Columbia Entrepreneurship

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.

CSL Uptown Community Session
2025-10-03 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-10-10 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-10-17 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-10-24 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-10-31 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-11-07 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-11-14 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-11-21 12:00 - 13:30 UTC
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).

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

Columbia Giving Day 2025 - Support Columbia Entrepreneurs
2025-10-21
Support Entrepreneurs: Columbia’s Builders

Your gift to the Campbell Center is a gift to all Columbia founders of businesses and social enterprises. Because it takes more than grit and brilliance to launch a new venture, we offer financial help through the annual Startup Columbia venture competition, space and mentoring at the Columbia Startup Lab, and support for current students exploring entrepreneurship at the Columbia Startup Lab Uptown. Please support the Campbell Center for Entrepreneurship on Columbia Giving Day!

GIFT LINK

Columbia Startup Celebration, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo by Diane Bondareff)

Director of Entrepreneurship Dave Lerner hosts a session of CSL Uptown.
CSL Uptown members visit CSL SoHo and hear from full time Columbia entrepreneurs Nick DeGiacomo and Alexandra Bono, as well as Professor and early stage investor Jeremy Kagan.

Collaboratory Fellows Fund 2025 Information Session
2025-10-30 15:00 - 16:00
The goal of the Collaboratory Fellows Fund is to support innovative curriculum development that meets
the data and computational literacy needs of a given discipline, set of disciplines,
and/or cohort of students at Columbia.
An information session will be held on Thursday, October 30th, 2025 at 3pm at CSL Morningside (Room 430 in the Riverside Church on 120th & Claremont). Please RSVP By October 28th, 2025.
Register for the Info Session
Please send questions or completed applications to collaboratory@columbia.edu using the application template.
Collaboratory Application 2025
2025 Collaboratory RFP

Application Deadline: 2025 SIPA Global Policy Challenge
2025-11-03 00:00 - 23:59
Applications for the annual SIPA Global Policy Challenge are due on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. You have one additional week to finalize and submit your proposals. Compete for $75,000 in seed funding, personalized mentorship, and exposure to a global network of entrepreneurs
Application Deadline: Monday, November 3, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
Apply here.

CBS Startups Week 2025 (Nov 5-14)
2025-11-05 08:00 - 2025-11-14 17:00
CBS Startups Week (Nov 5-14)
Join CBS Startups Week, a dynamic week of panels, tabling events, and networking opportunities! This celebration of entrepreneurship highlights the innovative knowledge and vibrant community that keeps Columbia University at the leading edge of change. Be part of the journey, connect with like-minded individuals, and explore the future of innovation. RSVP here to secure your spots.

Fast Pitch 2025
2025-11-19 17:00 - 20:00
Fast Pitch 2025 – Fast Pitch is Columbia’s longest running pitch competition on campus since 2013. Entrepreneurs pitch in 60 seconds to a panel of judges and win up to $5,000! Fast Pitch is FREE and open to all undergraduate and graduate students across campus.

2025 Columbia Healthcare Ventures Fast-Pitch Competition
2025-11-21 09:30 - 14:30
RSVP Here
Columbia University graduate and undergraduate students in the ideation phase of a startup solution, aimed at a public health and/or healthcare problem should apply to participate in the HPM Healthcare Pitch Competition. To be considered, please fill out the form below by October 15. Eligible submissions will be notified by October 20 and participants must be available to pitch their idea in-person on November 21.
The fast-pitch competition will be held from 9:30am-2:30pm at the Mailman School of Public Health (722 w 168th street, 8th floor auditorium) with a reception to follow.

Please contact Angela Sclafani (as5760@cumc.columbia.edu) with any questions.

Application Deadline: Spring 2026 Columbia Build Lab (CBL)
2025-12-07 00:00 - 23:59
The Spring 2026 CBL Engineering application is open!
Columbia Build Lab (CBL) matches Columbia students pursuing Computer Science (or related degrees) with CBS student-founders of an early-stage startup. Engineers in the Build Lab program gain experience working to solve real-world challenges with teams of peers and CBS founders. This is an excellent opportunity for any engineering or computer science student looking to gain valuable experience this Fall! Submit your application to the Spring 2026 cohort before December 7th!

Rolling Admission Application: Spring 2026 Design for Social Innovation (DFSI)
2025-12-31
Led by TPI Co-Director Sarah Holloway — Spring 2026
Focus: AI for Impact
This 3-credit, project-based course is open to students across Columbia’s undergraduate and graduate schools. In Spring 2026, the class will partner with NYC-based nonprofits and public-sector organizations to explore how artificial intelligence can amplify their mission and impact.
Application Deadline: Friday, November 7, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Learn more and apply here.

Overview
Are you interested in tackling complex global problems through tech-enabled solutions?
This experiential course is open to students from across Columbia’s 20 undergraduate and graduate schools. Working in interdisciplinary teams, students will support real clients to address complex global problems through human centered design. Past clients include Warby Parker, NYC Department of Education, Sesame Workshop, Apple, UNDP, and others. In Spring 2026, the course will focus on AI for Impact, partnering with NYC-based nonprofit and public-sector organizations to explore how artificial intelligence can amplify their mission and impact.
Course Details
This 3.0 credit course will take place in-person on Wednesdays from 1:10pm – 3:00pm at the Columbia
Entrepreneurship Design Studio (meeting all but three Wednesdays when teams are “out of the building” interviewing, workshopping and with teaching team in office hours). In addition to class time, there will be one mandatory Design Sprint on Friday, January 30. Please do not apply for the course unless you believe you can attend the Friday session.
Students conduct stakeholder research and interviews, develop insights through human-centered design, iterate
ideas, and create working prototypes and implementation blueprints for their clients.
The application-only course will accept a total of 30 students for the Spring 2026 term.
Application Instructions
To apply for the course, please complete the application form and include a 1-minute video. Detailed instructions can be found in the form. If selected, you will be placed on a team based on your background and interest.
