Brandeis Innovation

The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College offers a summer research program for University of Massachusetts Boston undergraduates across various disciplines. This initiative, funded by the U.S. Social Security Administration, provides full-time paid summer research assistantships for 8-12 weeks, including on-campus housing or a stipend and tuition for a summer course at Boston College.

Participants will engage in hands-on research, assisting senior researchers in tasks like literature reviews, data collection, and analysis while receiving training in statistical software. Each fellow will be paired with a mentor to gain insights into retirement income security, develop skills, and explore academic and career opportunities.

The fellowship aims to ignite interest in retirement income security research and offers a pathway for students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. The program includes an orientation and a speaker series on retirement security and is open to UMass Boston undergraduates interested in fields related to the Center’s research focus. Follow their updates on Instagram: @crr_bc.

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Are you ready to transform your idea into a world-changing innovation? The E-Team Program by VentureWell Accelerator is designed to empower student inventors with the resources they need to impact the world significantly. By offering up to $25,000 in grant funding, this program aids students in advancing their inventions while providing comprehensive entrepreneurship training. Participants benefit from mentorship, national recognition, and valuable networking opportunities with industry experts and peers. Focused on fostering scalable innovations that address major social, health, or environmental issues, the program distributes over $800,000 annually in non-dilutive E-Team grants to promising early-stage innovator teams.

Pioneer:

• Receive $5,000 in non-dilutive funding.
• Participate in an entrepreneurship training workshop to discover the best market for your invention.
• Start your entrepreneurial journey with a clear path for your invention's potential.

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Unpitch provides a unique opportunity for emerging founders to engage directly with experienced venture capitalists in a supportive, no-pressure environment. This distinctive platform is designed not for traditional pitches but for meaningful conversations that provide startups valuable feedback, guidance, and networking opportunities. Prioritizing early-stage startups without prior accelerator or investor involvement, Unpitch requires at least one representative from each startup to participate in person. Over the years, Unpitch has consistently fostered impactful connections, hosting 20-50 VCs and founders at each event, facilitating genuine dialogues.

This year, Unpitch is hosting an Innovation Tour spanning six diverse sectors: TECH, FINTECH, FRONTIER, HEALTH, BIOMED, and RI. Founders are encouraged to apply for this series of events to seize this opportunity for growth and engagement.

Event Dates:

• Unpitch TECH (Event Date - 4/17/24 @ Boston)
• Unpitch RI (Event Date - 5/8/24 @ Providence)
• Unpitch TOUGH TECH (Event Date - 5/22/24 @ Boston)
• Unpitch FINTECH (Event Date - 5/23/24 @ Boston)
• Unpitch HEALTH (Event Date - 6/12/24 @ Boston)
• Unpitch BIOMED (Event Date - 7/10/24 @ Boston)

The Cleantech Open Northeast team invites all startups in the cleantech industry to apply to the 2024 accelerator, where you’ll have the opportunity to engage in a business development program. Participants will benefit from expert mentorships, investor network opportunities, industry connections, and a chance to compete regionally and nationally for cash prizes and in-kind services to launch their startup.

The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College is accepting applications for its annual Dissertation Fellowship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Social Security Administration. This initiative offers a $28,000 fellowship to a doctoral candidate from the U.S. conducting research on retirement or disability issues. The program aims to support innovative studies in areas such as disparities by race, ethnicity, sex, barriers to program participation, economic security, service and communication needs, and employment barriers for people with disabilities. Candidates from underrepresented communities are particularly encouraged to apply. The fellowship recipient may also have the opportunity to present their research to the Social Security Administration in Washington, DC, or Baltimore, MD.

The Center for Retirement Research is now accepting applications for the Steven H. Sandell Grant Program, aimed at junior or non-tenured scholars within seven years of their Ph.D., to support research in retirement or disability policy. Sponsored by the U.S. Social Security Administration, this program encourages cutting-edge research, especially from scholars in underrepresented communities. The grant offers $50,000 to fund projects focusing on SSA’s key research areas like disparities by race, ethnicity, sex, barriers to program participation, and employment challenges for people with disabilities. The recipient must complete their research within a year and may present their findings to the Social Security Administration in Washington, DC, or Baltimore, MD.

The 2023/2024 Hult Prize program cycle has been launched, inviting students globally to participate in a challenge that combines competition with a cause. This program encourages young entrepreneurs to develop startups that address critical global issues, fostering a spirit of social entrepreneurship. This prestigious program enables students to develop startups with the potential for real-world impact, offering a chance to join a global network of peers, mentors, and experts. Competitors strive to reach the Global Finals, with a grand prize of $1 million in funding to realize their innovative ideas.

Participants can elevate an existing startup or create a new venture through this program. To be eligible, you must be a currently enrolled student in a degree program, part of a team of 3-5 members from the same university (with an allowance for one member from a different institution), and at least 18 years old. Engage in this opportunity to bring your impactful business ideas to life with the Hult Prize.

Explore the Equity Fund, presented by the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts, dedicated to empowering Black-owned businesses in Greater Boston. With a particular focus on entrepreneurs from Cambridge and Somerville, this initiative seeks to strengthen long-term racial and economic equity through grants and low-interest loans. The Equity Fund is set to provide initial technical assistance grants aimed at the development and sustainability of Black enterprises in Cambridge, Somerville, and the broader Greater Boston region. Dive into this opportunity to support and grow your business.

The Power Forward Small Business Grant is targeted at black-owned small businesses that can showcase how they intend to use the grant to further their impact on their community. Approved applicants receive $25k in funding, along with the opportunity to be featured in natural programming and resources for both marketing and design. There is no deadline; rewards are granted on a rolling basis.

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P&G Ventures is an early stage startup studio within Procter & Gamble that partners with entrepreneurs to  accelerate billion dollar ideas that improve consumers’ lives. Focus areas include nontoxic home and garden, women’s health, anti-aging, daily wellness, and cleaning/sanitizing.

The Seed Investments Program is a two-stage investment program that provides up to $250,000 in convertible notes to pre-seed or seed-stage clean energy startups. The program exists to support companies as they advance and commercialize clean energy technologies and business models.Massachusetts-based applicants whose primary business fits the MassCEC definition of “clean energy” (defined in the MassCEC Enabling Legislation), and that are currently based in, or intend to relocate to Massachusetts, are eligible to apply.

For: Undergraduate and graduate-student entrepreneurs
Rolling Deadlines

The .406 Ventures Student Fellowship is a two-year program for exceptional student entrepreneurs. Selected students are given access to mentorship from experienced venture capitalists, $20k+ in vendor credits, and a dedicated network of founders. Former fellows have gone on to IPOs, acquisitions, and top companies such as Google and Amazon. Please note that this fellowship is only for students who have already started a company or plan to within the next two years; students with a primary interest in Venture Capital should look elsewhere. To apply, you must have at least two years left at your current academic institution.

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For: University researchers in a range of disciplines, including data science, epidemiology, biochemistry, and more

Deadline: Rolling

Rapid diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases are critical to both the patient and the broader community. Early Notification to Act, Control, and Treat (ENACT) partners with innovators to develop disruptive technologies that detect, prognosticate outcomes, and enable early intervention following exposures to both natural and man-made infectious threats.

Are you an inventor, entrepreneur, or startup founder interested in accessing the resources, networks, and knowledge of a multibillion-dollar company? If so, you may be interested in applying for a partnership with the Procter & Gamble studio. They are specifically interested in startups in the fields of chronic conditions, non-toxic home and garden, personal performance, male and female wellness, sleep, active aging, or menopause with patents or pathways for such.

They describe themselves as a different type of Venture Capital firm that is interested in a partnership rather than a traditional VC investment. Many of the details of said partnership are left up in the air and open for negotiation.

Join iFundWomen if you are a Boston-area women-led startup to fundraise for your business and get your ideas launched.