Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital program

Summer Grants FAQ

 

  • Who is eligible to apply for an Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital Program (formerly the Venture Fund) summer grant?
    1L or 2L students currently enrolled at NYU Law are eligible to apply for a Venture Fund summer grant.
  • My team has non-NYU affiliated members. Can we still apply?
    If the applicant is a current 1L or 2L student at NYU Law and a founding member of the team, other team members are not required to be affiliated with NYU.
  • How many members do I need on my team in order to apply?
    We do not have a requirement for team size.
  • What is the deadline to apply?
    Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
  • How are decisions made?
    All summer grant recipients will be selected by the Advisory Jury which is made up of NYU Law alumni, and who will be solely responsible for evaluating the teams using specific evaluation criteria.
  • When can I expect to hear about a decision?
    Teams will be notified by early March if they’ve been selected to interview with the Advisory Jury. If you’re invited to interview, you’ll receive a final decision no later than the end of March.
  • My team’s business idea is at an early stage in development. Can we still apply?
    Yes, we accept applications from teams with a concept that is early in development. 
  • Can I apply with multiple teams/ideas?
    While you may submit multiple applications, we highly recommend that you focus on one business idea per team when considering to apply. If a team you apply with is selected to receive a summer grant, we expect you to be fully committed to that team and its business idea.
  • What kind of time commitment is required for summer grant recipients?
    Grant recipients are expected to spend the majority of working hours during the work week on their startup throughout the summer. There is no set schedule; however, you are not permitted to work another full-time job during the week if you accept a summer grant. Recipients will also be required to participate in regular progress meetings.
  • What is my team expected to accomplish throughout the summer? How are goals established?
    Once you accept a summer grant, you are required to establish a work plan that will outline the goals, objectives, and activities your team will work to accomplish throughout the summer.
  • Does funding go to each individual NYU Law student on my team or to the team as a whole?
    Funding goes to the team as a whole. Each selected team will be awarded one $15,000 summer grant—regardless of how many NYU Law students are on the team.
  • Will NYU Law take equity in my company if I accept a summer grant?
    No, NYU Law will not take equity from your company if receiving a summer grant. 
  • Do I have to be in New York during the summer?
    No, but you will be required to participate in regular progress meetings via video conference call and phone.
  • Will I have access to any resources during the summer?
    Yes, the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital program will provide summer grant recipients with resources, support, and mentorship from the Advisory Jury and entrepreneurial alumni community.