This cross-college initiative, encouraged by our generous funders including David Sainsbury (KC 1959) and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, aims to increase our impact across collegiate Cambridge and enhance our students' future

THE E-LAB RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMME

THE SOCIAL VENTURES RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMME

What?

One-year programme is a year-long extracurricular residential programme that aims to take innovative ideas forward within the context of social, corporate of associative ventures.

You'll learn to assess opportunities, conduct market analyses, prepare organisational or business plans, understand the basics of financing your initiative, pitch effectively, and manage dynamic teams. Our goal is to foster an entrepreneurial mindset that you can apply to a business project, a social enterprise, an association or a charity, or a research project, or within organizations as an intrapreneur. We have supported a range of initiatives set up by our students so far including creating a professional association, developing initiatives within large firms, taking intellectual property to market, developing new apps or platforms, social enterprises supporting the marginalised.

The programme is structured in two complementary phases:

Intensive Residential Week (the week before Michaelmas term)
Kick off your entrepreneurial journey with a week-long programme led by E-lab co-directors, Kamiar Mohaddes and Thomas Roulet.
The programme features dynamic lectures, interactive seminars, and collaborative study sessions. You'll explore and develop entrepreneurial ideas individually and in teams, gaining invaluable insights into the initial stages of venture creation.
Mornings are devoted to mastering key concepts and frameworks through engaging lectures and thought-provoking discussions. Afternoons focus on hands-on development of entrepreneurial projects.
No extensive preparation is required—just bring your enthusiasm and ideas!
Year-Round Learning and Growth (Over the Academic Year)
Following the residential week, your entrepreneurial journey continues throughout the academic year. You'll participate in tailored events, workshops, and inspiring talks. The programme culminates in an exciting competition for seed funding to propel your ideas forward.
You'll benefit from personalized mentoring provided by visiting industry experts, successful entrepreneurs-in-residence, and accomplished research associates. Their diverse perspectives will help shape your entrepreneurial mindset and refine your project.

When?

The September Residential and then throughout the academic year.

Where?

King's College, Cambridge.

Do I get accommodation and meals?

If you reside in College accommodation for the upcoming academic year, accommodation will be provided at no cost in your own College (these arrangements will be communicated to you by your College following success in the applications). All meals during the residential week will be provided at King’s at no cost.

For whom?

You must be a member of an eligible College: King's, Christ's, Murray Edwards, Trinity, St Catz, Wolfson and Lucy Cavendish

You must be able to commit to attend the September residential week in person.
Open to all academic backgrounds
Open to undergraduates, postgraduates, and postdocs

Sign up?

Applications are currently open, submit your application here.

Tips and tricks:

We emphasise developing sustainable and ethical projects with positive social and environmental impact, while expanding entrepreneurial skills to students from all disciplines.
It's great if you have an entrepreneurial idea, but be prepared to have it challenged!
During the application process, we ask you to tell us why the programme would be ideal for you. You might be asked to provide a CV and write a summary of why you might be a suitable candidate for the programme.

Need more info?

Contact Kamiar Mohaddes.

What?

The Social Ventures Residential is a three-day introduction to the social venture sector run in collaboration with the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme.

This programme is designed to support students of all disciplines in developing sustainable and ethical projects with a positive social and environmental impact. The social ventures residential is open to all those eager to explore the possibilities of positive impact through innovation, whether you have an idea, an established venture or simply an enthusiasm for change.

In an inclusive, supportive and friendly atmosphere, you will have the opportunity to share and test your ideas with others and learn from the experience of successful social entrepreneurs.

You'll learn to assess opportunities, conduct market analyses and develop systems-thinking, prepare organisational or business plans, understand the basics of financing your initiative, pitch effectively, and manage dynamic teams.

For the three days, we provide breakfast, lunch and dinner in College, and we host one formal dinner during the residential, all free of charge. There is no cost to participating in the programme, but you are expected to arrange your own accommodation.

The programme is structured in two complementary phases:

Residential (the week before Lent Term)

Kick of your understanding of social ventures with the three-day residential in January. The programme features dynamic lectures, interactive seminars, and collaborative study sessions. You'll explore and develop social entrepreneurial ideas individually and in teams, gaining invaluable insights into the initial stages of venture creation.

Mornings are devoted to mastering key concepts and frameworks through engaging lectures and thought-provoking discussions. Afternoons focus on hands-on development of entrepreneurial projects.

No extensive preparation is required—just bring your enthusiasm and ideas!

Year-Round Learning and Growth (Over the Academic Year)

For the reminder of the academic year following the residential, you'll be able to participate in tailored events, workshops, and inspiring talks.

You'll benefit from personalised mentoring provided by visiting industry experts, successful visiting entrepreneurs, and accomplished research associates. Their diverse perspectives will help shape your entrepreneurial mindset and refine your project.

When?

January Residential and then throughout the academic year

Where?

King's College, Cambridge.

Do I get accommodation and meals?

We do not provide accommodation for this residential programme but all meals during the residential will be provided at King’s at no cost.

For whom?

You must be a E-Lab residential student or Mastercard Foundation Scholar (we do offer specific spaces beyond this by invitation – if you are interested in one of these spaces, please email us).