The FORGE Mentors in Residence (MiRs) will facilitate the Student Startup Residency program. The MiRs will provide guidance and assistance to the grant recipients (student entrepreneurs) combining the development of startup concepts and acceleration alongside experiential student and community education. The grant programs will provide entrepreneurial education, mentoring, coaching, exposure to the venturing process, and readiness assessment tools. 

• Students engage in an intensive 8-week program over the Summer of 2024 with regular director check-ins and mentor sessions, weekly guest speaker and industry talks, and daily team meetings.
• All students receive a total of $4000* upon completion of 4 stated milestones.
• Graduate students also receive an additional $1600* to serve as leads and mentors for a team of 4 undergraduate students.
• Students who complete the boot-camp are invited to apply for paid FORGE Student Entrepreneur in Residence positions in Fall 2024.

FORGE maintains entrepreneurial resource hubs in Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma, while FORGE programs provide mentorship, business development, and feedback for early-stage ventures. Students meet regularly with experienced mentors to create custom development plans and develop guided pathways to accelerate scale-up and launch.

* Funds awarded through this program may be viewed as taxable income by the IRS. You and your family should consult a tax advisor.