About Startup Cohort
Having an idea is exciting. But turning it into something people actually need requires patience, research, feedback, and a lot of learning.
The Startup Cohort is for students who want to explore entrepreneurship beyond just pitching an idea.
Students learn to understand problems, talk to potential users, question their assumptions, improve their ideas, understand basic business models, and communicate what they are building.
The goal is not to tell every student to become a founder. The goal is to help students understand how entrepreneurship actually works.
“We don't build startups. We build founders who build startups.”
Roles & Responsibilities
Cohort Lead
Manages end-to-end cohort operations — selection, scheduling, mentor coordination, and Demo Day production.
Startup Mentor
A senior founder or industry expert paired 1-on-1 with a cohort team for the full 12 weeks.
Pitch Coach
Runs pitch preparation workshops and gives structured feedback on decks, storytelling, and delivery.
Finance & Legal Advisor
Guides teams on term sheets, equity structure, financial modeling, and legal entity formation.
Community Manager
Runs alumni networks, founder circles, and inter-cohort knowledge-sharing sessions.
Projects & Initiatives
Cohort 1 — EdTech Track
CompletedFirst cohort focused on education technology — produced 3 funded ventures in the K-12 and skilling space.
Cohort 2 — Sustainability Track
CompletedFocused on climate tech and sustainable consumer products — 5 teams, 2 with active funding.
Cohort 3 — Open Track
ActiveOpen theme cohort with teams across SaaS, health, and hardware — currently in progress.
Startup Alumni Network
ActiveA living network of CIE cohort graduates for peer support, referrals, and co-founder matching.
Events & Gatherings
Cohort Demo Day
End of CohortThe flagship event — teams pitch to a curated audience of investors, mentors, and CIE alumni.
Pitch Night
MonthlyPractice pitch sessions with feedback from peers and a rotating panel of mentors.
Founder Fireside
Bi-weeklyInformal conversations with successful founders on their journey, failures, and lessons.
Cohort Kickoff
Each CohortOpening boot camp — team building, cohort goals, mentor matching, and first milestone setting.
Our Roadmap for Entrepreneurship
Creative Thinking & Innovation
Exploring Entrepreneurial Spirit
Emerging Technologies & Product Development
Fundamentals of Financial Analysis
Understanding and Crafting Business Model
Marketing Communication and Branding
Business Plan Writing and Pitching
Seed Fund Support
Start-up Mentoring & Registration
Venture Growth Strategies