Although the spring has barely sprung, summer seems fast approaching. As current and graduating students contemplate what comes next rest assured there are options for students who are not allured by the corporate life. NYU students interested in starting their own ventures now have outlets for mentorship, funding, and professional advice.
One such example is FOUNDER.org $100K competition. NYU students, faculty, and recent alumni are eligible to apply online for the opportunity to win $100K. Ten teams from around the country will each win a $100K convertible grant and the top 50 teams will participate in the FOUNDER.org class and program. The 2014 FOUNDER.org University kicks off June 1st with an annual summit June 16-20th. For more information and FAQ please visit FOUNDER.org website (here). Application deadline April 15th.
Additionally, the Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is proud to announce the first NYU Stern Summer Startup Fellowship Program. MBA students graduating May 2014 or 2015 are eligible to apply for a $10,000 stipend per team. Each team can consist of additional members with NYU affiliation. There is potential to apply for an additional $5,000 for business related expenses that is approved based on criteria established by the Berkley Center. The summer fellowship will be a 10-week program designed to launch and accelerate your startup. The start date for the program is June 2nd. Applications are due April 28th and can be found here.
The NYU Summer Launchpad program, hosted by the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute, provides NYU's promising entrepreneurs with skills, resources, and mentorship to turn your startups into commercially viable ventures. The program is open to all graduating NYU students who want to work on their venture full time during the summer and beyond. Participants receive a $7,500 stipend, co-working space at the Varick Street incubator, skill-building workshops in the lean startup methodology, and mentorship from NYC's top venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. The program runs June 2nd-August 6th. Applications are due April 18th. For more information please visit here.
These three opportunities are incredible for students willing to take the plunge this summer. I hope everyone considers taking advantage of these programs.
Best of luck to all applicants this year!
