"BUILD" Programs Overview
Supporting entrepreneurs and innovators across UConn by providing funding, programs, and mentorship to help accelerate their ventures.
Get Seeded
Have an innovative idea that could be the next big thing? Need a spark to help an idea evolve?
Get Seeded provides students with the opportunity to pitch their ideas to an audience of their peers. Selected teams have an opportunity to pitch and earn up to $1,000 in seed funding, offered multiple times each academic semester. Students that do not yet have ideas, or who are not ready to pitch are invited to attend and vote on the current pitches!
Traction
Workshops offered each academic year to support entrepreneurs!
Traction is designed to provide on- and off-ramps for students to participate in various entrepreneurship programs. The main elements of this program include: open and virtual workshops, office hours with mentors, a point system for students to gain access to seed funding, and an application process to join our incubation space.
Accelerate UConn: NSF I-Corps Program
Hands-on training in the fundamental components of new venture creation!
Accelerate UConn is UConn’s National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Program. Its mission is to catalyze entrepreneurial teams whose technology concepts are likely candidates for commercialization. Participating teams will receive an introduction to the most critical elements of the I-Corps Curriculum and Lean Launchpad methodology. With the support of Accelerate UConn, teams will learn first-hand about entrepreneurship and explore the transition of their ideas, devices, processes, new scientific discoveries or other intellectual activities into the marketplace.
CCEI Summer Fellowship
Launch your business in this 8-week entrepreneurial experience!
The top startups from across UConn are selected to participate in CCEI's Summer Fellowship. This program takes place 3x a week over eight weeks, where participants develop the skills needed to bring new products, services, and technologies to market. Each team receives one-on-one coaching and mentorship from industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs. Teams are provided with pro bono legal and accounting services to help with initial business setup and support.
Wolff New Venture Competition
Featuring the top startups coming out of UConn each year!
After an eight-week accelerator (Summer Fellowship), the top startups are selected to compete in this competition, chosen on a basis of venture viability and value added to the market. A panel of venture experts then decides which team deserves the Wolff New Venture Prize and the $25,000 winnings accompanying it!
Discover Other Program Sectors:
- BUILD: Supporting entrepreneurs and innovators across UConn by providing funding, programs, and mentorship to help accelerate their ventures. Programs under this pillar include: Get Seeded, Traction, Accelerate UConn, Summer Fellowship, and the Wolff New Venture Competition.
- DEVELOP: Experiential learning and internship programs engage students with startups and small businesses in Connecticut. Programs under this pillar include: BUILD Hartford, Family Business Program, and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV).
- CONNECT: Fostering a diverse and collaborative community of students, faculty, and alumni entrepreneurs and innovators, all while supporting the greater entrepreneurship ecosystem within the state. Programs under this pillar include: Student Ambassadors Program, The Collaboratory @ CCEI, Mentor Network, Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, and Entrepreneurship Internship Program.