The Program
Two seasons. 19 founders. $65K invested live on stage.
How It Works
Step 01
Each semester, a cohort of student founders already in market is selected from across Wesleyan — companies with prototypes, paying customers, or real revenue.
Step 02
Thirteen weeks of workshops with guest speakers, mentors, and pitch coaches — covering customer personas, go-to-market, fundraising, financial modeling, and leadership.
Step 03
Founders pitch live on a real stage in New York City to a panel of alumni Sharks who commit capital in the room and an audience who votes on the People's Choice Award.
Follow the Journey
Every week of the program, captured on YouTube and Substack — from cold-call workshops to live pitch nights.
Week 10
Get Involved
Two seasons have proven the model. Now we're building on it. Whether you want to invest on stage, speak to the cohort, or mentor a student founder — there's a role for you in Season 3.
Join the panel on stage. Hear live pitches, ask questions, and make your investment decision in the room. Season 2 Sharks committed $40,000 in a single night.
Come to campus for a class session. Share what you've built, what you've learned, and take questions from student founders who are already in market.
Work one-on-one with a student founder over the course of the semester. Help them refine their pitch, sharpen their strategy, and prepare for the stage.
Support Wesleyan's entrepreneurship ecosystem. Help fund the People's Choice Award, event production, or program operations as we scale into Season 3 and beyond.