University programme · Boston, Massachusetts, United States

IDEA

Northeastern University's student-run venture accelerator for ventures of Northeastern students, staff and alumni, with advisers, workshops and non-equity grants across three stages: Ready, Set and Go. No fees and no equity.

Status unknown Run by Northeastern University

Verified 18 October 2026 · From the programme's own pages

Terms

Funding
not published Non-equity grants: the Gap Fund gives up to US$10,000 per round (up to US$30,000 in total during the Go stage), the Undergrad Prototype Fund gives US$1,500, and the Alpha Fund gives up to US$5,000 per grant to ventures from Northeastern research labs
Instrument
Grant
Equity taken
None (equity-free) Takes no equity
Programme fee
not published Charges no fees
Duration
not published
Cohort size
not published
Cohorts
not published
Delivery
In person
Stages
Idea, pre-seed, seed
Sectors
Sector-agnostic
Open to founders from
not published
Perks
  • Venture advisers
  • Specialist workshops for later-stage ventures
  • Entrepreneurs in residence
  • Service-provider partners

Ventures move through three milestone-based stages (Ready, Set and Go), starting with customer validation of the problem. IDEA is run by a team of Northeastern undergraduates. Gap Fund recipients cannot receive it in two consecutive rounds.

Application dates

Status unknown

Dates not published.

Who can apply

  • Ventures must be led by Northeastern University students, staff or alumni
  • New ventures start by attending a Ready Stage orientation
  • Stage: idea, pre-seed, seed

What founders should check

  1. The programme says it takes no equity. Still read the agreement for warrants, revenue shares or rights in a later round.
  2. Fees: Charges no fees.
  3. It runs in person in Boston. Plan to be there for the length of the programme.
  4. Dates for the next cohort are not published.

Similar university programmes

Other university programmes that share a sector with IDEA or run in the United States.

Run this programme?

Send us your next dates and terms and we will update the listing from your own pages, free.