Summer Student Accelerator

A 3-month self-led program, giving student entrepreneurs the freedom to drive their ventures.

Founders in this program will receive

  1. Mentorship: Student founders will work with ZLI Staff, an Entrepreneur-in-Residence, and an assigned Startup Mentor over the duration of the program
  2. Community: Founders will be in a cohort of student startups, and will connect virtually at various points throughout the summer
  3. Funding: Founders accepted to the program will receive $10,000 in funding to support themselves as they work on their ventures full-time
  4. External Support: Founders will be paired with a Startup Mentor with experience in their industry, and will have access to a part-time intern to assist with project work
  5. Deliverables: Advisory Meeting Presentations, Donor Thank You Letter, Exit Survey

Timeline

Student founders will meet with the ZLI team to discuss their goals and progress week by week.

  • Kickoff: Student founders will connect with the ZLI team and other cohort members before their internship begins
  • 1st Check-point: Founders present their goals for the summer with their ZLI team and make a plan; founders will connect with the part-time intern to discuss potential project work
  • 2nd Check-point (halfway through internship): Founders will meet with their ZLI Team + Startup Mentor to present their progress for the first six weeks at the 1st advisory meeting
  • 3rd Check-point (end of internship): Founders will meet with their ZLI Team + Startup Mentor to present their progress to date at the 2nd advisory meeting