This program is Part 2 in our
Startup Accelerator ProgramMonday, Jan. 6 - Friday, Jan. 17, 2025
Startup Sprints are two-week intensive programs for NYU ventures to test their business models and solutions directly with customers. Via rigorous customer discovery, interactive workshops, and daily coaching and feedback, participants will aim to launch successful businesses that meet their customers’ needs – we call this “problem-solution fit.” In addition to coaching and training, you will also be provided with legal office hours, grant funding, 24/7 co-working space at the Leslie eLab, $5K in AWS credits, peer support from your cohort of startup teams, and more!
Teams can expect to start off running with:
Open to teams of NYU entrepreneurs from any school or college:
Ventures should have the potential to be highly scalable and differentiated, including scalable tech, non-profit and social ventures. Beyond that we look for ventures with:
Each team will receive funding and perks to put toward their business venture, including:
Learn about NYU's Startup Accelerator Program, to transform your early-stage startup into a successful scalable venture.Are you working on a star...
Learn about NYU's Startup Accelerator Program, to transform your early-stage startup into a successful scalable venture.Looking to apply to the S...
Learn about NYU's Startup Accelerator Program, to transform your early-stage startup into a successful scalable venture.Are you working on a star...
Learn about NYU's Startup Accelerator Program, to transform your early-stage startup into a successful scalable venture.Are you working on a star...
Learn about NYU's Startup Accelerator Program, to transform your early-stage startup into a successful scalable venture.Are you working on a star...
Learn about NYU's Startup Accelerator Program, to transform your early-stage startup into a successful scalable venture.Looking to apply to the S...
Learn about NYU's Startup Accelerator Program, to transform your early-stage startup into a successful scalable venture.Are you working on a star...
No. Teams may apply if at least one core team mate is a current student, faculty, researcher, or staff member – however other members of your team may have no NYU affiliation. International NYU students are also welcome and encouraged to apply though the program will take place in person on NYU’s New York campus. Faculty and researcher led teams may also be interested in the Tech Venture Workshop, held each semester but they are also welcome to participate in these two-week Startup Sprints alongside students (and many faculty have done so in the past).
We typically receive 80+ applications for each Startup Sprint, and select about 14 teams for each cohort. Since the application process is competitive, we strongly advise meeting with a coach AND applying to a Startup Bootcamp to let us get to know your team first. This way, you can stand out from the competition.
Teams must have two or more people able to participate full time in the Startup Sprint in person (only one needs to be a founder). At least one founder must be a current student, faculty, researcher, or staff member at the time of application (or have graduated no earlier than Spring ’24). All participating team members must be committed to their startup full time during the length of the program, and should be willing to listen to and learn from coaches and customers.
The Startup Sprint is intended for all types of startups which have high-growth potential and are highly differentiated (tacking a problem in a novel way), including non-profits. Whether focused on social innovation, software, medical devices, physical products, hardware, or other areas, all are welcome to apply!
Yes. Info session attendance is mandatory for at least one member of your team. If you aren’t able to make any of the info session dates, please email entrepreneur@nyu.edu to request access to the info session video recording.
The program runs twice a year — once in January, and again in May/June (all day M-F) — in person at the Leslie eLab, on NYU’s Washington Square campus. All participating team members are expected to attend ALL program activities.
Yes, please do.
Two people (at least one founder) must be committed to their startup and able to participate in the Startup Sprint full-time during the program.
Yes. However, if your team is selected for the program, we expect you to be fully committed to the one venture you are selected to participate with.
We review applications the week following the application deadline. We then invite select teams to interview (15-20 minutes). Select teams may be requested to participate in a Startup Bootcamp before a final acceptance determination can be made. The entire process takes about a month.
The NYU Entrepreneurial Institute and NYU Innovation Venture Fund team will review all applications and lead all interviews. At least two members of the Institute team review each application to ensure a diversity of opinions are considered. Personally identifiable information within applications will not be shared with any external parties for any reason, in accordance with University policy and federal regulations (FERPA).
Typically, we do not give specific feedback on applications. However, we’d be happy to meet with your team to give more general feedback and guidance about your startup through our coaching program.
Yes, absolutely! It’s very common for teams to apply to the program multiple times and we highly encourage repeat applicants. We expect to see progress made on your venture since your prior application. Many teams who have participated in the program submitted multiple times before being accepted (as the program has about a 15% acceptance rate).
Yes! We’ll publish the full question list at the same time as the online application goes live.
We’re looking for ventures who have the potential to be venture scalable. For for profit companies, typically this means ventures who scale with the help of technology, and which can reach $100 million in annual revenue within 10 years or less. For non-profit organizations this would mean companies which hope to reach national-scale impact to their beneficiaries. Highly scalable ventures generally exclude consulting companies, marketing agencies, production companies, small businesses, local retail stores, and food/fashion companies which purely differentiate on the basis of style or taste.
Twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news about what you find interesting.
