Penn State has launched many creative minds to the top of the entrepreneurship community over the years. With a new focus on investing in the talents and ideas of future graduates, students will be free to pursue research, chase dreams, and further increase their potential for higher learning.

This summer, the University is promoting a grant program for top startup teams within the Penn State entrepreneurial ecosystem. The new Summer Founders Program will award $10,000 grants to each of the top four to five team applications submitted.

If chosen to participate in the program, teams will be given grant money to offset living expenses and provide funding to grow and start project ideas over the summer while living in State College. The 10-week program will begin in May and feature weekly meetings with other winning groups. Workshops will also be available to teach core basics in entrepreneurship and winning teams will be connected with project contributors — both alumni and university personnel — to act as advisers.

Matt Brezina, the co-founder of Sincerely, will act as one of the project contributors as an advocate of Innoblue and other student-run startup communities for aspiring entrepreneurs. Teams will be able to pitch their ideas to investors and community members in seminar format on August 7.

Directors of the Summer Founders Program, William Ferguson and Eli Kariv, stress the program’s acceptance of any interested participants, business student or not. At least one student from each team must be a current Penn State student. Applications open on Feb. 20 and will close March 8. Winners will be announced immediately following Spring Break on March 16.

Students can find more information and apply for the program on the Summer Founders Program’s website.