Our Program Model
This program is designed to facilitate an environment to take your ideas to the next level by connecting you with fellow entrepreneurial students, providing resources and support from our Program Team, and creating opportunities to hear from industry experts.
We recognize, though, that no one journey or timeline is the same for every innovator. As entrepreneurial-minded individuals, we know you surely have a variety of commitments, whether academic and extra- and co-curricular.
Through our participant-led model, you’ll be able to set your own pace and utilize as much or as little of the program’s resources as you see fit for your entrepreneurial venture. Your engagement with the program is on your terms, and tailored to your availability, interest, and experience. Should you prefer a more measured approach, your Program Lead will work with you to establish a pathway that works for you.
How does a participant-led program work?
The program is designed to prepare you for key milestones each semester. However, you are welcome to develop your ideas at your own pace, over multiple semesters to get where you hope to be with your plan.
What are the benefits of the program?
- Trained Support — Our Program Team is composed of well-trained support professionals, certified in Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® by Babson College, a leader in entrepreneurship education.
- One-on-One — You’ll be able to meet with a Program Consultant who will work with you one-on-one throughout the program, to provide personalized guidance and support.
- Industry Experts — In partnership with the Office of Advancement and Center for Career Education, you’ll have access to a myriad of alums, faculty, and employees who are industry experts and entrepreneurs themselves. We’ll help foster these connections to support your entrepreneurial journey, and even provide opportunities to meet potential investors.
- Community — You’ll be joining a network of peers similarly interested in deepening their entrepreneurial spirit who you can collaborate with. We’ll host a variety of events and activities that will foster a sense of community and collaboration.
Our Entrepreneur's Toolkit
We’ve created an entrepreneurial development toolkit to help take your ideas to the next level. This toolkit will prepare you to take on a variety of topics, from understanding the different business structures to conducting market research to designing your brand to registering your business! We equip you with a set of guides, worksheets, and templates for each topic. These toolkit items are uniquely designed to be used both on your own or in a one-on-one with a member of our Program Team.
Our Programming
We host a variety of events and activities throughout the program that you can attend to support your pathway, collaborate with peer entrepreneurs, and liven your innovative spirit.
Our workshops offer hands-on learning, expert insights, and a collaborative environment to help you develop vital entrepreneurial skills. From exploring what entrepreneurship is to learning how to communicate your ideas to investors, our workshops empower you to realize your entrepreneurial mindset—even if you have never seen yourself as one.
In addition to our “topical” jam sessions and “viral news” alum roundtables, we host two keystone events each year: an “Ask the Experts” Panel and a pitch competition.
Building Your Network
Alum and Industry Experts
In partnership with the Office of Advancement and Center for Career Education, our program connects student participants with a myriad of alums, faculty, and employees who are industry experts and entrepreneurs themselves. We help foster these connections to support our participants’ entrepreneurial journey, and even provide opportunities to meet potential investors.
Student Organizations
Vassar has a variety of student-led organizations that we regularly collaborate with. We encourage students to explore what these organizations, in tandem with the program, can provide to support them.
- The Vassar Business Club helps students learn about diverse careers and prepare for internships and jobs post-Vassar. They host lectures by Vassar professors, alumni panels and talks, and networking events. Learn more about VBC.
- The Vassar Consulting and Finance Club aims to engage its members in professional development to help them land jobs in the financial services industry and in consulting. They provide professional development through consulting case studies, stock pitches, weekly meetings, and much more. Learn more about VCFC.
External Resources and Opportunities
We believe in empowering students not only to incubate their ideas on campus, but also to share them with the world! Discover a curated selection of internships, competitions, grants, and partnerships that extend beyond our program’s boundaries.
These opportunities are carefully chosen to align with our participants’ entrepreneurial aspirations, providing a bridge to real-world experiences and resources. Explore, apply, and let the Vassar Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program serve as your gateway to a world of possibilities where innovation thrives.
- Future Founder’s Blackstone LaunchPad Fellowship
- Ashoka’s Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship (For Social Enterprises)
- USGSA’s Presidential Innovation Fellowship (U.S. Residents Only)
- Miller Center’s Accelerator Fellowship (For Social Enterprises)
- Tory Burch Foundation’s Fellowship Program (For Women; U.S. Residents Only)
- Kauffman’s Fellowship Program
For more opportunities or fellowships requiring institutional support, please contact the Office of Fellowships.