship or artificial intelligence, they will use it in real time, transforming a concept into a working product and a compelling business pitch before the session ends.
The workshop is hosted in partnership with AI platform Lovable, removing technical barriers so students can build without coding experience while learning effective prompting for real-world AI workflows. It reflects a broader shift in education toward outcome-driven learning, where students don’t just study innovation, they put it into practice.
“The future belongs to students who know how to build, not just study,” says Ivy Xu, CEO of Prequel. “This workshop gives them a glimpse of what’s possible. In just two hours, they can take an idea out of their head and turn it into something tangible, something they can share, improve, and potentially grow into something much bigger.”
Hosted by Prequel Program Director Tristan Rai, who holds a master’s degree from Columbia University, and coach Divya Patel, the live session guides students through eight fast-paced, AI-powered challenges across three core areas: building with AI, business and entrepreneurship, and audience development.
By the end of the workshop, students will:
- Build a website. Using AI tools through Lovable, participants create a fully functional website from scratch, turning an initial idea into a real product without writing a single line of code.
- Develop a concept. Through guided exercises and simulated investor feedback, students refine and pressure-test their ideas, shaping them into something viable and compelling.
- Create a brand. Participants design a logo and define their positioning, learning how to clearly communicate what they are building and who it is for.
- Write a launch plan. Students outline how to bring their idea to market, identifying early users, messaging, and the first steps to gaining traction.
- Create an elevator pitch. Participants will learn the basics of how to create an elevator pitch for their idea, with tips on how to clearly articulate their idea, value, and potential.
“This is for students who have ideas but don’t yet know how to build them,” says Xu. “Today, what sets students apart isn’t just grades, it’s what they create. Colleges are increasingly looking for students who have built real, tangible solutions, and this is a great first step. We’re helping them turn ideas into real projects, whether that’s an app, a business, or something that reaches people beyond the classroom.”
The April 18 workshop serves as an entry point to Prequel’s Summer 2026 cohort, beginning June 18, where students continue building through a year-long program featuring weekly sessions, one-on-one coaching, and a college strategy anchored in their project. Enrollment for Prequel’s Summer 2026 cohort is now open.
Learn more about the April 18 event at lovable.joinprequel.com and find out more about Prequel’s Summer 2026 program at joinprequel.com/summer-cohort-2026.
