The TIA Summer Accelerator propels the growth of exceptional Colgate startups.
Awardees will receive a $7,500 non-dilutive grant, workspace and accommodations in Hamilton, hands-on mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, and additional startup resources from the Colgate community. The 2022 program will run from June 1 to July 29.
The Entrepreneurs Fund Summer Accelerator is made possible entirely by gifts from alumni, family, and friends. To contribute, make a gift to Thought Into Action. Thank you to the generous contributors who have supported Colgate summer accelerator programs since 2013 with their gifts to the Entrepreneurship in New York Fund and Thought Into Action.
Information for Applicants
The summer accelerator is open to for-profit and non-profit ventures with at least one Colgate student or recent alumna/us (graduated within the last 10 years) on the founding team. Teams are expected to commit to the summer accelerator full-time for its entire duration, and all members of the founding/executive team are expected to be in residence in Hamilton.
Teams are expected to have completed prototyping and have initial traction with their venture. 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.
Accelerator participants receive the following aids and benefits:
$7,500 non-dilutive cash grant
Work space and housing in Hamilton for the duration of the accelerator
Access to one-on-one mentoring from entrepreneurs in the Colgate network
Opportunity to be part of a cohort of entrepreneurs where you share best practices and breakthroughs with fellow founders
Startup resources key to launching and growing early stage ventures
Access to the upstate New York startup ecosystem
Maintain all rights to intellectual property
45
teams to date; 9 cohorts
125+
full-time jobs created and currently filled
57%
of ventures still operating or acquired
$587K
seed-granted capital awarded
$30M+
follow-on investment capital raised since participating
2,700+
hours donated by mentors
Three Summer Accelerator Teams Featured on 2020 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.
If you have a startup idea that you are serious about bringing to life, you must apply for the summer accelerator. The resources provided for an early stage startup are vital and could be difference between being able to make it happen or letting an idea sit on a shelf. It certainly made the difference for indify.
