Tufts Venture Accelerator (TVA)

A full-time summer venture accelerator

“Tufts Venture Accelerator’s impact on our venture has been
profound, opening up new possibilities and honing our
entrepreneurial mindset.”

– Nikita & Sushant, cofounders of Raitagana, A TVA Alumni Team

The Tufts Venture Accelerator

The Tufts Venture Accelerator is a full-time, 10-week-long summer venture accelerator that provides structure, accountability, mentorship, networking opportunities, and funding to help Tufts founders develop their entrepreneurial leadership skills as they build and prepare to launch their new ventures.

At the end of the program, our founders will not only have made rapid progress on building their new ventures, but will have developed new mindsets and skillsets that help them solve real world problems and drive transformative change.

2025 Dates

  • Program Duration: June 3 – August 7, 2025
  • Applications open: March 24 – April 6, 2025
  • Interviews: Week of April 14, 2025
  • Notifications sent: By April 18, 2025 (Accept within 24 hours of notification)
  • Kickoff bootcamp: June 3-5, 2025
  • CEO Round tables: Mondays @10am ET
  • Mock board meetings: July 10, 2025 and August 6, 2025
  • Wrapup and celebration: August 7, 2025
  • Preview Application Here

Program Highlights

  • 10 week long, full-time, in-person 
  • Weekly CEO round tables 
  • 1×1 coaching sessions with entrepreneurs-in-residence
  • Executive leadership coaching for all team members
  • Mock board meetings with custom mentor matching
  • Venture awards of up to $10,000 per team

Eligibility

  • Teams of 2-5 (No solo teams)
  • Applicants must be a Tufts eligible team (see FAQ)
  • Applicants must not have raised or have accrued cumulative revenues of more than $250,000 for this venture
  • Applicants must not have already participated in TVA with the same venture
  • Applicants must commit to working on their venture as their full time professional pursuit during the program
  • Applicants must commit to attending all mandatory programming

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the application process?

  • Applicants must complete an online application.
  • Some applicants may be invited for a 20-minute interview.
  • Teams will be selected based on the organizers’ assessment of whether the program will benefit them.

Is the accelerator in-person, hybrid, or remote?

  • The Tufts Venture Accelerator is an in-person program with some Zoom access for workshops and speaker events.
  • The home base for all teams is Room 301, Joyce Cummings Center, 177 College Avenue, Medford, MA.
  • Teams building ventures in other locations must attend in person for the kickoff bootcamp, midpoint pitch, and all mock board meetings.

What qualifies as a “Tufts-eligible team”?

At least one actively participating executive or founding team member must be:

  • A matriculated Tufts undergraduate or graduate student
  • A full-time postdoc, research fellow, or resident
  • A recent graduate (within the last five years)

Faculty and staff may participate, but at least one executive or co-founding team member must meet the above criteria.

Can non-Tufts team members participate in the Full-Time Edition?

Yes, non-Tufts members may be part of the venture’s management team and participate in the accelerator. However, Tufts team members must:

  • Be the driving force behind the venture
  • Play an active role in daily operations
  • Hold an executive position on the founding management team

What are the rules of engagement for accepted teams?

  • Your new venture is your primary professional focus for the summer
  • You will not take a full time job/internship during the accelerator. If you get an offer you will need to exit the accelerator.
  • You will attend the kickoff bootcamp and all CEO round tables on time every Monday and engage with your peer coaching groups and 1×1 meetings with EIRs weekly or more frequently, in person if possible.
  • You will make every effort to maximize your progress on your venture every week
  • You must attend and engage in all coaching sessions and mandatory programming.
  • Team members are expected to work in person at the Venture Lab (any exceptions must be approved before the program starts).
  • You must uphold Tufts academic integrity and community citizenship standards as outlined in university policies and the Code of Conduct.
  • Violating these requirements may result in repayment of venture award funds and/or ineligibility for future Derby Entrepreneurship Center programs.

 

How can teams earn the $10,000 Venture Award?

  • Tranche 1 ($5,000) is guaranteed and will be distributed at the start of the accelerator to each accepted team.
  • Tranche 2 (up to $5,000) requires a grant application, including a detailed budget and intended use of funds. A funding board will make the final decision.

How should teams divide the money and handle taxes?

  • Teams are responsible for deciding how to divide the funds. We strongly encourage discussing this beforehand.
  • Unless your team has an incorporated entity to receive the funds, the award will be taxed as ordinary income for the recipient. Plan accordingly.

Can I work on my venture while taking a summer class or conducting academic research?

  • Yes. However, coursework or research objectives may influence your approach in ways that differ from optimizing for venture success. For example, a class may focus on venture capital fundraising when bootstrapping might be the better fit for your venture.
  • If you receive conflicting advice, you must determine what’s best for your venture while meeting your academic obligations.

Can I teach a Pre-College Bootcamp while participating in TVA?

  • Yes. You may apply to teach the Tufts Pre-College Entrepreneurship and Innovation Bootcamp, a two-week program. There are a limited number of 20-hour-per-week positions (up to 40 hours total).
  • If selected, your TVA coaches will help ensure the teaching experience strengthens your business fundamentals and accelerates your progress.

Can I have a part-time job while in TVA?

  • It depends. If your job is stable, low-stress, and does not interfere with TVA programming, we will work with you to ensure you continue making progress.
  • However, if your job requires extended absences (e.g., being the primary instructor for the CS Pre-College Bootcamp), you must list yourself as a part-time team member. Your team must have at least two full-time members. Discuss your situation with us, and we will assess on a case-by-case basis.

Can I have a full-time job while in TVA?

  • No. Full-time TVA team members must treat their venture as their sole professional focus. Dividing attention between a job and the venture would compromise both experiences. If your job is a priority, you should list yourself as a part-time team member.

Can I join another accelerator while in TVA?

  • No. Teams may not participate in multiple accelerators simultaneously during the 10-week program. Choose the accelerator that best supports your venture and commit fully.