2025 eLab Summer Accelerator Application for Returnees

Thank you for your interest in the Keller Center's 2025 eLab Summer Accelerator Program. Please be sure to read and understand the application and program requirements before beginning your application.

If you are not prepared to complete the entire application at one time, you may create a password (one that can be shared with your teammates) which will enable you to return as often as needed to complete all questions and sections. Please note that all students who will be part of your team this summer MUST fill out Part II (Applicant Information) section of this form.

*All fields with an asterisk must be completed*

Part I. Venture Information

Please provide as much detail about your venture as you've got. Logo, website, and social media accounts are very strongly recommended as a repeat eLab participant.

Venture/Team Name

Venture Bio (Please keep this brief and concise; it should be a short paragraph. This bio will be posted on the Keller Center website along with your team members' names and photos if your team is selected for the program.)

Venture Logo

If you do not have a logo, a Princeton shield or Tiger will be used as a placeholder.

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Please upload your current pitch deck (as well as other supporting materials you'd like us to review) to Google Drive and provide the folder link here:

Current Team Size?

Is your team fully assembled now and ready to complete this application?

Yes, our team is completeNo, we are still building our team

With regard to team size, please carefully consider the following:

Minimum: Three
Maximum: Five
Only enrolled Princeton students are counted in the team size.
Only under extremely special circumstances will you get an interview with the committee if you are applying with less than the minimum.
Your chances of getting an interview will be much greater if your entire team is confirmed/identified before you submit this application.
If you are accepted to the program with an incomplete team, any team members joining after the interview period must be immediately identified and vetted by the eLab selection committee or Keller Center staff.
A conditional acceptance pending a full team can result in an acceptance or a denial after your final team interview.
No additional team members may be added after March 1, 2025. No exceptions.

How many additional team members are you seeking?

NOTE: The first person on your team to complete the "Applicant Information" section below will serve as the main point of contact for all communications during the application process.

Part II. Applicant Information

This section must be completed by ALL team members!

Once the first team member has completed the section, click the link that says "click here to add another team member" on the right-hand side below. A new field set will appear where the next team member can add their information. Click the link as many times as needed to accommodate all team members.

First Name

Last Name

Position

If you are not sure what your role will be yet, select other and type "not yet determined."

Other Position

Student Type

U.S. Residency Status

This information is required solely for payment/stipend purposes. Please note that any student without citizen/resident status may be subject to federal tax withholding from their stipend.

Class Year

Grad Year

(In what year of your graduate studies are you currently?)

Undergrad Major/Department

Non-Princeton students please select IND/OTHER if your major is not listed here.

Grad Degree/Department

Non-Princeton students please select IND/OTHER if your major is not listed here.

IND/OTHER Major

Princeton Email

A copy of your application will be sent to your Princeton address, so check for typos!

Alternate Email (non-Princeton)

This cannot be the same as your @princeton.edu email!

PUID (9-digit on your prox)

If you were assigned a NetID like jd23@princeton.edu but use an alias such as johndoe@princeton.edu, please provide your given NetID.

NetID

U.S. Cell Phone #

Were you personally a participant in a prior eLab Accelerator cohort?

YesNo

Why do you want to be a part of the eLab Summer Accelerator Program?

How will you approach the eLab Summer Accelerator Program differently coming through a second time?

Entrepreneurship Activities & Courses

What entrepreneurial activities have you been involved with at Princeton or elsewhere? These could include entrepreneurship-focused internships, projects, certificate programs, and student clubs.

List below any entrepreneurship courses you've taken. You may include courses taken outside of the EGR/ENT portfolio that you feel may help you as a member of your startup venture.

To add another course, click the "Add another response" link below. You can add as many as you wish.

Course Number: Title, Semester Taken

Which of the entrepreneurial activities or courses that you listed above were done after your first summer in the eLab Accelerator program?

Upload your photo

Photo must be at least 600 x 600 pixels. Do not include low-res, grainy, or overly cropped photos, please!

Part III. Team Essay Questions

Suggested 400-word limit for each question below.

1. PAIN/PROBLEM: What customer pain or problem are you trying to address? What is your product and/or service, how does it solve the identified problem and for whom, why is that valuable for them? How has this evolved since your first eLab Accelerator application?

2. PROJECT STAGE: Describe the stage of your venture. Include any pivots you have made as well as continued market validation efforts undertaken since previously participating in the eLab Accelerator. Have you validated your proposed product and/or service with customers, suppliers, partners, or investors?

3. TEAM: Team is important. Has your team changed since you were last in eLab? If yes, why did it change and how does your current team better support your venture? What are the weaknesses of your team and how do you plan to address those weaknesses? What will you and your team members do this summer if your venture is not selected for the eLab?

4. BUSINESS MODEL: What is the market size and need for your idea/innovation? How will your product and/or service continue to be developed and has any version been launched? How does your venture identify, contact, and attract customers? How does your product/service outperform that of your competitors?

5. FINANCE: How will your venture generate revenue and/or social good and reach a sustainable, profitable stage? How much financing will be required? If you have already received some amount of funding, how was it allocated?

6. ADVISORS: Identify and describe any past, current, and potential advisors (faculty, residential college advisors, external advisors, etc), their commitment to your idea, and how they will enable you to achieve your goals.

7. SUMMER: Outline the key milestones and deliverables you hope to achieve this summer and how eLab will help you achieve them. Having been through the eLab program once already, you have the advantage of experience. How would you approach the program differently if accepted for a second summer? What is your primary motivation for applying again? Your previous experience uniquely positions you to serve as a peer mentor to new teams - would you be willing to serve in that capacity?

8. FUTURE: What are your plans for this venture after the summer? What do you envision you will be doing in the next two to three years? Do you believe that you will be continuing to build your venture in the years ahead? Why?

Part IV. Conditions of Acceptance to the eLab Accelerator Program

Incomplete Teams If you are accepted to the program as an incomplete team, any team members joining after the interview/acceptance period must be immediately identified to Keller Center staff so they can then be interviewed/vetted; conditional acceptances pending full team can turn into program acceptances or denials.
Participating Students All eLab applicants/participants must be currently enrolled Princeton University students. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Team Participation All team members must be in-person for a normal business work schedule (M-F, 9-5) at the Princeton Entrepreneurial Hub at 34 Chambers Street for the full duration of the nine-week program.
Team Formation Deadline No additional team members may be added after March 1, 2025. No exceptions.
Graduate Students All Princeton graduate students must obtain written permission (email) from their faculty advisor to be submitted no later than March 1, 2025 in order to participate in the program.
Rescind Pending Offers If your team is accepted and upon signing the eLab Summer Accelerator commitment form, you must decline any pending internship, program, or extended activity offers that have active or travel dates coinciding with eLab program dates.

By checking this box, your team has agreed to the above terms and conditions.

Yes, we have read and accept the terms and understand that our team may be disqualified or removed from the eLab if we fail to meet any of these terms and conditions at any time.

Important Dates

Please carefully review the key dates below to understand the next steps in the application process.

December 15, 2024 - eLab Accelerator Application Deadline at 11:59pm EST
Late December 2024 - Select teams contacted for interviews
January 6-8, 2025 - Interviews held virtually
January 10, 2025 - Offers go out to accepted teams
One week from offer date - Commitment deadline
March 1, 2025 - All team members must be identified

Thank you for your continued interest in the eLab Summer Accelerator Program!

Should you have any questions during the application process, please contact Manda Ryan, mandar@princeton.edu or Stephanie Landers, slanders@princeton.edu.