How it Works

eLab presents a unique opportunity to receive classroom credit for doing what you love – developing and growing your startup! Students receive 4.5 credits over the school year split between Fall and Spring semesters.

eLab is a Year-Long Program

Over the course of 1 year, all of our eLab teams will learn a great deal and build an outstanding network for immediate or future success.  Before applying to eLab we encourage all potential applicants to prepare by reading over the Preparing for eLab page.

Apply

The eLab admission process is highly competitive. For those looking to prepare, we have many resources available to help you refine your concepts, strengthen your team, and improve your own entrepreneurial skill set.

NYC Pitch Night

The eLab NYC Pitch Night is built to forge relationships between eLab startups and prospective advisors and future mentors.

Spring Programming

Starting Spring semester, we will switch gears bringing in experienced entrepreneurs to connect and advise eLab startups. Teams will be expected to have product-market fit by this time so they may work primarily on sales, fundraising, and pitching skills.

Demo Day

eLab’s Demo Day is a highlight during the Entrepreneurship at Cornell Celebration event in April. eLab startups showcase their businesses and progress to a large audience of Cornell alumni passionate about entrepreneurship, some of whom may choose to support ventures as they grow.

Fall Programming

Fall programming will focus on customer discovery and the path to product-market fit. For more advanced startups, we have more individualized planning but will still expect all teams to participate in going through an extensive customer discovery process. Students regularly meet with eLab Instructors and engage with eLab alum.

Mid-Year Viability Assessment

Instructors re-evaluate teams’ performance and business models.

West Coast Trek

The cohort travels to San Francisco to connect with the entrepreneurship and Cornell alumni communities on the west coast mid semester. The trip culminates with a pitch event showcasing the eLab startups.

Conclusion of Program

eLab’s program concludes in early May. We expect eLab companies to now: 1) Seek funding from investors 2) Gain acceptance into professional accelerators, 3) Raise their earliest capital 4) Pursue the venture in parallel with other professional and/or academic endeavors