For many student entrepreneurs, the hardest part of starting a venture is not coming up with the idea, but figuring out how to turn that idea into something real. Between classes, jobs, and campus commitments, building a company can feel overwhelming. The 2026 TIA Summer Accelerator has been redesigned to meet these challenges head-on, leveraging direct feedback from past participants and prospective students to create a more focused, flexible, and impactful experience.
The 2026 program features several key evolutions: it is now exclusively for current ventures in the TIA Incubator, it offers a streamlined hybrid schedule, and it spans the length of the summer, helping to bridge the gap in formal programming between the TIA Entrepreneur Showcase and Kickoff Weekend in September. The goal remains the same: to help aspiring entrepreneurs bridge the gap by offering the time, structure, and support needed to move from early validation to real execution.
Running from May 11 through Aug. 7, the program begins on-campus with a newly condensed, fast-paced four-day intensive. Here, teams will refine their business models, clarify their goals, and develop a clear roadmap for the months ahead. After the in-person kickoff, the program will transition into a remote format for the rest of the summer, allowing founders to continue building their ventures from wherever they are while staying connected to mentors and peers.
鈥淲e鈥檝e already evolved the TIA Summer Accelerator from a fully in-person format to a hybrid one. With these changes, we are focusing our support on advanced Incubator ventures that have the opportunity to make critical progress during the summer,鈥 said Carolyn Strobel-Larsen, director of entrepreneurship and innovation.
The Accelerator is designed for high-performing ventures coming out of the TIA Incubator that are ready to grow. Instead of focusing on idea generation or pitch practice, the program centers on action. Students will spend the summer building products, talking to customers, testing their assumptions, and learning what it actually takes to sustain a business.
Each venture selected for the program will receive between $6,250 and $8,250 in funding, which can be used to cover expenses such as product development, marketing, customer research, and operations. But participants say the money is only part of the experience. What truly defines the program is the deepening commitment to mentorship and networking.
鈥淭he TIA Summer Accelerator was an amazing opportunity for us to focus on our venture full-time, providing us with the mentorship and resources to allow us to better understand the issue of food waste and the most effective ways of approaching it,鈥 said Harshitha Talasila 鈥26, co-founder of SoilSoul, who participated in the program in 2024.
Mentorship is at the core of the Summer Accelerator. Throughout the summer, students will meet with experienced entrepreneurs, advisors, and industry professionals to navigate challenges and think strategically about growth. Crucially, this support is no longer limited to the summer months; TIA is emphasizing a continuum of support that ensures founders have access to guidance and network connections well after the program has concluded.
The program also places a strong emphasis on accountability through weekly goals and progress updates. The cohort is intentionally small, creating a close community of founders who learn from one another and support each other鈥檚 growth. By sharing feedback, celebrating milestones, and problem-solving together, students build a network that continues well beyond the summer.
Entrepreneur in Residence Jen Martin encourages students who already have a venture and are ready to commit to growth to apply. The program is not about perfection, but about progress and about giving student founders the tools they need to keep moving forward, Martin said.