The Saunders Summer Start-up Program

Do you have an intriguing business concept with early stage business plan and a revenue model?  Are you looking to work on this effort over the summer?

The E. Philip Saunders College of Business and the Simone Center are pleased to announce RIT’s first Summer Start-Up program.  This pilot initiative is an intense summer program pilot aimed at assisting entrepreneurs/innovators in developing their business concepts to a point where they are ready to begin to seek angel investment.

The program elements include instruction across a range of subjects relevant to startups, including:

  • The business concept
  • Forming the business
  • Intellectual property
  • Seeking investment capital

In addition, each team will receive mentoring, and working space for your team.

Summer Stipend 

Each member of the student team will receive a stipend of $3,000 for the summer. Each team will receive $2,500 for project expenses.  We seek teams made up of 2-4 students (with a maximum payout of $12,000 per team).

While teams will primarily work independently, time will be set aside each week for speakers to come in and address key subject areas noted above.  There will also be a weekly lunch or dinner so that students can interact informally with the speakers.

Investor Day

The program will culminate in an “Investor Day” where each student team will have an opportunity to pitch their business to a group of “real investors”.

Apply now as space is limited!

The application deadline is 6am on March 26, 2012.  Click here for the application.

Simone Center