About this programme
The Student Milestone Fund is run by Yale's Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking (Tsai CITY). It gives financial support to Yale students working on early-stage ideas that solve a real-world problem, whether that's a new product, a nonprofit, a community initiative, or another kind of creative solution.
The fund is meant to move a venture to its next concrete milestone, not to cover general operating costs or personal expenses. Applicants must name that milestone and show how the requested money gets them there.
How it works
A team can receive up to $2,000 per academic year, and that cap can be split across more than one application, for example $500 in the fall and $1,500 in the spring.
Money can go toward software tools, equipment, raw materials, prototyping services, marketing and customer-discovery costs (not paid advertising), and legal or accounting consultation. It cannot pay team wages, stipends, personal expenses, honorariums, contractor fees, or research costs.
Applications are reviewed on a biweekly cycle within each open window. Reviewers may request an interview before deciding. Funded teams must submit follow-up progress reports, though detailed receipts are not required.
Teams that have already received $10,000 or more in funding, or that have won a Startup Yale Prize, may apply to this fund only once per year.
Who can apply
Any team is eligible as long as at least one member is a Yale student enrolled in a degree-granting program.
The venture must be solving a real-world problem, and the applicant needs to show evidence of customer discovery, and how feedback from that discovery has been incorporated, where applicable.
The requested budget must be itemized, tied to the stated milestone, and the applicant must confirm the items aren't already available through existing Yale resources.
How to apply
- Identify your venture's next strategic milestone and how the requested funding advances you toward it.
- Prepare an itemized budget aligned to that milestone, and confirm the needed resources are not already available through Yale.
- Gather evidence of customer discovery and how you've incorporated feedback, if applicable.
- Select one funding category on the application and justify why it fits.
- Explain any recurring revenue sources your venture has.
- Submit during an open window: Fall 2026 applications open October 2 with biweekly reviews through December 4; Spring 2027 applications open February 12 with an April 16 deadline and continued biweekly reviews.
- Be available for a possible interview during the review period.
Frequently asked
Can I apply more than once in a year?
Yes, as long as your total awarded across applications stays within the $2,000 annual cap, for example $500 in fall and $1,500 in spring.
Can this fund pay me or my teammates a stipend?
No. Team wages, stipends, personal expenses, honorariums, and contractor fees are all ineligible.
Do I need to be the only Yale student on my team?
No, you just need at least one team member who is a Yale student enrolled in a degree-granting program.
What if my team already raised $10,000 or won a Startup Yale Prize?
You can still apply, but only once per year instead of multiple times.
Do I need to submit receipts after I'm funded?
No, but you do need to submit follow-up progress reports; detailed receipts and reporting are not required.
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Reviewed 2026-09-25. Programmes change, so check eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private firm and is not part of any government body.