The Innovation Fund
The Innovation Fund aims to support early-stage entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds by providing equity-free grants to any Harvard-affiliated founder with a vision and the drive to make that vision a reality. This year’s total prize pool includes over $20k in cash grants, AWS credits, and more in partnerships/fast-tracks with our partners. This year’s Innovation Fund is held in partnership with Harvard Undergraduate Consulting for Business and the Environment (CBE) Ventures, with a special Sustainability Prize offered by CBE.
Every applicant will receive $1k in non-dilutive AWS credits, and eligible finalists may opt to have their applications fast-tracked to the Z Fellows.
In addition to ongoing mentorship, you'll also get to attend our bootcamp program and Demo Day. Select participants will also receive access to our vast network of 50+ VC and angel investor partners, with total $245B+ AUM. We select teams based on the criteria below, giving them access to education and platform partnerships to accelerate their businesses.
Any companies with a Harvard-affiliated founder may apply. This includes, but is not limited to, current students at any Harvard school, graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and recent alumni. Please contact fund@harvardcap.org with any questions.
Application Criteria:
Idea: Team presents an ambitious idea that addresses an important issue, a concrete solution that contains different perspectives, and an action plan that will impact real communities and which is not solely based on intuition. Both for-profit and non-profit startups are welcome to apply.
Team: Members include current Harvard-affiliated students or alumni who demonstrate committed personal investment, technical ability, and entrepreneurial vision.
Vision: The team’s solution includes ways to continue developing the product and furthering knowledge and innovation over the course of the grant period.
Engagement: Teams should attend our speaker events in October, participate in our Demo Day conference weekend and check-in Zoom meetings throughout the grant period, and engage in our workshops, office hours, and programming throughout the semester.
For more details, contact us at fund@harvardcap.org, attend our information sessions via registration above, or watch a past information session below!
For more information on acceptable use of funds, please reference this document.
Past Innovation Fund Winners
Supporters of the HUCP Innovation Fund
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