About the Summer Venture Program

• World-class programming, including workshops, panel discussions, and talks, that leverages the resources of the Blank Center
• Intensive feedback from advisors and experts
• Entrepreneur community and an ethos of “giving and getting help”
• Access to a large network of industry and subject matter experts and entrepreneurs and SVP alumni network
• Free co-working space
• Free housing on campus and meal plan
• Zero equity taken

• We are customer-obsessed. We prioritize customer discovery and validation at every step of venture creation.
• We deliver customized coaching and resources to meet you where you are and to enhance your SVP experience.
• We care about your venture and you as an entrepreneur and as an individual.

Teams are hand-chosen based on a written application, an in-person interview, and references from faculty or fellow students if requested. The selection criteria consist of four key aspects:

• Team—entrepreneurial potential, complementary skills, and commitment to the venture
• Business—demonstrated problem/solution fit, unique value proposition
• Stage—has developed minimum tangible product (earliest iteration of MVP), has roadmap to develop MVP, ability to make significant traction and hit key milestones during the summer
• Fit—ability to learn, eager to make the best use of SVP resources and contribute to the community

Historically, we have accepted 15 teams. We remain flexible about the total number of teams but we do prioritize a robust 1:1 relationship with each team and a strong sense of community amongst the cohort.

Student applicants must meet the following requirements: 

• Currently enrolled at Babson, Olin Engineering, or Wellesley College. 
• In good disciplinary standing with Babson College, any of the colleges in the BOW Consortium, and the community. The Blank Center staff reserves the right to request information from the Office of Community Standards to confirm that this is the case and may disqualify any applicant who does not meet this requirement. 
• Have attended and actively participated in a Customer Discovery Workshop presented by the Blank Center for Entrepreneurship during the Spring 2026 semester.
• Have completed at least five high quality Customer Discovery conversations and submitted insights on the Customer Discovery Insight Form prior to the SVP application.
• Have a viable business concept that has potential to make significant progress during a 10 week summer intensive. 
• Able to commit full time effort to their venture and the SVP community during the 10 weeks. Participants must be present for all core work hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 10:00-3:00 p.m. at the SVP location.
• Able to attend all weekly meetings (all hands, workshops, Hot Seat, and other sessions).
• Prepare for, and participate in, Summer Venture Showcase on Thursday, July 30 at the end of the program. 

At the Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, we are customer obsessed and we prioritize customer discovery and validation at every step of venture creation. Knowing your customer is a key element in building a successful business and being able to leverage an accelerator experience.

In order to apply for the 2026 Summer Venture Program, the lead entrepreneur(s) in each venture must attend and participate in a Customer Discovery Workshop. Using the guidelines and best practices from the workshop, the entrepreneur should then conduct at least five high quality Customer Discovery interviews and submit their Customer Discovery insights prior to the full application deadline. 

As a first step, please register for a Customer Discovery Workshop.

Upon acceptance, teams must sign and abide by:

• Our entrepreneur code of conduct. This code of conduct also confirms that the resources being provided are contingent upon the team's commitment to the SVP community and active, full-length participation in the program by the lead entrepreneur(s). The SVP Directors have the right to dismiss a team from the program at any time if the team is not meeting the requirements.
• Program release binding agreement
• Babson housing agreement

We expect that you will make a full-time commitment to the Summer Venture Program and to your venture. We also expect that you will show up, actively participate, demonstrate professionalism at all times, and be ready to get work done. Finally, we expect you take part in building community, “giving and getting” help, and having fun!

Engaging in employment (including self-employment and some entrepreneurial activities) without specific authorization is a serious violation of F-1 student/J-1 exchange visitor immigration status. While many entrepreneurial activities (such as research, feasibility studies, and business planning) are permissible, activities that directly result in income generation are not allowed without the proper authorization.

Babson strongly advises all international students to seek independent professional legal advice from an attorney who practices immigration law exclusively (in addition to any other legal counsel) to avoid accidentally engaging in unlawful activities. Contact the Glavin Office of International Education for information about immigration attorneys and for work authorization guidelines.