Application Deadline: 2025 Startup Columbia Competition
2025-02-03
APPLICATIONS CLOSED FEBRUARY 3
Startup Columbia is a series of campus-wide startup competitions offering non-dilutive cash prizes to the winning teams. Applications open in early January each year and are open to early-stage ventures founded, managed, and owned by current Columbia students, or by recent Columbia alumni.
Each year, alumni judges evaluate competitors in each of the various competitions. All competitions have their own focus, save for the OPEN Competition, which is open to any kind of business model, including not-for-profit and social enterprises.

Building a Fundraising Strategy
2025-02-12 12:30 - 23:30 UTC
REGISTER
Learn how to approach your fundraising strategy so you can do what you were meant to do — build your business! Topics include finding the “right” investors; developing a comprehensive fundraising strategy; creating a compelling narrative for investors; when to raise the next round; and how much money you actually need to raise.

Founder Talk: Youth Mental Health Innovation with Patrick Gilligan
2025-02-14 08:00 - 17:00
Monday March 31st, 5:30pm-7pm
722 W 168th St New York, NY 10032, Hess Commons
RSVP HERE
Join us for this semester’s Founder Talk! Somethings is transforming youth mental health care! Historically, youth mental health has been underfunded compared to other behavioral health needs, but according to Rock Health, the landscape is shifting.
Join us for an insightful discussion with the CEO and Founder of Somethings, a platform providing peer mentorship for teens experiencing anxiety, low self-esteem, and loneliness.
Patrick will share his entrepreneurial journey, his expertise in product design, and how he’s making an impact in behavioral health through an innovative, low-cost, tele-behavioral health platform.

Company and Industry Research for Business & Entrepreneurship
2025-02-24 12:00 - 13:15
Open to current students
February 24, 2025
12:00PM-1:15PM
Registration: https://library.columbia.edu/using-libraries/workshops.html#

Columbia Innovation Forum: The Art of the Pitch
2025-02-27 17:00 - 19:00
Join Columbia Engineering for an open forum on February 27 to learn more about entrepreneurship and network with the Columbia University startup community. You’ll hear from Columbia founders and other experts on their startup experience, and more. During this presentation/interactive session, serial entrepreneur Hugh Thomas will dig into the details of what a business plan “pitch deck” contains and what you will need to create in preparation for talking with investors and various audiences.

REGISTER HERE

Deadline: Tamer Fund for Social Ventures
2025-03-01
Are you a nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid early-stage social or environmental venture with Columbia affiliation? Apply to the Tamer Fund for Social Ventures by March 1 for a chance to receive a seed grant of up to $25K.
As part of the fund, you’ll gain access to resources such as pro bono consulting and accelerator programs, a robust network of fellow social entrepreneurs, events and workshops, and more!
Apply here: https://business.columbia.edu/socialenterprise/initiatives/social-ventures

Columbia Startup Lab Applications Go Live
2025-03-01
The Columbia Startup Lab opens its seats to a new group of Columbia-founded alumni startups this June, and applications go live on March 1! Join us for an Open House on Thursday, March 6 for a chance to meet the team, see the space, and hear from a few resident ventures. RSVP here. You can also start thinking about your application: we’ll want to know a little bit about your company and see proof of customer discovery, proof of concept, and an overview of what milestones you plan to hit within a year.

Impact Investing + Digital Health Crash Course with Padma Rao
2025-03-03 17:30 - 19:00
Monday March 3rd, 5:30pm-7pm
722 W 168th St 4th floor, Room 440
RSVP HERE

Padma Rao is a seasoned leader with expertise in Venture Capital, Digital Health, and Impact Investing. With a passion for making populations healthier and enabling better lives, Padma has dedicated her career to accelerating founders who are innovating for a better world.
As an Entrepreneur in Residence at Startup Health, she supports digital health initiatives driving health transformation.
Join us for this crash course to gain actionable insights and skills that will empower you to create meaningful impact in the public health space.

Columbia Startup Lab Open House
2025-03-06 18:00 - 19:00
The Columbia Startup Lab opens its seats to a new group of Columbia-founded alumni startups this June, and applications go live on March 1! Join us for an Open House on Thursday, March 6 for a chance to meet the team, see the space, and hear from a few resident ventures.

Columbia Healthcare Ventures Investment Simulation Event
2025-03-07 12:00 - 17:00
March 7th , 12PM – 5 PM
ARB 8th Floor Auditorium
REGISTER HERE
The CHV Investment Simulation Event is nearly a month away! A health care investment case will be distributed a week prior to the competition and your team will have the opportunity to win a cash prize. Register for the competition by clicking the link and the CHV team will keep you updated on the materials and requirements for the event. We look forward to seeing you there.

Columbia Startup Lab Open House - 3/27
2025-03-17 18:00 - 19:00
UPDATE: This event is now full
The Columbia Startup Lab opens its seats to a new group of Columbia-founded alumni startups this June, and applications go live on March 1! Join us for an Open House on Thursday, March 27 for a chance to meet the team, see the space, and hear from a few resident ventures.

Market and Consumer Research for Business & Entrepreneurship
2025-03-24 12:00 - 13:15
Open to current students.
March 26, 2025
12:00PM-1:15PM
Registration: https://library.columbia.edu/using-libraries/workshops.html#

DEADLINE: Applications Due for the 2025-2026 Cohort of the Columbia Startup Lab
2025-03-31
Applications for the 2025-2026 Cohort of the Columbia Startup Lab in SoHo are open through March 31! We’re looking for entrepreneurs who have graduated from Columbia or Barnard by June 1 (or up to 5 years earlier) and are ready to work on their startup full time. RSVP for an open house or to get more info about life at the Lab here: https://entrepreneurship.columbia.edu/startup-lab/

Crash Course in Business Research
2025-04-17 14:00 - 15:00
Open to current students.
April 17, 2025

2:00PM-3:15PM
Registration: https://library.columbia.edu/using-libraries/workshops.html#

Design Your Life (and Get Out of Your Own Way!): A Professional Development Opportunity for Columbia Student and Alumni Women Entrepreneurs
2025-04-25 15:00 - 18:00
Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
Time: 3 PM – 6 PM
Location: The Columbia StartUp Lab, 69 Charlton Street, Manhattan
About the Facilitator
Lauren Zander has nearly two decades of experience coaching thousands of private and corporate clients. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, Forbes, Women’s Health, and other leading publications. Lauren is also the author of the acclaimed book, Maybe It’s You, which distills her powerful coaching techniques into actionable strategies.
Workshop Overview
Transform your approach to business challenges and personal development through this immersive workshop specifically designed for women entrepreneurs. Lauren will guide you through her renowned coaching methodology — which she has taught at MIT, Stanford Graduate School of Business, etc.
Lauren Zander’s revolutionary approach to designing your life lies in her emphasis on radical accountability—challenging you to take full responsibility for your choices. You will benefit from her teachings by learning to confront self-limiting beliefs, embrace personal responsibility, and actively design a life — and business — you truly love.
Key Takeaways

Identify and overcome limiting patterns that impede professional growth

Develop practical frameworks for strategic decision-making

Implement systems to transform aspirations into measurable outcomes

Build a sustainable approach to leadership and business development

Secure your place today – this event is limited to 30 participants, so please sign up today by filling out this form: Design Your Life
We hope you’ll join us!

Application Deadline: Startup Me Up Bootcamp
2025-06-20
The Start Me Up Bootcamp is a virtual program designed to build your startup. The bootcamp introduces participants to the Lean Launchpad methodology and techniques to direct customer discovery through field interviews. Teams conduct at least 20 customer interviews; attend online sessions and engage with other bootcamp teams and entrepreneurs.
Teams “get out of the building” to learn from potential customers to determine if they are solving a real-world problem with a sizeable market opportunity. Upon completion, eligible teams may apply for a $50,000 NSF I-Corps grant to continue customer discovery. Additional funding is available to support conference travel for commercialization. In addition to providing entrepreneurial training, the program enables students and researchers to identify new ways to apply research to solve problems across several fields.

Startup Me Up Bootcamp Kickoff
2025-07-09
*Application Deadline, June 20*
The Start Me Up Bootcamp is a virtual program designed to build your startup. The bootcamp introduces participants to the Lean Launchpad methodology and techniques to direct customer discovery through field interviews. Teams conduct at least 20 customer interviews; attend online sessions and engage with other bootcamp teams and entrepreneurs.
Teams “get out of the building” to learn from potential customers to determine if they are solving a real-world problem with a sizeable market opportunity. Upon completion, eligible teams may apply for a $50,000 NSF I-Corps grant to continue customer discovery. Additional funding is available to support conference travel for commercialization. In addition to providing entrepreneurial training, the program enables students and researchers to identify new ways to apply research to solve problems across several fields.

Deadline: Tamer Fund for Social Ventures
2025-08-15
Are you a nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid early-stage social or environmental venture with  Columbia affiliation? Apply by August 15 for a chance to receive a $25K seed grant from the Tamer Fund for Social Ventures.
This fund provides $25K seed grants to nonprofit, for-profit, and hybrid early-stage social and environmental ventures. Ventures must be led by Columbia University students, alumni, faculty or researchers, or be advised and have significant involvement by Columbia University faculty or researchers. Tamer Fund seed grants will be made to approximately seven ventures each year.
Before applying to the fund, watch this short video for all the essentials.
Sign up for office hours
Join Karen Hasher, program manager, on Zoom to learn about the application process and ask questions
Sign up for July 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM
Sign up for August 11 from 11 AM to 12 PM
Questions? Email tamersvfund@gmail.com.

2025 Fast Pitch - Columbia Engineering
2025-09-19 08:00 - 17:00
Do You Have a Startup Idea?
Apply to compete in Fast Pitch, Columbia Engineering’s campus-wide annual elevator pitch competition to win prize money for your startup idea.
Learn more and sign up here.

Columbia Startup Lab Uptown Kickoff Session
2025-09-19 12:00 - 13:30
Currently enrolled graduate and undergraduate students at Columbia and Barnard are welcome to send their Names, UNIs, Anticipated Graduation Year, and School Affiliation (SIPA, Engineering, etc) to cslmorningside(at)gmail.com to join the community.
For those who are interested in entrepreneurship, curious about startups, and/or who may be in the ideation stages or earliest stages of a new venture, and want to learn more about startups, entrepreneurship, the various entrepreneurship events on campus, we have you covered.
This is all about jumping into the community and meeting others, exchanging ideas and building bonds. We will get to know one another, have entrepreneurs and investors give talks from time to time and learn as much as possible about startups, venture capital and using the latest AI tools to get moving.
MEETINGS: NOON – 1:30 PM @ CSL most Fridays (you will receive an email confirming each weekly session, please check before attending).

CSL Uptown Community Session
2025-09-19 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-09-26 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-03 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-10-10 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-10-17 12:00 - 13:30

Columbia Healthcare Ventures: Find Your Pitch Team Event
2025-09-22 16:30 - 18:00
​Looking to join the CHV Pitch Competition this fall? Or just want to meet other creative minds in the healthcare innovation space? This is your chance! 💡
RSVP
​Join us for a casual meet-and-greet with fellow CHV members. Midway through the session, we’ll run a team formation activity to help you connect with potential teammates based on shared interests and complementary skills.

Innovation Forum: Welcome Entrepreneurs
2025-09-25 17:00 - 19:00
Join Columbia Engineering to kick off the monthly Innovation Forum for the 2025-2026 school year! The Columbia Innovation Forum provides students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to hear startup ideas, network, form teams, and explore next steps. You’ll hear from Columbia faculty and other experts on ways to engage at Columbia, their experience in startups, and more.
The event will feature Professor Harry West, co-faculty director of IDE, and Ivy Schultz, Director of Entrepreneurship Programs joined by guest speaker Neil Daswani, ENG’96, co-director of the Stanford Advanced Security Certification Program, and an expert in data security. Learn more and register.

Kickoff: Start Me Up Bootcamp
2025-10-03
Join a select group of entrepreneurs for a two-week hybrid program designed to build your successful startup. The bootcamp introduces participants to the Lean Launchpad methodology and techniques to direct customer discovery through field interviews. Participants are required to conduct at least 20 customer interviews; attend online sessions and engage with other bootcamp teams and entrepreneurs. Teams “get out of the building” to learn from potential customers to determine if they are solving a real-world problem with a sizeable market opportunity. In addition to providing entrepreneurial training, this program helps students and researchers identify new ways to apply research to solve global challenges.
Faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers, graduate and undergraduate students may apply with a team of one to three people. Enrolled teams are required to attend all short-course sessions. Teams that successfully complete this bootcamp may be eligible to receive conference travel or stipend funding, including eligibility to apply for the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program, which includes a $50,000 grant.

Capital for Good Conference
2025-10-03
Join the conversation that reimagines the role of capital in building a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous society.

This headline event, located in the finance capital of the world, provides a unique opportunity to tap into the vibrant ecosystem of capital for impact through the lens of philanthropy, impact investing, ESG, NGO, and social venture and business examples. Social and environmental impact leaders in business, government, nonprofit, and philanthropy will speak to how they are changing the way we think about how capital is sourced and used to generate sustainable solutions to global, systemic challenges. Hear where opportunities exist to pursue future careers of impact on both the financing and implementation sides of capital for good.

Innovation Forum: Business Plans, Pitching and Customer Discovery with Hugh Thomas
2025-10-07 17:00 - 19:00
Join us on October 7 and Hugh Thomas, serial entrepreneur and teacher, with over 30 years’ experience in international technology companies as corporate leader. Hugh has been through all phases of the technology company lifecycle, from company formation, fund raising, product development, sales and marketing, organization growth through to company acquisition. Hugh will be speaking about startups, pitching, and the value of customer discovery.
Hugh is a serial entrepreneur and teacher, he has over 30 years’ experience in international technology companies as corporate leader. Hugh has founded and run 4 startup companies of his own, as a 4x CEO he has raised multiple rounds of investment capital (>$50M in total), grown teams from 1 to over 150 employees, built and sold many successful products (software and semiconductors) and grown revenues from zero to tens of millions of dollars in annual sales.
Open to CUID card holders only.
Davis Auditorium, CEPSR
530 W 120th Street
Tuesday, Oct 7, 2025, 5-7pm

RSVP HERE
