“CSL has been instrumental in advancing our startup Filos. The regular check-ins with mentors Dave and Andrew have been particularly beneficial, helping us align our efforts and stay on course.”

– Mehdi Bouassami, ’24 Engineering

Columbia Startup Lab (CSL) Uptown, located on the Morningside campus, provides a host of campus-wide programming, open working space, mentorship, and connection to other entrepreneurship nodes around the University for aspiring student founders currently enrolled at Columbia and Barnard.

We cultivate a very vibrant community of students and alumni who take a genuine interest in helping others in the CSL community. It’s about engagement and sharing, not about just “working on your own venture”. When reviewing applications for participation, we look for individuals who are going to give back as much as they get out of this experience. If so inclined please include how you might add to the community experience in your video submission.

CSL Uptown membership is at capacity for the semester but feel free to apply, as spots do come available this semester and next. Please be mindful of application requirements such as time limits. 

[ CLICK HERE TO APPLY ]

“The experience and hands-on approach of the staff at CSL Incubate were significant contributors in the early stages of our company’s journey.”

–Torben Leowald ’26LAW

CSL: COMMUNITY

Applications for CSL: COMMUNITY membership require a video submission so that we can hear from you on why you want to join this collaborative community. This is a year-round program for students interested in learning about entrepreneurship. We meet weekly on Fridays and build community, meet possible team-mates, have speakers, workshops, and discussions. A great way to dive into the world of startups.

CSL: COMMUNITY includes: 

• Friday meet-ups, including workshops on customer discovery, building a pitch deck, fundraising and more throughout the year
• Emails with ways to work on your idea and upcoming opportunities to get involved across the University

Students who have been active participants in CSL:COMMUNITY and advance to the stage of serious venture building may be invited to join CSL: INCUBATE later this Fall. Here, we work with teams in a more customized manner to help guide them as they build their product, engage with early customers, and iterate. This is particularly helpful if students are competing in Columbia’ annual Spring venture competition, StartupColumbia, which offers non-dilutive prize money to winners. 

CSL: INCUBATE  

CSL: INCUBATE program is for students who are actively working on a specific startup. Here, we work with teams in a more customized manner to help guide them as they build their product, engage with early customers, and iterate. 

“CSL Incubate has been a supportive, helpful community and network with responsive and active faculty advisors who have the student founders’ best interests in mind. We are grateful for the time that we have spent and will continue to spend here.”

– Richard Zhang, ’25SPS, Y Combinator Winter 2023 & Winter 2024

CSL: INCUBATE includes:

• Tailored weekly mentorship with CSL Leadership, Entrepreneurs in Residence, and Mentors throughout the semester
• Access to all CSL: COMMUNITY opportunities
• Weekly open Workspace hours
• 5,000 AWS credits as participants in the AWS Dreamers program

CSL:INCUBATE TEAMS WILL BE SELECTED LATER THIS FALL.

“CSL Incubate gave me the affirmation I needed to ignore the fluff and commit to my real dreams.”

– Vignesh Karthik ’26 Engineering