Academic Year 2022-23 Application Dates
More about The Garage's Programs
Programs at The Garage are open to full-time, degree seeking Northwestern students at all levels of study, with the exception of the Little Joe Ventures Fellowship, which is open to sophomores only.
PROGRAM
WHO IT'S FOR
BENEFITS
22-23 APPLICATIONS
TINKER
Entry-level, self-paced
Students who want to learn more about startups.
→ Access M-F, 9 AM – 9 PM
→ Slack + newsletters
→ Step-by-step emails
→ Tinker events + Startup Matchmaking access
9/1/22 – 6/2/23 (rolling)
PROPEL
For women students with an entrepreneurial project
Women students with a startup idea or entrepreneurial project.
→ $1,000
→ Access M-F, 9 AM-9 PM
→ Dedicated mentor
→ Weekly check-ins for feedback + guidance
Fall: 9/12/22 – 9/25/22
Winter: 11/7/22 – 11/25/22
Spring: 2/27/23 – 3/12/23
ACTIVATE
For Black students with an entrepreneurial project
Black students with a startup idea or entrepreneurial project.
→ Access M-F, 9 AM – 9 PM
→ Slack + newsletters
→ Step-by-step emails
→ Tinker events + Startup Matchmaking access
Fall: 9/12/22 – 9/25/22
Winter: 11/7/22 – 11/25/22
Spring: 2/27/23 – 3/12/23
RESIDENCY
Incubation program for the most serious student-founded startups
Students with 2+ teammates that have participated in Tinker
→ 24/7 access
→ Dedicated desk + mentor
→ Weekly Family Dinner
→ Garage hoodie
Fall: 9/1/22 – 9/11/22
Winter: 11/7/22 – 11/25/22
Spring: 2/27/23 – 3/12/23
THE OPPORTUNITY FUND
Financial award for low-income and / or SES eligible students
Current Resident or Tinkerer that identifies as low-income and / or SES-eligible
→ Up to $1,000
→ Access M-F, 9 AM-9 PM
→ Peer mentorship
9/1/22 – 6/1/23 (rolling)
X-FACTOR
Leadership development
Students who demonstrate leadership potential and are looking for individual development and growth
→ Hogan assessment + debrief ($1,500 value)
→ Access M-F, 9 AM-9 PM
→ Leadership programming
Invited quarterly by staff
JUMPSTART
Summer pre-accelerator program
Startups with 2+ team members (founder + 1)
→ $10K in funding (+ prize $)
→ 10-week programming with experts + pitch coaching
→ Dedicated desk + mentor
→ 24/7 access
Round 1: January 16 – 29, 2023
Round 2: April 3 – 16, 2023
LITTLE JOE VENTURES FELLOWSHIP
Elite fellowship for sophomores who demonstrate entrepreneurial potential
Sophomores nominated by faculty + staff (program runs through senior year)
→ $5,000
→ 24/7 access
→ Trip to LA (junior year) / Spring break trip (senior year)
→ Hands-on mentoring + guidance
Nominations made annually in January ’23