The TIA Summer Accelerator provides a launchpad for students and recent alumni to build their ventures.
Participating teams receive $10,000 in non-dilutive grant funding, along with workspace, room, and board on campus, with the option of choosing a fully in-person or hybrid format for the field work portion of the Accelerator. Teams grow their ventures with a group of like-minded entrepreneurs at similar stages, guided by Colgate’s entrepreneur in residence, sharing best practices while benefiting from access to our expansive network of mentors. The program culminates with a three-day capstone in New York City, including pitches and networking with alumni.
The TIA Summer Accelerator is made possible entirely by gifts from alumni, family, and friends. Thank you to the generous contributors who have supported Colgate summer accelerator programs since 2013 with their gifts to Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Thought Into Action, and the Entrepreneurship in New York Fund. To contribute, make a gift to Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
RUBY founders Riley Decker ’23 and Emily Untermeyer ’23 discuss the importance of getting out and talking to customers directly, one of the tasks undertaken during the Field Work portion of the Accelerator.
Program and Application Details
The TIA Summer Accelerator will run from June 2 to July 26, 2025. Teams selected for the program will receive a $10,000 non-dilutive grant and workspace, room, and board in Hamilton for the duration of the accelerator, along with hands-on mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, unrivaled connections from the Colgate network, and additional startup resources from the Colgate community.
The program offers two formats—in person and hybrid—and consists of three portions:
Kickoff Bootcamp: June 2–13 in Hamilton, N.Y. (required in-person for all)
Field Work: June 14–July 20 in Hamilton, N.Y. (in-person or virtual)
Capstone Week: July 21–26, culminating with event in New York City (required in-person for all)
Please note that participants choosing the hybrid format are responsible for their own travel costs to/from Hamilton; travel to New York City from Hamilton will be provided for participants.
The TIA Summer Accelerator is open to for-profit and nonprofit ventures, and campus initiatives with at least one Colgate student or recent alumna/us (class of 2015–2024) on the founding team. At least one member of the founding team is expected to reside in Hamilton, N.Y., for the bootcamp portion of the program as well as attend in-person the Capstone Week at the conclusion of the program.
Ideal candidates will have completed prototyping and have initial traction with their venture. During the selection process, ventures will be judged by a panel of Colgate alumni entrepreneurs on criteria that include quality of idea, size of problem, team, demonstrated ability to execute, stage of development, and market viability of venture.
Applicants are not required to be officially incorporated, however accepted teams must have an established business entity and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) by the start of the program. The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation can connect accepted teams to resources to help establish this business identity in advance of the program start date. International students are directed to reach out to the Office of International Student Services (OISS) before applying to verify appropriate work authorization and ability to establish a business entity and receive an EIN.
Please note that the $10,000 award will be made in installments over the course of the summer and may be taxable; we recommend consulting a tax professional.
Interested applicants should apply via the online application. The deadline to submit applications is February 16 at 11:59 p.m. Review judges will evaluate all applications and develop a shortlist of finalists. These teams will be invited to a 20-minute Zoom interview. Decisions will be conveyed to teams by early- to mid-March.
Participating teams will be formally announced at the TIA Entrepreneur Showcase during Arts, Creativity, and Innovation Weekend on Saturday, April 5.
For questions, schedule a time to meet with Reece Wilson, entrepreneur in residence.
of ventures still operating or acquired since the program’s inception
$697K
seed-granted capital awarded
The TIA Summer Accelerator is an amazing opportunity to focus full-time on your venture, with connections to the resources that you need to successfully get it off the ground.
Webster Lehmann ’22, founder, The Better Breakfast Co.
Three Summer Accelerator Teams Featured on Forbes 30 Under 30
Campus Reel, Chicory, and Fair Harbor—all past TIA Summer Accelerator participants—were featured on the 2020 Forbes 30 under 30 list.
