Entrepreneurship Fellows Program

The Penn Engineering Entrepreneurship Fellows Program immerses a small select group of students (Juniors, Seniors, & 1st Year Masters) in a transformative educational experience that extends beyond the confines of the traditional classroom. Running from January through December, Fellows will participate in dedicated, seminar-style Engineering Entrepreneurship classes in the spring and fall semesters, and spend the summer working at high-growth tech startups with executive mentors. In addition, each Fellow will be mentored by entrepreneurship alumni as well as venture capitalists. Fellows come away with a profound understanding of the innovation process and are well-prepared to establish and lead innovative ventures.

View 2024 Cohort

2024 Cohort

Year at a Glance

Spring

EAS 5410 – Learn the essentials of achieving product-market fit, competitive marketing & operations strategies, venture finance, team building, and leadership.

Summer

Build experience through a paid internship at a high-growth tech startup with executive mentorship; Journal and share experiences while visiting other Fellows at their internships.

Fall

EAS 5430 – Reflect on your internship learnings, develop and teach a case study of your experience and discuss it with other Fellows and faculty to complete your program experience.

Teaching Team

Thomas CasselPractice Professor and Director of Penn Engineering’s Entrepreneurship Program

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Sevile MannickarottuDirector for new initiatives for Entrepreneurship at Penn Engineering

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Eddy YangTeaching Assistant for the Fellows Program

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Program Information

The Fellows Program immerses a small, select cohort of Penn Engineering students in a program combining coursework and a summer internship to engage with innovative, high-growth tech ventures, guided by experienced tech founders. Running from January through December, Fellows will participate in dedicated, seminar-style Engineering Entrepreneurship classes in the spring and fall semesters, and spend the summer working at high-growth tech startups. In addition, each Fellow will be mentored by entrepreneurship alumni as well as venture capitalists. By collaborating closely with founders on fundraising and product strategy, Entrepreneurship Fellows will gain firsthand knowledge of modern startup dynamics. Armed with invaluable insights and networks, they’re poised to lead technological advancement. This program forms an elite alumni network catalyzing transformative change in tech industries and contributing to partner company success.

Reach out to entrep@seas.upenn.edu with any questions.

Application Information

The Penn Engineering Entrepreneurship Fellows Program is pleased to announce that applications for the program will be open to Penn Engineering students during the fall semester, with a specific focus on third- and fourth-year undergraduates and first-year master’s students. To be eligible for consideration, students are expected to possess a strong academic background and a track record of leadership demonstrated either through extracurricular activities or within the classroom. Additionally, applicants should exhibit an entrepreneurial mindset and excel in areas beyond academics, such as involvement in clubs, sports, music and more. Candidates are required to provide two references (letters not required), with one reference being a Penn Engineering faculty or staff member. The application will also include essay questions and necessitates the submission of a resume along with an unofficial transcript. Select applicants will be invited for interviews, from which the final students will be chosen.

Reach out to entrep@seas.upenn.edu with any questions.

Applications are closed until August 2024.

Info Session Dates

  • Coming in September 2024

Food will be provided for in-person information sessions.

Reach out to entrep@seas.upenn.edu with any questions.

Register for a session

Employer Info and Application

Penn Engineering Entrepreneurship Fellows take paid in-person internships with organizations during the summer, allowing each Fellow to demonstrate their innovation, analysis and design skills on high-impact projects. As part of the internship experience, we require each Fellow to be assigned a senior-level mentor within the organization (e.g., CEO, VP, or founder). Although another employee may supervise a Fellow, it is critical that each Fellow also has a senior internal sponsor concerned with the Fellow’s welfare who is willing to meet one-on-one with the student to discuss progress and goals.

Our mission is to expose the Fellows to the reality of the entrepreneurial process in a variety of different organizations, not to put participating organizations at risk. We expect mentor organizations to operate in a highly ethical manner and demonstrate a commitment to the growth of the Fellows they employ. Interested organizations may apply by completing a short online application, which will be available through early June. Organizations that apply to be Entrepreneurship Fellow Program employers are not guaranteed to have their offers of employment accepted by a Fellow. The program urges employers to provide competitive compensation during the duration of the summer internship.

Reach out to entrep@seas.upenn.edu with any questions.

Employer Application