Brown University Entrepreneurship Program
Brown University Entrepreneurship Program, established in 1998, fosters entrepreneurship among students and the local community through various initiatives, including workshops, competitions, and fellowships.
History
The Brown University Entrepreneurship Program was founded in 1998 with the goal of fostering an entrepreneurial environment at Brown University and within the Providence community. Since its inception, the program has been committed to supporting and empowering both student and community entrepreneurs.
Innovation Dojo Workshop Series
The Brown University Entrepreneurship Program offers the Innovation Dojo, a semester-long student-led workshop series aimed at first- and second-year students at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). This initiative is designed to equip young entrepreneurs with essential skills and knowledge. The series culminates in the Innovation Dojo Demo Day, a competition where students pitch their projects to a panel of venture capital judges and the Brown community.
Grants and Fellowships
The program provides various forms of financial support and mentoring to assist startups in advancing to the next stage. University-backed grants, fellowships, and one-on-one mentoring are available. Notable initiatives include the Social Innovation Fellowship, which provides $4,000 to students building social ventures over the summer, and the Embark Fellowship, which supports graduating students in pursuing their entrepreneurial ventures full-time after graduation.
Brown Venture Prize
The Brown University Entrepreneurship Program operates the Brown Venture Prize, a $50,000 competition designed to empower advanced entrepreneurial ventures developed by Brown students. This competition aims to provide necessary funding and support to help these ventures succeed and make a meaningful impact.
Breakthrough Lab (B-Lab)
The Breakthrough Lab, commonly known as B-Lab, is an 8-week accelerator program run by the Brown University Entrepreneurship Program. It provides intensive support to student entrepreneurs, helping them to develop and scale their ventures through mentorship, resources, and a structured curriculum.