About this programme
Hazeltine Grants are small, equity-free grants from the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship at Brown University, designed to encourage more students to design and build technology-related projects and to support students already doing such projects.
They sit alongside the Nelson Center's general Explore, Experiment, and Expand grant tiers, which fund ventures at increasingly advanced stages, but Hazeltine Grants apply specifically to engineering and technology projects and use a separate, direct application route rather than the Center's standard UFunds process used for its other grants.
Grants run from $500 to $1,000 per project, covering project expenses, and come with entrepreneurship support from the Nelson Center.
Who can apply
Open to Brown University students designing and building engineering- or technology-related projects.
Under the Nelson Center's general grant rules (which Hazeltine sits within), each venture may apply for one grant at a time, and can later apply for a more advanced grant if it shows measurable progress. Grants are sector- and business-model-agnostic, covering commercial, social, or blended ventures.
How to apply
- Contact Louise Manfredi (louise_manfredi@brown.edu) directly, copying Tina Trahan (Tina_Trahan@brown.edu), to apply; this program does not use the Nelson Center's general UFunds application used for its other grants.
Frequently asked
How much is a Hazeltine Grant worth?
Grants run $500 to $1,000 per project, to help cover project expenses.
Can I get a renewal grant for the same project?
Yes, renewal is possible; awards are renewed on a case-by-case basis.
How do I apply?
Contact Louise Manfredi at louise_manfredi@brown.edu directly, with Tina Trahan (Tina_Trahan@brown.edu) copied, rather than using the Nelson Center's general UFunds application platform.
Is this the same as the Nelson Center's Explore/Experiment/Expand grants?
No. Hazeltine Grants are a separate track specifically for engineering and technology projects, though they share the Nelson Center's general rule that a venture holds one grant at a time.
Does the grant take equity?
No. Nelson Center grants are equity-free for undergraduates; for master's and doctoral candidates, intellectual property considerations may apply.
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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.