Entrepreneurs Academy
On to Something Extraordinary.
You bring the curiosity. We supply the launchpad.
Your ideas have somewhere to go at RIT. Open to first-year students from every major, the Entrepreneurs Academy is a new undergraduate enrichment program designed to help curious thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and aspiring innovators explore what’s possible. Through hands-on experiences, one-on-one mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, and opportunities to access startup funding, students will gain the knowledge, connections, and confidence to take their ideas further.
Program Overview
The Entrepreneurs Academy is an interdisciplinary enrichment program designed to inspire and empower first-year students from all academic majors to turn innovative concepts into viable enterprises. Modeled after RIT’s signature enrichment experiences, the Academy provides flexible, low-barrier engagement that fits your academic journey without imposing rigid credit burdens.
This interdisciplinary program is open to all undergraduate RIT majors. To maintain membership, participants must earn 2 activity points per semester and be in good academic standing.
Offered by Saunders College of Business in collaboration with the Simone Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Real-World Mentorship and Funding Pathways
Connect directly with our Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) Network—experienced alumni and industry leaders providing on-demand coaching, virtual advisory sessions, and real-world venture guidance. Academy members gain priority access to funding workshops, seed capital opportunities, guest speaker series, and signature campus pitch competitions like Tiger Tanks. Successful projects seamlessly transition into advanced support through the Bernard Kozel StartUp Program.
What will you create?
The Entrepreneurs Academy launches in fall 2027 and welcomes students from all majors.
Interested in joining? Apply to RIT, then use your application account credentials to access the Academy application, available in late November.