Collegiate Summer Venture Program

On behalf of the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship and Valley Venture Mentors, we are excited to share the program and application details for the 2024 Collegiate Summer Venture Program with you! Please find attached flyers you can share with any potential participants.  The University of Massachusetts' Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship and Valley Venture Mentors are partnering to bring you the 2024 Collegiate Summer Venture Program (CSVP)! WHO: This 5 week program is open to students, grad students, and recent alumni (within the past 10 years) of any of the 14 colleges and universities in the Pioneer Valley - American International College (AIC), Amherst College, Bay Path University, Elms College, Greenfield Community College (GCC), Hampshire College, Holyoke Community College (HCC), Mt. Holyoke College, Smith College, Springfield College, Springfield Technical Community College, University of Massachusetts, Western New England University, and Westfield State University. WHAT: The CSVP program teaches participants to develop and validate a business idea by discovering the ideal customer willing to pay for its solution, recognizing the product/service demand, and learning about the best funding options for their business. Throughout 5 weeks of virtual sessions, participants will develop and validate a business idea, gain a deeper understanding of their target customers through customer discovery, build a business model and develop their business pitch! WHEN: The Collegiate Summer Venture Program runs for 5 weeks, with mandatory sessions on Tuesday evenings from 5-8 PM EST and Friday mornings from 9-10:00 AM EST on zoom.  There will be office hours scheduled with the program leadership team and experts throughout the 5 weeks of the program. Participants should expect 4-5 hours outside of mandatory class sessions for program deliverables and meetings with the program team. Tues July 9th 5-8 PM and Friday July 12th from 9-10:00 AM Tues July 16th 5-8 PM and Friday July 19th from 9:00-10:00 AM Tues July 23rd 5-8 PM and Friday July 26th from 9:00-10:00 AM Tues July 30th 5-8 PM and Friday Aug 2nd from 9:00-10:00 AM Tues Aug 6th 5-8 PM and Friday Aug 9th from 9:00-10:00 AM   DEADLINE: Applications are open until Monday May 20th, 2024 (5 p.m. EST).  Selected applicants will be invited to interview with the CSVP Leadership, Tues May 28 and Wednesday May 29th via Zoom. APPLICATION LINK: To apply, visit: https://bit.ly/CSVP2024 If you have questions about whether this program is right for you or someone you know, or would like to nominate a participant to for the program, please contact Hope Ross Gibaldi (hope@valleyventurementors.org) 

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