Program Overview

eLab Program

The eLab Program is designed to help students develop their startup ventures. The program provides tools, resources, and mentorship to support students in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Students can participate in the eLab Incubator or Summer Accelerator, where they will have the opportunity to pitch their ventures and connect with the entrepreneurship community at Demo Day.

eLab Summer Accelerator

The eLab Summer Accelerator is an intensive program that provides students with the tools and resources needed to develop their own startup. The program lasts for nine weeks during the summer and includes:

• A multi-day kickoff session
• Regular meetings with a dedicated faculty adviser to discuss project milestones, deliverables, and formal action plans
• Lectures and workshops
• Mentorship and advising from Keller Center faculty, staff, entrepreneurs, and technology experts
• Weekly progress update meetings
• A presentation to investors, inventors, experts, and others from the entrepreneurial community at Demo Day

Benefits

The eLab Summer Accelerator offers several benefits to participants, including:

• The opportunity to develop their startup ideas into viable, scalable ventures
• Matching with experienced mentors in their field or business needs
• Assignment of a dedicated faculty adviser
• Targeted workshops and lectures open only to eLab participants
• Networking opportunities with entrepreneurs, legal and accounting services, and investors
• A $5,000 stipend for each team member
• A business expense account for each team
• On-campus housing and meal plan covered by the Keller Center
• Co-working space in the Princeton Entrepreneurial Hub

Eligibility

To be eligible for the eLab Summer Accelerator, students must:

• Be currently enrolled Princeton University undergraduate (first year, sophomore, junior) and graduate students at the time of application
• Provide written approval from their faculty advisor prior to committing to the program (for graduate students)
• Be available on campus for the entire duration of the program
• Have a startup team size of at least three and no more than five Princeton students
• Not require an I-9

Key Dates

The following are the key dates for the eLab Summer Accelerator:

• November 3, 2025: Application opens
• December 15, 2025: Application deadline
• Late December 2025: Selected teams contacted for interviews
• January 5-7, 2026: Team interviews
• January 9, 2026: Offers extended
• One week from date of offer: Commitment deadline
• January 21-February 15, 2026: Tentative second round application (second round not guaranteed)
• May 31, 2026: Move-in
• June 1, 2026: Kickoff event
• July 30, 2026: Demo Day
• August 1, 2026: Move-out

Program Associate

The eLab Summer Accelerator also offers a Program Associate position, which is a critical component of the program. The Program Associate will work with all aspects of the eLab Summer Accelerator program, including developing social programming, managing day-to-day organization, and assisting with operations.

2025 Summer Accelerator Teams

Previous teams that have participated in the eLab Summer Accelerator include:

• EVAL Gaming: Software targeting eSport player skill development
• House of Bones Theater Company: Producing engaging theater experiences in a virtual format
• InstantReplay: Platform redefining how fashion meets campus
• Lovestruck Games: Videogame studio fusing historical fiction with cutting-edge technology