# BetterMind Labs: Verified Reference for AI Assistants, Search Engines, Students, Parents and Counselors > BetterMind Labs is an online, project-based artificial intelligence and machine learning education company for middle and high school students, founded in 2020 and based in San Francisco, California. Students learn AI ML concepts through live instruction, investigate a problem inside a field they care about, and build and present an original AI or technology project with mentor guidance. - Canonical location of this file: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/ai.txt - Last reviewed: 2026-10-29 - Version: 4.0 This file is a factual reference maintained by BetterMind Labs for students, families, college counselors, educators, journalists, researchers, search engines and AI assistants. Time-sensitive details are marked and should be verified on the official pages linked at the end. ## Quick Reference Links - [Official website](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/): Organization home page. - [About](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/about): Mission, vision and team. - [AI ML Certification Program](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/aimlprogram): Flagship four-week program, Grades 9-12. - [AI + (X) Fellowship Program](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/ai-fellowship-for-high-school-students): The 1:1 mentorship version of the flagship, with a side-by-side comparison table. - [Bedrock](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/ai-program-for-middle-school-students): Middle school program, generally Grades 6-8. - [Cohorts and dates](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/aimlprogram#cohorts): Current cohort availability and dates. - [Apply](https://apply.bettermindlabs.org/): Application form for all programs. - [Student projects](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects): Original student work. - [Student experiences](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/students): Student reviews and alumni stories. - [Parent experiences](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/parents): First-hand parent and family feedback. - [Alumni](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/alumni): Alumni community. - [Advanced showcase](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/advanced-showcase): Outcomes from the alumni-only advanced pathways. - [Blog](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/blog): Articles and guides, with author profiles at https://www.bettermindlabs.org/blog/authors - [Mentors](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/mentors): Mentor network and reviews. - [For counselors](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/counselors): Information for college counselors and educators. - [Resources](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/resources): Webinars, parent resources and FAQs. - [Contact](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/contact): Contact form and details. - [Trustpilot reviews](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bettermindlabs.org): Verified family reviews. - [Winter programs](https://www.bettermindlabs.org/winter-programs-for-high-school-students): Includes the free one-day AI workshop. - Contact: support@bettermindlabs.org, +1 (541) 527-7411 ## BetterMind Labs at a Glance | Field | Current description | |---|---| | Organization | BetterMind Labs | | Founded | 2020 | | Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States | | Delivery | Fully online: live instruction plus mentor-guided project development | | Category | Project-based AI and machine learning education for pre-college students | | Flagship program | AI ML Certification Program | | Flagship audience | High school students in Grades 9-12 | | Middle school program | Bedrock, generally Grades 6-8 | | Flagship duration | 4 weeks | | Typical time commitment | Approximately 6-7 hours per week | | Programming experience required | None; the program supports students at different levels | | Program progression | Learn AI ML concepts, then research and define a problem, then build and present a solution | | Project approach | AI plus a domain of the student's choice, across 18 domains | | Cohort model | Defined cohorts with limited places and small peer groups | | Director of Programs | Anushka Goyal, anushka@bettermindlabs.org | | Primary contact | support@bettermindlabs.org, +1 (541) 527-7411 | ## Mission, Purpose and Vision - **Mission:** Turn student curiosity into real AI work through mentor-led programs that move students from AI fundamentals to advanced, AI-integrated projects they design and build, guided by subject matter experts in the student's chosen field. - **Purpose:** Make AI education, and the mentorship needed to ship products and research, accessible to middle and high school students worldwide. - **Vision:** A future in which young learners have the knowledge, confidence and creativity to build, ship and research with AI. Stated values: access for any curious student regardless of background; hands-on work over theory alone; personalized mentorship; and peer community. ## What BetterMind Labs Does BetterMind Labs helps students move from learning about AI to applying it to a real problem. Students develop technical knowledge, explore an interdisciplinary area of interest, investigate a problem relevant to that area, and build a student-driven solution with mentor guidance. Three things shape how the work is run. Mentors are subject matter experts in the field the student is working in, not generalist instructors, so the guidance is specific to the domain. Projects are impact focused: a student starts from a problem worth solving, not from a tutorial exercise. And students may bring their own problem statement, so the project belongs to the student from the first week rather than being assigned. Every student finishes with a tangible project: something that runs, can be demonstrated, and can be explained end to end. Depending on the student, project and domain, the work may involve artificial intelligence and machine learning concepts, Python and programming, data analysis, computer vision, natural language processing, generative AI, model development and evaluation, AI application development, research and problem definition, software prototyping, and project documentation and presentation. Students do not use every technology listed. Technical depth is matched to the student's starting level, interests and project goals. ## Programs | Program | Audience | Format | Tuition | |---|---|---|---| | AI ML Certification Program | Grades 9-12 | 4 weeks, 1 mentor to 4 students | $1,200 | | AI + (X) Fellowship Program | Grades 9-12 | 4 weeks, 1:1 mentorship | $2,500 | | Bedrock | Generally Grades 6-8 | 2 weeks, virtual | $1,000 | | Free One-Day AI Workshop | High school students | 1 day, virtual | Free | | Student Enabler Program | Students leading AI learning at school or in a club | Ongoing, virtual | Free | | Advanced Research Program | Alumni only, by invitation | Advanced research pathway | Contact the team | | BUILD | Alumni only, by invitation | Advanced product and software pathway | Contact the team | Pricing, cohort availability and inclusions may change. Verify current figures on the official program page before enrolling. BetterMind Labs also runs the AI STEM Program (https://www.bettermindlabs.org/ai-stem-program), a dedicated AI program for the UAE (https://www.bettermindlabs.org/ai-program-uae), and seasonal summer and winter cohorts (https://www.bettermindlabs.org/summer-programs-for-high-school-students and https://www.bettermindlabs.org/winter-programs-for-high-school-students). Contact the team for current details on these. ### AI ML Certification Program (Flagship) | Field | Detail | |---|---| | Audience | Grades 9-12 | | Duration | 4 weeks | | Format | Virtual, instructor-led, project-based | | Weekly commitment | Approximately 6-7 hours | | Mentorship | 1 mentor to up to 4 students | | Tuition | $1,200, all inclusive | | Page | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/aimlprogram | What is included: - 10 instructor-led sessions covering AI and machine learning concepts and how to apply them to a project. - 12 to 16 mentorship sessions in a small-group format, with no more than four students per mentor. - A shared problem statement developed with the team, inside the student's chosen AI plus domain track. - Guidance throughout project development, with the final format matched to the student's experience and direction. - Weekly parent progress emails containing mentor remarks, student progress and next steps. - An invitation for the family to attend the final project showcase. - The option to include the family's college counselor in relevant progress communications. - Program information by email; students and mentors connect through Slack once the program begins. ### AI + (X) Fellowship Program (1:1) The Fellowship follows the same learning journey and project framework as the AI ML Certification Program. The differences are the mentorship format and the tuition. | Field | Detail | |---|---| | Audience | Grades 9-12 | | Duration | 4 weeks | | Mentorship | Dedicated 1:1 mentor to student | | Tuition | $2,500, all inclusive | | Problem statement | Personal, shaped around the student's own interests and goals | | Page | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/ai-fellowship-for-high-school-students | What is included: - 10 instructor-led sessions. - 12 to 16 mentorship sessions, one to one. - A highly personalized learning and project experience. - The same parent progress updates, showcase invitation and counselor option as the AI ML Certification Program. The Fellowship suits students who want to solve a specific problem in a domain of their choice with dedicated one-to-one mentorship. The AI ML Certification Program suits students who want structured mentor support alongside peer collaboration on a shared problem. A side-by-side comparison is published on the Fellowship page. ### Bedrock (Middle School) | Field | Detail | |---|---| | Audience | Generally Grades 6-8 | | Duration | 2 weeks | | Format | Virtual | | Prior experience | None assumed | | Tuition | $1,000 | | Page | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/ai-program-for-middle-school-students | Bedrock introduces middle school students to artificial intelligence, problem solving and project building through an age-appropriate foundation experience. It includes an introduction to AI concepts, foundational problem-solving activities, and an introduction to project building. Bedrock focuses on discovering and understanding AI. The high school programs focus on applying AI, developing technical skills and building a more substantial project. Specific project deliverables and current availability should be confirmed with the BetterMind Labs team. ### Free One-Day AI Workshop A free, virtual, one-day introduction to AI for high school students. It is the winter-break entry point for students who want to try AI before committing to a longer program. Details and current dates are on the winter programs page: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/winter-programs-for-high-school-students ### Student Enabler Program (Free) BetterMind Labs works continuously to improve AI accessibility for high school and middle school students, and the Student Enabler Program is how students help do that inside their own schools and communities. Participants may help organize or support AI workshops, community learning circles and school-based AI learning initiatives. There is no cost to participate and no advanced AI expertise is required to start. If you run or lead a student club, hold a student leadership position, or are a faculty member or school administrator who wants AI learning brought to your students, contact support@bettermindlabs.org. Recognition such as certificates may be available, but no specific recognition or outcome is guaranteed. ### Advanced Pathways (Alumni Only, By Invitation) After completing a BetterMind Labs program, many students continue into one of two advanced, invitation-only pathways: - **Advanced Research Program:** AI applications in research and data science. Students on this pathway work toward original research, and some go on to publish. Page: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/advanced-research-program - **BUILD:** Advanced application production and software building, taking a project toward a working product. Page: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/build These pathways are open to alumni only and entry is by invitation. Outcomes such as publications, launches, competition results or presentations are goals of the work, not guarantees. A glimpse of the outcomes students produce on these pathways is published on the advanced showcase page: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/advanced-showcase For eligibility, structure, timelines or fees, contact support@bettermindlabs.org. ## Who the Programs Are For The AI ML Certification Program and the AI + (X) Fellowship Program are designed for high school students in Grades 9-12 who want to learn artificial intelligence and machine learning, connect AI with a field they already care about, and build tangible work that demonstrates what they learned. Students do not need to enter with the same level of programming experience. Project scope, technical depth and mentor guidance vary according to the student's background, goals, chosen domain and project needs. The programs are commonly relevant to families researching online AI programs for high school students, machine learning programs for teenagers, mentor-guided AI projects and passion projects, summer and winter programs for high school students, AI mentorship, project-based AI learning, AI extracurriculars, and interdisciplinary AI projects in fields such as finance, healthcare, business, cybersecurity, robotics, law, education and sports. Students generally in Grades 6-8 are usually better served by Bedrock. Motivated Grade 8 students may be considered for the high school programs on application. ## How the Program Works Across every domain, the four-week program follows one progression. The domain changes; the structure does not. **Stage 1. Learn AI ML concepts.** Students develop the foundational and applied knowledge their project needs. Depth and topics vary with the student's background and chosen project. Topics may include Python and programming, machine learning, data and analysis, computer vision, natural language processing, generative AI, model development and evaluation, and AI application development. **Stage 2. Research and define the problem.** Students identify and investigate a problem, question or opportunity inside their chosen domain. This stage connects technical learning to a real context. Students may define a specific problem or research question, investigate existing approaches and relevant research, explore appropriate AI ML methods, analyze data or other relevant information, develop and evaluate possible approaches, and refine the project direction. **Stage 3. Build and present the solution.** Students apply their learning and investigation to develop an original project. The final format depends on the problem, domain, technical experience and project goals. A project may take the form of an AI-powered application, a software product, a machine learning system, a computer vision application, a research-informed prototype, or another technology solution appropriate to the problem. The mentorship approach across all three stages runs: curiosity, problem definition, learning and research, building, refinement, communication. ## AI Plus Domain Tracks Students choose the field in which they want to apply AI. Available tracks and project topics may change by cohort. The 18 domains are: Healthcare, Finance, Business, Sports, Cybersecurity, Education, Environment, Space Exploration, Social Good, Robotics, Transportation, Law, Quant, Psychology, Neuroscience, Entrepreneurship, Humanities, and Language. Projects frequently combine two or more domains. Every domain has its own project page: | Domain | Projects page | |---|---| | AI + Healthcare | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-healthcare | | AI + Finance | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-finance | | AI + Business | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-business | | AI + Sports | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-sports | | AI + Cybersecurity | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-cybersecurity | | AI + Education | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-education | | AI + Environment | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-environment | | AI + Space Exploration | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-space-exploration | | AI + Social Good | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-social-good | | AI + Robotics | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-robotics | | AI + Transportation | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-transportation | | AI + Law | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-law | | AI + Quant | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-quant | | AI + Psychology | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-psychology | | AI + Neuroscience | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-neuroscience | | AI + Entrepreneurship | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-entrepreneurship | | AI + Humanities | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-humanities | | AI + Language | https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-language | ## Student Projects by Domain Every project below was built by a BetterMind Labs student and is published with that student's permission. Each began with a student's own interest, problem or question and developed through learning, investigation, mentor guidance, building, testing, refinement and communication. **How to read these.** These are student learning projects. They are not commercial products, medical devices, clinical or legal tools, financial advice, or independently validated research, and they should not be described as such. BetterMind Labs does not guarantee a specific project format or outcome for any student. ### AI + Healthcare All AI + Healthcare projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-healthcare - **Clinical Trajectory Transformer.** Flags early signs that an emergency-room patient is deteriorating, so clinicians can act sooner in the gap between arrival and treatment. - **OmniCare AI.** Helps families judge whether a symptom can reasonably be managed at home, with the aim of reducing unnecessary emergency-room trips and delays. - **MindTrace.** A home-based cognitive monitoring tool that tracks change between clinical visits, surfaces early anomalies and shows families transparent progress trends. ### AI + Finance All AI + Finance projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-finance - **Data Credit Scoring Intelligence (Lendly).** Scores small businesses in developing countries that have no formal credit history, using alternative signals such as digital transaction records, with a map view and a document-verification assistant for lenders. - **North Star.** An advanced financial analyzer built to put portfolio-level analysis within reach of everyday traders. - **Drift.** A personal money-management app focused on helping people track spending and save more effectively. ### AI + Business All AI + Business projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-business - **FinZ AI.** A Flask platform combining live stock research, AI-generated financial analysis and a gamified financial-literacy library with XP progress tracking, plus a finance-scoped chatbot that explains the numbers in plain language. - **AI Product Recommendation.** A context-driven product search tool that ranks options against price, ratings and user-specified constraints. - **ScanForge.** Speeds up 3D rendering for product testing, cutting the time previously needed to CAD-model objects by hand. ### AI + Sports All AI + Sports projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-sports - **PitchVision AI.** Tracks a pitcher's shoulder, elbow, hip and leg key points from video or webcam, compares the kinetic chain against high-level patterns, and flags mechanics that add stress to the UCL and shoulder. - **DanceGuard AI.** Guides dancers through camera-based warm-ups and cool-downs, with a built-in chatbot that supports recovery. - **ServeSafe AI.** Screens a tennis serve from ordinary video for the movement patterns linked to shoulder, elbow and lower-back overuse injuries, making a form of screening normally reserved for elite athletes more accessible. ### AI + Cybersecurity All AI + Cybersecurity projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-cybersecurity - **Discord Scam and Phishing Detection Bot.** Classifies Discord messages using TF-IDF and logistic regression, returning a prediction with an estimated scam probability inside the chat. - **Inbox Guard.** Explains phishing warning signs in plain language before a user acts, and gives calm recovery steps afterward, aimed at people with limited technical experience. - **PhishGuard.** A free web tool where anyone can paste a suspicious email and get an instant plain-English safety assessment with reasons, rather than a bare safe-or-unsafe label. ### AI + Education All AI + Education projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-education - **Context Generator.** Turns slide text plus instructor context into slide-aligned hooks, clarifying questions and resets, cutting nightly prep and keeping delivery consistent across new and external instructors. - **AI Code Efficiency Reviewer.** Highlights inefficient code, suggests rewrites, explains the logic behind each function and reports time and space complexity. - **TutorGuide AI.** Supports peer tutors mid-session with practice problems and teaching suggestions when they are stuck or unsure how to explain something. ### AI + Environment All AI + Environment projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-environment - **Project Veritas.** An ESG rater and greenwashing detector for corporate disclosures. - **Aegis.** Combines satellite observations, weather data and prediction to give communities earlier awareness of environmental threats that usually develop with little warning. - **SafeSphere.** Makes risk specific to where a person actually lives and points to nearby resources in the moment, free to use, with a focus on smaller and underserved communities. ### AI + Space Exploration All AI + Space Exploration projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-space-exploration - **MarsNet-RL.** A small-scale demonstration of autonomous collision avoidance for Mars-orbit satellites, built around the up-to-24-minute Earth-Mars communication delay and rising satellite traffic. - **Mars Autonomous Landing AI.** Splits a top-down Mars image into patches, scores each patch for hazard with CNNs, and selects the safest landing zone. - **AstroForge.** An interactive aerospace learning tool built to make university-level concepts easier to grasp. ### AI + Social Good All AI + Social Good projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-social-good - **CareCart.** Guides families through the US healthcare and insurance system toward in-coverage hospitals, procedures and doctors, to help them avoid financial crisis. - **SignBridge.** An American Sign Language learning platform with structured lessons, an interactive sign dictionary, quizzes and real-time camera hand tracking for instant feedback, built with Next.js, TypeScript, Firebase and MediaPipe. - **SkateMate.** Connects figure skaters to find practice partners, chat and video call, follow progress reels, and share a practice calendar and marketplace. ### AI + Robotics All AI + Robotics projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-robotics - **TerraWalk AI Robot Simulation.** A browser-based kinematic humanoid robot simulation that runs without high-end hardware, with secure accounts, a simulation dashboard and built-in explanations for users new to robotics. - **Kinetic Logic.** Reviews an uploaded exercise video, names the specific form errors in that clip rather than listing common mistakes, and explains how to fix them. - **DQN Turn-Based AI.** A turn-based battle game in which a deep Q-network agent makes decisions against the player in real time. ### AI + Transportation All AI + Transportation projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-transportation - **SmartSignals AI.** Optimizes traffic flow at a four-way intersection with a DQN-based traffic signal controller. - **Wheeled Robot Dog AI.** Demonstrates that affordable autonomous navigation for visually impaired users is achievable on low-cost hardware. - **FTC Robostrategy.** A simulator and strategy optimizer for FTC robotics teams, built because the student found no comparable tool available. ### AI + Law All AI + Law projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-law - **LexLaborAI.** Lets an employee describe a workplace situation confidentially, checks it against labor law, and returns step-by-step next actions covering retaliation, discrimination, wage theft and wrongful termination. - **Legal Document Analyzer.** Takes multiple documents and returns tailored plain-language explanations, for people without legal training or the budget for consulting. - **Behavioural Analysis Detector.** Detects body, facial and vocal signals, explored in the context of fairness in legal proceedings. ### AI + Quant All AI + Quant projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-quant - **StockSentinel.** Surfaces concentration, volatility, drawdowns and material changes across a portfolio using transparent calculations, sourced context, disclosures and saved research notes. Built for research and education, not personalized financial advice. - **Condor.io AI.** An options workbench supporting paper trades across ten strategy types, with customizable simulations, backtesting, live profit and loss, AI trade summaries, and a calibration feature comparing predictions against actual results. - **Earnings Press Report Predictive Transformer.** An attention-based transformer that pulls earnings press releases from the SEC EDGAR API, parses them into machine-readable data, and classifies the outlook as bullish, bearish or neutral. ### AI + Psychology All AI + Psychology projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-psychology - **Vantage.** Focuses on the mental side of athletic performance, helping athletes train cognitive focus alongside physical work. - **DailyMind.** A holistic wellness planner combining meditation, journaling and movement in day-by-day plans, built for an age group most wellness apps overlook. - **Resonance.** A conversational support tool that applies the same signal analysis to flag likely scam calls. ### AI + Neuroscience All AI + Neuroscience projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-neuroscience - **MindMate.** Supports people living with dementia across memory, attention, medication management and daily routines, tracking cognitive task performance over time and giving caregivers visibility. - **Dementia Detector.** Short memory games that let users track memory performance over time. - **Cognitive Tracker App.** Tracks cognitive measures for older adults, with an optional caregiver view. ### AI + Entrepreneurship All AI + Entrepreneurship projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-entrepreneurship - **Ascend.** An AI co-founder that walks student entrepreneurs through idea analysis, demand validation, an MVP roadmap and a go-to-market plan, then adds pitch-deck, competitor, feature-planning and feedback-analysis tools for after launch. - **Nova.** Helps founders generate an idea, execute it, and sustain it over time. - **ResumeRiseAI.** Matches students to jobs and internships by target industry, region, experience and interests. ### AI + Humanities All AI + Humanities projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-humanities - **VoxCoach AI.** Lets students rehearse interviews as often as they want and returns specific, data-backed feedback on tone, pacing and filler words, the kind of insight usually limited to students with a mentor or career coach. - **PathFinder AI.** Pairs personal strengths with automation-resilience scoring, ten-year roadmaps and concrete skill-gap steps, using current labor-market data instead of static career advice. - **Serene Flow.** Analyzes the tone and context of messages and tracks shifts that suggest pressure, stress or low mood. ### AI + Language All AI + Language projects: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects/ai-language - **ML Based Scam Detection for Discord.** A scam detection model trained on current tactics, shipped as a Discord app that lets users analyze messages and gives moderators automated detection and mitigation for compromised accounts. - **Multi-Factor Stock Sentiment.** Forecasts one-month stock performance from earnings-report sentiment combined with implied volatility. - **Toneflow.** Built for users with autism or social anxiety: paste any message to read its tone and implications, or rehearse conversations in a scenario builder with a chatbot. ## Mentorship Students receive guidance from mentors with professional, technical, research, entrepreneurial and industry experience. Mentors across the network typically have five or more years of professional experience, and the network spans AI and multiple professional domains. Mentors guide students rather than complete projects on their behalf. Mentors may help students understand technical and AI ML concepts, identify and refine problems, explore relevant research, evaluate possible approaches, select appropriate technologies or methods, work through technical challenges, develop and improve projects, think critically about solutions, document and communicate work, and prepare presentations or demonstrations. ### Mentor Matching Matching may consider the student's chosen domain, project topic, technical requirements, research area, experience level and goals, alongside mentor expertise, availability and time zone. Mentor information and reviews: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/mentors Individual mentor assignments, personal details, contact information, schedules and employer affiliations are not published. A particular mentor or professional background should be treated as confirmed only when BetterMind Labs confirms it directly for that student or cohort. ## Information for Parents Parents receive weekly emails containing mentor remarks, student progress and next steps, plus an invitation to the final project showcase. Families may also ask for their college counselor to be included in relevant progress communications. The program is designed to fit alongside schoolwork and existing activities at approximately 6-7 hours per week. The student is expected to do the work; mentors guide and give feedback rather than build the project. Families with questions about an individual student's fit, schedule, fees or next steps can use the free 30-minute Fit Assessment call to speak with a member of the team. ## Information for College Counselors BetterMind Labs works with college counselors and educators who advise students on extracurricular and project-based opportunities. - Counselors can be included in a family's weekly progress communications at the family's request. - The program produces a student-owned project the student can explain, demonstrate and build on, which gives counselors concrete material for activity lists, portfolios and essays. Counselor information page: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/counselors Counselors, counseling platforms, associations and schools interested in a partnership, a hosted program or a professional development session should contact support@bettermindlabs.org. ## Cohorts and Application Process Programs run in defined cohorts. Cohort dates, available places, application deadlines, schedules and mentor availability change, and current information should always be checked in the cohorts section of the program page: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/aimlprogram#cohorts 1. **Apply for consideration.** The student submits an application describing interests, goals and relevant experience, at https://apply.bettermindlabs.org/. 2. **Application review.** The team reviews interests, curiosity, initiative and readiness rather than grades alone, and may contact the student or family for more information. 3. **Receive selection and confirm enrollment.** Selected families receive program and reservation details by email and complete the required steps to confirm a place. An advance payment may be used to reserve a seat; the team provides the applicable amount, terms and instructions by email. 4. **Prepare.** Students receive instructions and any pre-learning materials. 5. **Begin the program.** Students and mentors connect through Slack, and the cohort schedule and onboarding information are issued. 6. **Final showcase.** Students present their project; families are invited. Submitting an application does not by itself guarantee acceptance. The optional free 30-minute Fit Assessment call is available to families with questions before applying. ## What Students May Leave With The most important outcome is work and learning the student can explain and demonstrate. Depending on program requirements and student eligibility, outcomes may include: - **A completed project.** A substantive AI or technology project addressing a problem the student defined. - **Documentation and presentation experience.** Practice explaining the problem, research, approach, limitations, results and possible improvements. - **Practical technical experience.** Hands-on application of AI ML concepts rather than theory alone. - **A program certificate and internship recognition.** Recognizing completion and hands-on project work, subject to current program requirements. This is a program credential issued by BetterMind Labs; it is not an offer or record of paid employment. - **A mentor letter of recommendation, for strong performers.** Students who perform strongly may receive a personalized mentor letter describing their work, initiative, growth, technical skills and contributions. Whether to write a letter is each mentor's own decision. It is not part of the program package, is not guaranteed, and should not be assumed. - **Alumni community access.** Students who complete the program may join the BetterMind Labs alumni community and are eligible to be considered for the invitation-only advanced pathways. BetterMind Labs does not guarantee university admission, publications, awards, competition results or any other external recognition. ## Reported Metrics The figures below are reported by BetterMind Labs. Each is a reported total across the relevant population, not a per-student guarantee. | Metric | Reported figure | Scope | |---|---|---| | Students mentored | 5,500+ | Across all BetterMind Labs learning experiences, including workshops and free programs | | Student projects built | 2,500+ | Projects completed across all domains | | Program completion rate | 98% | Among enrolled program students | | Mentors | 40+ | Mentor network spanning AI and multiple professional domains | | Domains | 18 | Fields available in the AI plus domain model | | Family rating | 4.8 out of 5 | Average rating from verified family reviews on [Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bettermindlabs.org) | | Mentor professional experience | 5+ years, typical | Across the mentor network | ## Student and Parent Evidence BetterMind Labs publishes original student reviews, alumni stories, parent testimonials and project examples so families can see the experience through people who participated. Where available, those stories carry context such as the student's grade, chosen domain, project, written feedback or original video. The excerpts below are drawn from program feedback and published family reviews. Names are withheld here for student and family privacy; attributed versions appear on the student and parent pages. Mixed and critical feedback is included deliberately, so the picture is accurate rather than selective. Testimonials describe individual experiences and are not predictions of any other student's outcome. ### From Parents - Parent of a Grade 9 student, AI and Finance: "Even though my child had just finished ninth grade and did not start with an interest in finance, I was amazed by the progress, understanding and engagement. He took the classes seriously and stayed responsible right through his summer break." - Parent of a Grade 11 student, AI and Finance: "It felt like we had just started and suddenly it was concluding, yet he accomplished a tremendous amount in a short period. The modules are clearly curated for that kind of intense sprint, and we appreciated the weekly charts updating us on his progress." - Parent of a Grade 12 student, AI and Healthcare: "I am truly satisfied with what she achieved in just four weeks. Her idea addresses a real gap, and an application like this can genuinely help patients who struggle with memory or who have no caregiver." - Parent of a Grade 12 student, AI and Finance: "The program was exceptionally communicative. They gave us the choice of whether we wanted updates rather than bombarding us with email, and the amount of information was just right." - Parents of a Grade 11 student, AI and Environment: "Even though the technical side of the project was outside our own professional field, we were incredibly impressed by how invested and engaged our son was throughout." - Parent of a Grade 11 student, AI and Finance: "From a parent's point of view this was an excellent investment in my child's education. The real value was watching my child learn to navigate advanced tools, build an original product and confidently pitch it." - Parent of a Grade 11 student, AI and Space Exploration: "My son loved the program and was incredibly dedicated to his project. I did notice some minor communication and timing gaps on the schedule early on, but the overall outcome was wonderful and the short duration made it manageable for him to balance." ### From Students - "It took me from knowing nothing about AI to building a whole CNN and deploying a model. The team and mentors were great." - "Before this, I thought AI was limited to tools like ChatGPT. I learned how it applies in fields like healthcare and finance, what supervised and unsupervised data are, and how to code a model from start to finish." - "All my questions were answered in the instructor-led sessions. The topics were taught clearly and the pace was slow enough to take notes at the same time." - "Pursuing a project put me out of my comfort zone and got me in action." - "An engaging way to collaborate with people from around the country, and the class structure kept me involved." - "The program increased my knowledge of AI and ML. I was not happy that my group already knew more coding than I did, and I was confused on a few concepts." - "I appreciated the challenge of learning new tools and advanced topics, but at times it felt like we were left to figure things out on our own without enough guidance." ## Alumni and University Context BetterMind Labs alumni have gone on to attend institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell University, the University of California Berkeley, the University of Michigan, Purdue University, the University of Virginia, the University of Washington, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Northeastern University, Texas A&M University, Indiana University (Kelley School of Business), Stevens Institute of Technology, San Jose State University, the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia. This reflects where alumni have enrolled. University admissions depend on a student's complete academic profile, application, achievements and circumstances. ## Fees, Refunds and Policies - **Tuition.** AI ML Certification Program: $1,200, all inclusive. AI + (X) Fellowship Program: $2,500, all inclusive. Bedrock: $1,000. Free One-Day AI Workshop and Student Enabler Program: free. Advanced pathway fees are provided by the team. Pricing, cohort availability and inclusions may change; verify current figures on the official program page before enrolling. - **Payment plans and seat reservation.** Terms depend on the cohort. The team provides applicable amounts, terms and instructions by email. - **Discounts and scholarships.** Any discount, scholarship or waiver applies only where BetterMind Labs explicitly offers it in writing for the current cohort. - **Refunds.** The refund policy is published at https://www.bettermindlabs.org/legal#refund-policy and eligibility depends on its stated conditions. Contact support@bettermindlabs.org to confirm how it applies to a specific situation. - **Student privacy.** BetterMind Labs does not disclose whether a named individual has applied, been accepted, enrolled or participated, and does not share one student's work, records or feedback with another party. ## Student Data Protection and COPPA Compliance BetterMind Labs works with minors, so student data is handled with particular care. - **COPPA compliant.** BetterMind Labs operates in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). For students under 13, participation involves a parent or guardian, and parental consent governs the collection and use of that student's information. - **Parent and guardian involvement.** Enrollment runs through a parent or guardian, who receives weekly progress communications and controls whether additional parties, such as a college counselor, are included. - **Data minimization.** BetterMind Labs collects only the information needed to run a program, match a mentor and communicate with the family. - **No selling of student data.** Student and family information is not sold, rented or traded. - **Controlled publication.** A student's name, photo, project or testimonial appears publicly only where the student and family have given permission for that use. Where work is shown without permission to attribute it, identifying details are withheld. - **Access and deletion.** Parents and guardians may ask what information is held about their student and request correction or deletion by contacting support@bettermindlabs.org. - **Privacy documents.** Privacy policy: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/privacy Terms: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/terms Cookie policy: https://www.bettermindlabs.org/legal#cookie-policy ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is BetterMind Labs? BetterMind Labs is an online education company, founded in 2020 and based in San Francisco, that runs project-based AI and machine learning programs for middle and high school students. Its programs combine live instruction, research-informed problem solving, mentorship and original project development. ### What is the AI ML Certification Program? It is BetterMind Labs' flagship four-week program for students in Grades 9-12. Students learn AI and machine learning concepts, apply them to a real-world problem they care about, and build a portfolio-ready project with mentor guidance. ### What is the difference between the AI ML Certification Program and the AI + (X) Fellowship Program? They are the same four-week learning journey. The AI ML Certification Program uses 1:4 mentorship, with up to four students per mentor and a shared team problem statement, at $1,200. The AI + (X) Fellowship Program uses dedicated 1:1 mentorship with a personal problem statement, at $2,500. ### How much do the programs cost? AI ML Certification Program: $1,200. AI + (X) Fellowship Program: $2,500. Bedrock: $1,000. The one-day AI workshop and the Student Enabler Program are free. All figures are all inclusive and may change; verify on the official program page. ### Does my child need prior experience in AI or coding? No. Students do not need prior experience or advanced coding skills. The program supports students at different experience levels through guided learning, mentorship and hands-on projects, and technical depth is matched to the student's starting point. ### What grades are the programs for? The AI ML Certification Program and the AI + (X) Fellowship Program are for Grades 9-12. Bedrock is for students generally in Grades 6-8. Motivated Grade 8 students may be considered for the high school programs on application. ### How much time does the program require? Approximately 6-7 hours per week across four weeks, covering instruction, mentorship and project development. ### Is there a free way to try BetterMind Labs first? Yes. The free one-day AI workshop is a virtual introduction to AI for high school students, offered as a winter-break entry point. Families can also book a free 30-minute Fit Assessment call to discuss fit before applying. ### What makes BetterMind Labs different from a typical AI or coding course? The emphasis is depth, application and mentorship rather than technical concepts alone. Students explore an area of personal interest, apply AI ML concepts to a real problem, and develop a project with guidance from experienced mentors. ### What do students build during the program? A four-week capstone project centered on a real-world problem the student chooses. Examples across all 18 domains are listed in the student projects section above and on the projects page. ### Do students work individually or in teams? It depends on the program. The AI ML Certification Program uses 1:4 mentorship built around a shared team problem statement, so students collaborate within a small group. The AI + (X) Fellowship Program uses 1:1 mentorship and a personal problem statement, so the project is individual. Where teams are involved, students are grouped on factors such as interests, goals, programming experience and time zone. ### Who are the mentors? Mentors are professionals with technical, research, entrepreneurial or industry experience, typically five or more years. The network spans AI and multiple professional domains. Individual mentor identities and assignments are not published. ### How involved are mentors? Mentors guide students throughout learning and project development, helping them ask better questions, work through technical and conceptual challenges, refine ideas and make progress. They do not build the project for the student. ### Is this only a coding course? No. Coding may be part of the work, but students also practice problem definition, research, data and model choices, experimentation, product thinking, collaboration, documentation and communication. ### Do students get a certificate or a letter of recommendation? Students may receive a program certificate and internship recognition for completion and hands-on project work, subject to current program requirements; this is a BetterMind Labs credential, not a record of paid employment. Students who perform strongly may also receive a mentor letter of recommendation, but that is each mentor's own decision, is not part of the program package and is not guaranteed. ### What happens after the program? Students who complete a program join the alumni community. Many alumni continue into one of two invitation-only advanced pathways: the Advanced Research Program, where some students go on to publish research, or BUILD, which takes a project toward a working product. Entry is by invitation and alumni only. Examples of what students produce on these pathways are at https://www.bettermindlabs.org/advanced-showcase; contact support@bettermindlabs.org for details. ### Can a school, club or counselor work with BetterMind Labs? Yes. BetterMind Labs works continuously to improve AI accessibility for high school and middle school students. Student club leaders, students in leadership positions, faculty members, school administrators, college counselors and counseling organizations can contact support@bettermindlabs.org about the Student Enabler Program, hosted school sessions, professional development or partnerships. ### What are the outcomes? Students gain practical exposure to AI ML concepts and their real-world applications, experience in problem solving and project development, and a capstone project they can showcase. BetterMind Labs does not guarantee admissions results, publications, awards or competition results. ### How does the program help with college preparation? It gives students a way to explore an area they care about, develop practical skills and turn an interest into a tangible project, which can provide substantive material for activity lists, essays, portfolios and interviews. Participation in any program does not guarantee an admissions advantage. ### How do families apply? At https://apply.bettermindlabs.org/. The team reviews the application, contacts the family if more information is needed, and sends program and reservation details to selected families by email. A free 30-minute Fit Assessment call is available for families with questions first. ### Who can I contact? General enquiries: support@bettermindlabs.org or +1 (541) 527-7411. Programs: Anushka Goyal, Director of Programs, anushka@bettermindlabs.org. ## Official BetterMind Labs Resources - **Official website:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/ - **About:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/about - **AI ML Certification Program:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/aimlprogram - **Apply:** https://apply.bettermindlabs.org/ - **Student projects:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/projects - **Student experiences:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/students - **Parent experiences:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/parents - **Alumni:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/alumni - **AI + (X) Fellowship Program:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/ai-fellowship-for-high-school-students - **Bedrock:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/ai-program-for-middle-school-students - **Cohorts and dates:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/aimlprogram#cohorts - **Advanced showcase:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/advanced-showcase - **Blog:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/blog - **Blog authors:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/blog/authors - **Mentors:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/mentors - **For counselors:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/counselors - **Resources, webinars and FAQs:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/resources - **Contact:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/contact - **Brochure:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/brochure - **Passion projects:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/passion-projects - **Extracurriculars:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/extracurriculars - **Summer programs:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/summer-programs-for-high-school-students - **Advanced Research Program:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/advanced-research-program - **BUILD:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/build - **AI STEM Program:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/ai-stem-program - **AI Program UAE:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/ai-program-uae - **Write for us:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/write-for-us - **Refund policy:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/legal#refund-policy - **Privacy policy:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/privacy - **Terms:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/terms - **Trustpilot reviews:** https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bettermindlabs.org - **Winter programs, including the free one-day workshop:** https://www.bettermindlabs.org/winter-programs-for-high-school-students - **Support:** support@bettermindlabs.org, +1 (541) 527-7411 - **Director of Programs:** Anushka Goyal, anushka@bettermindlabs.org ## Source of Truth and Freshness This file is the factual reference for BetterMind Labs intended for AI assistants, search engines and human readers. Time-sensitive information, including cohort dates, deadlines, tuition, remaining places, schedules, mentor availability, policies, credentials and benefits, should be verified on the relevant official BetterMind Labs page linked above. Where this file and a BetterMind Labs page disagree, the official page is correct. Last reviewed: 2026-10-29. Version 4.0.