Business Series 
This Business Series is a four-part workshop built to give WIT students a chance to learn some basics about the early stages of entrepreneurship, like customer discovery, market segmentation, and prototyping. Whether you have an idea that you want to explore, want to generate an idea to pursue, or are simply interested in understanding what makes an idea a good one, knowing some early-stage entrepreneurship fundamentals can be an important way to differentiate yourself in the job market.

Rapid Pitch Competition 
Rapid Pitch was designed to give students with new business and product ideas the opportunity to pitch for the chance to receive up to $500 for prototyping and proof-of-concept funding. By participating, students get the opportunity to receive feedback, expand their network, meet other entrepreneurs on campus, and practice pitching their businesses. This competition happens every spring semester. Head here to see the brochure from a previous competition.

Leopard Launch Pitch Competition 
Want a chance to pitch your business for up to $10,000? Student entrepreneurs who have already validated their business ideas, developed a business model, and determined their target market are encouraged to apply! Up to six student teams will be selected to participate during Wentworth’s alumni day each fall, where they will give a 5-minute venture pitch in front of a live audience. Money will be awarded to the top three finalists and a fan favorite. 

Accelerate Co-op for Entrepreneurs (ACE) 
ACE is a unique opportunity for students to use their co-op to launch and/or grow a business, while getting paid! Spend a full semester focusing exclusively on your business, while working directly with faculty advisors and mentors, getting Accelerate support through its staff and maker space, and immersing yourself in a peer network of other WIT student entrepreneurs. You will also receive up to $2,500 to spend on materials and supplies in addition to a $9,000 stipend to ensure that you can focus on your business full-time. 

Founder Seed Fund 
The Founder Seed Fund supports inventors and entrepreneurs who want to launch a new product or service but need help financing prototype and proof-of-concept development. This fund enables founders and teams to quickly build, test and share their concepts by providing prototyping support, the use of materials and equipment at Accelerate’s makerspace, and up to $2,500 in funding. The fund is available to any undergraduate or graduate student at Wentworth whose final goal is to launch a business. Read more about the fund, here. 

Office Hours 
Interested in getting feedback about your business or product idea? We have staff and faculty who would be happy to meet and discuss your vision. If you’re in the beginning stages and want to talk to someone about your idea and next steps, reach out to Executive Director Ashley Lucas: lucasa1@wit.edu. If you've made some traction or are a little further along, feel free to connect with our Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Mike Santora, during his office hours. Sign up for a spot by checking this link.   

Pumpkin Innovation Challenge 
Inspired by NASA’s annual pumpkin carving competition, Accelerate presents Wentworth’s Pumpkin Innovation Challenge! Teams of students will be given a pumpkin, three days, and the use of Accelerate’s space, materials, and tools, to create the most innovative pumpkin that they can come up with! Winners are selected across two categories, mechanical and non-mechanical, and are chosen by a select group of expert judges. Winners receive a lifetime of bragging rights and their names up on a plaque for all to see! 

Rapid Prototyping Workshops 
Rapid prototyping is a key tool in moving your ideas forward. Learn fundamentals of design-thinking, why prototyping is so important in conveying your ideas, and then put it all into use by creating rapid prototypes of your own. 

Lego Ramp Challenge 
We love Legos. We love them even more when we get to send them down a 12-foot ramp! Create a team to build Lego cars and see whose design goes the farthest off the ramp. Whether you have friends to bring or need a team to join, we’ll make sure you have people to work with. Pro-tip, the teams that iterate the most usually win! 

Workshops 
Accelerate offers maker workshops to give students the opportunity to learn new skills and test out the different tools and equipment in the space. If we’re not offering the specific workshop that you’re looking for, reach out to Accelerate’s Lab Technician to schedule a time to learn more about the tools and equipment you’re interested in: lamt1@wit.edu. 

One-on-One Sessions 
Have a project in mind that you’d like to build? Students can sign up to meet with our maker space Lab Technician, Tory Lam, to get assistance in designing and building. Sign-up for a time slot here.