Fostering Student Innovation

• Overview
• YEI Fellows
• Speakers
• Apply

To apply to the 2010 YEI Summer Fellowship, click HERE.

*The link to the application must be opened in an Internet Explorer (IE) browser.*

Overview:
Admission to the YEI Summer Fellowship Program at Yale is competitive and will be limited to 6-8 Yale student venture teams. Student Venture teams accepted into the program will receive the following:

• Up to $15K per Venture Team as a stipend
• At least one Mentor for each venture team
• Workspace during the 10-week program
• Networking opportunities with entrepreneurs and investors
• Access to reduced costs for legal and accounting services
• Plus, breakfast and lunch on weekdays during the 10-week program

Time Commitment: 10-week summer program (includes several pre-program meetings in April). Fellows are required at all Fellowship events including speakers (approx. 3 per week), receptions, and other activities. 

• May 26 through July 30 (confirmed)
• April 7, April 14, April 21, April 28 (April dates are tentative)

Stipend: Student venture teams accepted into the program may receive up to $15K as a stipend.

• Fellows may receive up to $5K each with a $10K cap on wages in total per team
• Up to $5K to be spent on prototyping and other startup costs through Dec 2010*

Venture Teams: Preference will be shown to student venture teams made up of 2 or more members applying to the program. Student Venture teams must be made up of current undergraduate or graduate Yale students. All Yale students graduating in May 2010 are still eligible to apply.**

Application: Strong preference will be shown to teams who can clearly address the following questions:

1. PAIN:
   What significant problem are you planning on solving with your product or service, and how many people would benefit from the solution?
2. PEOPLE:
   Who makes up your venture team, and how diverse/complementary are your skill sets? Is this team well poised to tackle the given problem? If specific skills are lacking, identify these by type.
3. ADVISORS:
   How will you augment the skills and experience lacking amongst the venture team? Who are the most likely advisors to your venture, what are their specific skills, and what evidence can you furnish that they will help?
4. PROFITABILITY:
   How do you plan on generating revenue? What will it cost to deliver a unit of your product or service and how much will you be able to charge for it?
5. BEYOND THE IDEA:
   What tangible evidence has your team developed that shows the venture is more than “just” an unproven idea right now? Evidence may include correspondence with potential suppliers, partners, customers, and consultants that demonstrate validation of the business concept in general and your approach in particular.
6. SUMMER:
   In general terms, explain what you plan to accomplish with respect to your venture during the 10-week program.
   

*$5K tied to accomplishing agreed upon set of benchmarks. Funding not used by the student venture team prior to July 31, 2010 will be made available through December 31, 2010 only if the Venture Team is located in New Haven through that time period.

**Note: Non-Yale students may apply as a member of a student venture team with at least one current Yale student co-founder who is also applying to the program. However, non-Yale students will not be eligible to receive the YEI stipend (approx. $5K). Non-Yale student applicants are encouraged to secure financial support equivalent to a YEI stipend from their home institution.

To apply to the 2010 YEI Summer Fellowship, click HERE.

*The link to the application must be opened in an Internet Explorer (IE) browser.*

Questions or problems with the online application?
Email: kimberly.babbitt@yale.edu.