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NVA 1 and NVA 2 consists of hands-on learning and mentoring. Every week, startup teams will be required to complete one workshop and meet virtually with mentors.

Have a question? Please review our FAQs below.

NVA 1

10 Weeks

Dates: 9/20/2024 - 11/22/2024

You do not need an idea to participate

Applications are Closed

Fall '24 Applications Will Open April 1, 2024

This program is for all CUNY students.  We encourage students without ideas or a team to apply, form a team during stage one, and develop a venture from scratch.  Participants who already have a team can choose which stage(s) they wish to complete.

Teams will then work with our mentors and support team to go from an idea to a learning prototype.

NVA 2

10 Weeks

Dates: 1/26/2024 - 4/5/2023

For founders with a team and a prototype

Applications are Closed

Spring '25 Applications Will Open Fall 2024

This is for participants who have a team and a prototype. 

The prototype does not have to be a functional prototype. For example, the prototype can be 3D printed or an interactive screen created using PowerPoint or Proto.io (suggestions only). 

The purpose of NVA 2  is to advance your startup so that you’re ready to launch. 

Philosophy

Our goal is to develop your entrepreneurial mindset by creating an environment where you can focus exclusively on developing your idea, building a prototype, talking to customers, and launching your startup. We accomplish this through workshops, mentoring, networks, and projects. The program has been developed by world class educators. Our mentors are successful entrepreneurs and/or investors who power you to plug into a great network, while you work on immersive projects that change the way you think.

What We Do

Our team consists of entrepreneurs, mentors, tech partners, and faculty, who are dedicated to helping students transform ideas into reality through workshops and direct mentoring. We work with participants to create 2-minute promo videos, 5-minute pitch videos and an investor pitch deck. 

NVA 1 Schedule

Requirements

  1. This is for individual students and teams
  2. You must be a CUNY student or recent graduate (within 1 year)
  3. You will receive a certificate of completion after each module. You must attend all weekly 2-hour workshops and 2-hour mentoring sessions within each respective module.

Schedule

  1. Starts September 20, 2024 and ends November 22, 2024
  2. Sessions are Wednesdays (Virtual) & Fridays (In-Person) 10AM-12PM

NVA 2 Schedule

Requirements

  1. Teams of 2+ co-founders
    The best teams have co-founders with multiple talents: design, development, business, marketing, etc.
  2. You must have a built-out learning prototype (MVP)
  3. At least one person on your team must be a CUNY student or recent graduate (within 1 year)
  4. You must attend all sessions 

Schedule

  1. Starts January 26, 2024 and ends on April 5, 2024
  2. Sessions are Wednesdays (Virtual) 10AM-12PM & Fridays (In-Person) 10AM-12PM

NVA 1

No, NVA 1 teams can only include CUNY students or recent CUNY alum (within one year).

No, NVA 1 encourages and welcomes students without ideas. All students will become a co-founder within a team that works on one idea. NVA 1 takes students from the idea stage to a learning prototype. 

No. Students can choose to complete all four certificate bearing modules or apply for select modules based on their venture need and experience.  However, you must be in a team to complete Stage 3 (Modeling Your Venture) & Stage 4 (Prep 2 Launch).

We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Apply early, as space is limited and will be first come, first served.

We have 3 goals: 1) Each team develops a learning prototype 2) All students come away with a good understanding of entrepreneurship 3) All students get hands-on experience in the early stages of entrepreneurship.

NVA 2

Yes, for NVA 2. NVA 2 takes participants from the learning prototype stage to the pre-launch stage of their startup.

Yes, NVA 2 teams can include CUNY and Non-CUNY students/alum. However, NVA 2 teams must have at least 1 CUNY student on the team with no less than 5% equity in the startup. We do consider the equity of the CUNY student’s equity during the application review. 

We have 2 goals: 1) Each startup advances to the pre-launch stage 2) All startup teams come away with a 2-minute promo video, 5-minute pitch video, and an investor pitch deck. 

Of course not! You don’t have to be a programmer or a business major to be an innovator. In fact, most CUNY Startups alum work in non-technical roles. All majors, industries, and career paths are encouraged to apply because various skills can translate into the success of a startup.

We welcome all types of ideas and startups, from social impact to tech.

We are not an academic program and do not offer course credit. This is a hands-on entrepreneurship program. However, NVA 1 participants will receive a certificate of completion at the end of each module.

Yes, we have a team of mentors who will work with you every week.

The application process is broken down into two parts. Part 1 is application submission. Part 2 is our review of the applications. We open the application process roughly 3 months prior to our first session. We appreciate the time and effort applicants devote to the process and work diligently to return the favor with careful consideration.

Each application is carefully reviewed by a CUNY Startups Team Member, Mentor and/or Volunteer. As applicants move forward in the process, we collectively weigh in to ensure your candidacy will be considered from as many perspectives as possible.

Yes! Current CUNY Students (Undergraduate, Graduate, Non-Matriculated, Certification Pursuant) and Alum are eligible for NVA programs, contingent the alum has graduated within the past 12 months. 

Yes. Our interview days are virtually completed.

If you’re accepted and have a reasonable need for a deferral, you may request one from our Executive Team for the following year.

Yes! We welcome your interests and aspirations of developing and launching a startup. You can reapply to our programs. We understand that you may have grown personally and/or professionally during the interim and would love to hear from you again.

Our accelerator alumni have more jobs, greater job satisfaction and greater workplace engagement. We believe the hands-on learning and mentoring in our entrepreneurship program develops attributes that are attractive to employers everywhere.

In addition to obtaining great jobs, our participants go on to launch their startups, create new startups, and join other startups as employees.

We do not take any equity, nor do we provide seed funding.

In response to COVID-19, we will adhere to CUNY’s Covid policy. As of today, we expect both of our accelerator programs will be held in-person and virtually on Fridays. We want to provide a hybrid/flexible format for our prospective founders.

For any inquiries please email