The Bet on Entrepreneurship Program provides undergraduate Penn students who identify as First-Generation and/or Limited Income (FGLI) with opportunities to engage in the entrepreneurial ecosystem via supported experiential learning opportunities.

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Program Overview

This year, the Bet on Entrepreneurship Program will provide the unique opportunity for selected Penn undergraduate students who are currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program in the classes of 2027 and 2028, who identify as First-Generation and/or Limited Income (FGLI), with education focused on the entrepreneurial ecosystem, as well as facilitated access to professional entrepreneurial spaces, by supporting students through an introductory Spring Bootcamp and a subsequent 4-to-5-week summer placement within a local Philadelphia-area startup.

Program Timeline

Please note the Program Timeline may be subject to change.
Program Application Open and Deadline
October 7th, 2024 - November 10th, 2024

First and Second Year Undergraduate students who identify as first-generation and/or limited income can apply to join the program.

The Cohort Shortlist will be notified on or around December 6th, 2024
Shortlist Interviews
January 15th - January 30th, 2025

The admission decisions will be announced on or around January 31st, 2025
Bootcamp
February 14th - April 4th, 2025

Selected students are required to attend a BootCamp that will support them in learning about the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Philadelphia Startup Summer Immersion
May 27th - July 1st, 2025

Supported with housing and a stipend, students are placed with Philadelphia-area startups for 4-5 weeks.
San Francisco Application & Selection
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*Required: Completion of the Philadelphia Startup Summer Immersion

Students who successfully complete their Philadelphia summer immersion are invited to apply for the San Francisco portion of the Programming.
Spring Venture Capital Bootcamp
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Selected students will participate in a Spring term bootcamp to support their knowledge about venture capital and its operations.
Summer Immersion in Bay-Area VC Firm
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Students who complete the VC Bootcamp are matched and placed with a Bay-Area VC firm for the summer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Bet on Entrepreneurship Program?
The Bet on Entrepreneurship Program provides students in the classes of 2027 and 2028 who identify as First-Generation and/or Limited Income (FGLI) education around the entrepreneurial ecosystem and facilitated access to professional entrepreneurial spaces.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applications are open to current First-Year (rising sophomores) and Second-Year (rising juniors) students who identify as first-generation, and/or limited-income (FGLI). Bet on Entrepreneurship uses Penn First Plus and the University’s FGLI guidelines (https://pennfirstplus.upenn.edu/about-penn-first-plus/).
When will I know if I've been accepted to the program?
Applicants will be notified of their admission to the BoE program in late January 2025. Admitted students must accept their spots in the application software (Survey Monkey Apply) before Friday, February 7th, 2025.
Is there an award that accompanies acceptance to the BoE program?
Students who are admitted to the program will receive a financial award upon successful completion of specific program milestones. That financial award can be used to offset costs for participating in the summer immersion not covered by the program. Students will be responsible for travel costs and meals (breakfasts, lunches, and dinners). Please note the financial award is considered taxable income by the IRS.
Which expenses associated with participating in BoE are covered by the program? Which expenses are student participants expected to cover?
In addition to the financial award associated with admission to the program, the BoE program will cover housing in Philadelphia only for the duration of the Summer Immersion program. The BoE program will not pay for incidentals including laundry service, damage to the room, damage to the housing facilities and kitchen, missing supplies, and other non-accommodation expenses. Students will be responsible for transportation expenses. BoE participants are responsible for their daily meal and transportation expenses (e.g., to and from summer immersive placement, program-related meetings) during the Summer Immersion Program. Admitted students may use Penn funding resources for travel expenses.
Can I participate in the Bet on Entrepreneurship Program and take classes during the Summer term?
Students are not permitted to take summer classes during Summer Session I and participate in the program due to the nature of the commitment involved, as well as potential financial aid implications. Students interested in taking classes during Summer Session II should speak with their advisor.
What is the Spring Bootcamp? Am I Required to Attend?
All admitted BoE students are required to attend a six week Spring pre-program Bootcamp, in addition to any added sessions or events mandated by Program staff. This co-curricular program will provide the BoE cohort with hands-on and actionable training to prepare them for their summer immersion experience. The weekly sessions will take place on campus, at Tangen Hall, on select Friday afternoons in the Spring 2024 semester from 3:30 - 6:30 pm Eastern Time (*unless noted otherwise).
What if I'm unable to participate in a Bootcamp session because of an emergency or previous engagement? Are there excused absences?
Attendance is required at all Bootcamp sessions. Excused absences from BoE Bootcamp sessions will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Since all of the dates have been provided in advance, please include information in your application if you know you will not be able to attend any of the sessions. If a conflict comes up later in the program, please contact the program administrators as soon as possible to determine next steps.
What are the dates for the Summer Immersion program?
The formal dates for the Summer Immersion program are May 28, 2024 to July 26, 2024. Students must arrive in San Francisco by May 28, 2024 and schedule a departure no earlier than July 27, 2024.
How will placement decisions be made and when will they be announced?
During the Spring Bootcamp, BoE participants will have an opportunity to learn more about the specific opportunities at the participating startups, and will be able to rank their interest in the available programs. While everyone will get a pairing, we cannot guarantee that all students will receive their preferred placements.
I am having technical issues with my application that impacts on my ability to submit it by the deadline, what should I do?
Applications must be fully completed and submitted before the deadline of Sunday, November 10th, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. If an applicant misses a deadline due to technical or other issues, unforeseen or otherwise, their application will not be considered. Please factor in enough time to ensure there are no obstacles, technical or otherwise, before the deadline. Deadline extensions or opportunities to correct or improve an application will not be permitted.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their application at least one (1) business day before the deadline, during normal University of Pennsylvania business hours (9AM - 5PM Eastern) to account for any troubleshooting that might be needed. There is no one 'on call' to assist with troubleshooting application submission issues, technical or otherwise.
Who should I reach out to with questions?
  • For questions about the student experience, applicants are welcome to contact the members of the previous cohorts. Contact information can be found here. Please note that students are unable to provide guidance as to an applicant's chances of being accepted into the BoE cohort.
  • For technical issues with the application please email venturelab@upenn.edu with "Bet on Entrepreneurship - technical question" in the subject line. Please provide a screenshot of any error messages, as well as information on the type of device and browser you are using. Technical questions and issues should be submitted/time stamped before the application deadline.
  • All other questions can be directed to venturelab@upenn.edu with "Bet on Entrepreneurship" in the subject line. 
  • When emailing venturelab@upenn.edu, please note that this inbox is not monitored outside of business hours and it can take 24-48 hours to receive a response.

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