• The year-long extracurricular programme

    The Lab is a project aimed at equipping students with entrepreneurial skills and support those wishing to explore a career path in innovation, entrepreneurship and business.

    The year-long extracurricular programme is aimed at students from various degree paths (from undergrads to postdocs) and any subject (current cohort includes students in computer science and engineering, psychology and behavioural sciences, anthropology and human sciences, medicine, economics, as well as classics and languages) from King's College. Emphasis is put on developing sustainable and ethical projects with a positive social and environmental impact as well as expanding entrepreneurial skills to students outside of the business school.

    Students will learn to asses opportunities, conduct a market analysis, prepare a business plan, basics of venture finance and pitching as well as managing dynamic teams. Programme’s goal is to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, which can then be applied to student's own business project, social entreprise or research project, as well as intrapreneurially within organisations.

Social Venture 2024 Residential

42 students are taking part in the first ever E-Lab Social Venture Residential, run in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation, at Cambridge Judge Business School. The students come from 16 different Cambridge Colleges: Christ's, Clare, Fitwilliam, Girton, Homerton, Jesus, King's, Lucy Cavendish, Magdalene, Murray Edwards, Newnham, Selwyn, Sidney Sussex, St John's, St. Edmund's, and Wolfson.

This new Residential is an inspiring introduction to the social venture sector. In an inclusive, supportive and friendly atmosphere, students will have the opportunity to share and test their ideas with others and learn from the experience of successful social entrepreneurs.

The students – from a wide range of subjects including Machine Learning, Mathematics, Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Engineering, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Anthropology, Architecture, Archaeology, and Human Sciences, Medicine, Public Policy, and Development Studies, Entrepreneurship and MBA, as well as African Studies, Classics and Languages – begin a three-day residential training programme prior to the start of the new academic term, with a series of events and workshops to follow.

Social Venture 2024 timetable

2023/24 cohort

A total of 42 participants from five Cambridge Colleges will form the third cohort of the year-long programme at King’s.

The students – from a wide range of subjects including computer science and engineering, psychology and behavioural sciences, anthropology and human sciences, medicine, economics, as well as classics and languages – will begin a week-long residential training programme prior to the start of the new academic term, with a series of events and workshops following on throughout the year.

Residential timetable (2023/24)

2022/23 cohort

19 undergraduates (nine in humanities and ten in hard sciences) and nine postgraduate students (five in humanities, 4 in social sciences, and ten in hard sciences) form the second cohort of the year-long programme at King’s.

The students – from a wide range of subjects including computer science, theology, biotech, and economics – began with a week-long residential training programme prior to the start of the new academic term, with a series of events, workshops and talks following on throughout the year.

Residential timetable (2022/23)

2021/22 Cohort

Ten undergraduate and nine postgraduate students formed the inaugural cohort of the newly established year long programme at King’s, which launched on 26th September 2021. The 19 students were from a wide range of subjects including computer science, politics, genetics, and economics. Several ventures are coming to life from the programme and there is even a pending patent.

Did you find the residential useful to connect with likeminded entrepreneurs?

Did you find the residential useful to develop an entrepreneurial idea?

 Results based on a feedback survey from Y1 (2021/2022) cohort.

FAQs

  • The application round deadlines for academic year 2023/24 will be announced in June 2023.

  • The first part of the Entrepreneurship Lab is an intensive week-long set of lectures, seminars and study from 27 September - 1 October 2021. During this residential week you’ll get a chance to toy with entrepreneurial ideas as an individual and as part of a group, and develop an understanding of the initial steps of an entrepreneurial venture. 

    This will be followed by a series of events, workshops and talks throughout the year, and culminating in the opportunity to compete for seed-funding to take your idea forward.

  • During the morning sessions, participants will explore key concepts and frameworks through lectures and discussions. In the afternoons, participants will develop their own entrepreneurial projects either as individuals or as part of a group. Sessions will be delivered by the Co-Directors of the Entrepreneurship Lab, Kamiar Mohaddes and Thomas Roulet.

  • No, just come prepared with lots of ideas!

  • If you already have an idea, that's great, but be prepared to have it challenged! During the application process though, the only thing we ask is for you to tell us why the programme would be ideal for you.

  • The programme is open to up to all continuing King's students - both undergraduate and graduate - but you must be able to commit to attending the residential week in person. For students living in College during the ensuing academic year, accommodation and food during the residential week will be provided at no cost. Those living elsewhere in Cambridge will be entitled to free food during the week.

  • To express interest in the programme, please complete this form (link will be provided in Easter Term 2023). You will be asked to provide a CV and to write a summary of why you might be a suitable candidate for the programme (max 250 words).

  • The second part of the programme will unfold during the rest of the academic year, with participants getting the chance to gradually develop their ideas through additional supervisions and regular feedback. During Michaelmas Term, advice will be given about the development of a business plan, and in Lent Term, participants will be able to present their project to the Advisory Board to be considered for seed funding.

    A series of monthly seminar will begin in Lent 2022, and visiting entrepreneurs will help to mentor the various projects.

  • For more info email the Co-Directors of the Lab, Kamiar Mohaddes and Thomas Roulet, on TheLab@kings.cam.ac.uk