About this programme
Breakthrough Lab (B-Lab) is Brown University's premier 8-week summer accelerator, run by the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship, for Brown and RISD student founders building high-impact ventures. The Nelson Center describes it as a natural extension of Brown's creative, problem-solving spirit: each summer, student founders tackle real-world challenges and, through mentorship, funding and hands-on support, move early-stage concepts toward ventures ready for national accelerators, investment, or the next stage of growth.
B-Lab alumni have gone on to national accelerator programs including MassChallenge and Techstars. Past participants include Formally (2018 cohort), which placed first in the 2019 Brown Venture Prize, raised a $3.3 million pre-seed round led by Bessemer Venture Partners, and was later featured on Forbes 30 Under 30: Social Impact; and Liberare (also 2018), which placed second in the 2020 Brown Venture Prize and raised $1.2 million.
The 2026 cohort, made possible in part by the Steven J. Massarsky Charitable Trust, includes nine ventures spanning dermatology AI for darker skin tones, digitized childhood immunization tracking for low-resource settings, and biological membranes that absorb aquatic phosphate to halt algae blooms.
How it works
The program runs full-time and immersive for 8 weeks over the summer, giving founders a collaborative workspace, a supportive cohort community, weekly programming and sector-specific workshops, targeted mentorship from experienced founders and industry experts, and connections into the wider Brown alumni and partner network.
Funding support includes a $4,000 Scholarly Fellowship Award, plus Summer Earnings Waiver (SEW) support for eligible Brown students.
Who can apply
Open to Brown and RISD student founders building high-impact ventures.
How to apply
- Apply through the Nelson Center's UFunds platform, the general application route for its venture support programs.
- Meet with Nelson Center staff or a Peer Entrepreneur in Residence for a consultation as part of the process.
- Mentors are separately recruited to help applicants prepare their B-Lab and Brown Venture Prize applications; interested mentors can sign up through the Nelson Center's 'Become a Mentor' page.
- Contact entrepreneurship@brown.edu with questions.
Frequently asked
How much does B-Lab pay participating founders?
A $4,000 Scholarly Fellowship Award, plus Summer Earnings Waiver (SEW) support for eligible Brown students.
How long does the program run?
It is an intensive, full-time 8-week summer accelerator.
What do teams get besides the fellowship?
A collaborative workspace, a cohort community, weekly mentorship and workshops, and access to Brown's alumni and partner network.
What happens after B-Lab?
Alumni have gone on to national accelerators like MassChallenge and Techstars, and some have gone on to place and raise funding through the Brown Venture Prize, the Nelson Center's separate follow-on competition.
How do I apply?
Apply through the Nelson Center's UFunds platform and meet with Nelson Center staff or a Peer Entrepreneur in Residence.
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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.