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 deadline to apply for the 2025 TIA Summer Accelerator has passed. To connect with us and learn about other programs, reach out to Reece Wilson, entrepreneur in residence.

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

56
teams to date; 12 cohorts
65%
of ventures still operating or acquired since the program’s inception
$697K
seed-granted capital awarded

The Summer Accelerator was an amazing opportunity for us to focus on our project full-time, providing us with the mentorship and resources to allow us to better understand the issue of food waste and the most effective ways of approaching it.

Harshitha Talasila ’26, co-founder, SoilSoul

Teams by Cohort

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013