The Social Venture Residential

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.

Applications for 2027 Open in November

THE PROGRAMME: EXPLAINED

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 three complementary phases:

Intensive Residential Week

Kick off your entrepreneurial journey with a week-long programme the week before Lent Term featuring 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.

Year-Round Learning and Mentorship

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 personalised 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.

Venture Creation Weekends

Throughout the year, in collaboration with the Global Education Lab, residential students will be encouraged to take part in one 0-2-1 Weekend, a 2.5-day immersive acceleration studio designed to take participants from raw idea to a credible, testable venture (each time focused on a particular industry or area).

Participants will work on pre-defined, high-impact challenges in different industries and move through focused mini-sprints, from problem discovery and MVP creation to validation, business modelling, and pitch development.

Take a glance at last year's programme

  • Learn from Peers and Experts

    Through, founders’ stories, expert facilitation, and interactive workshops, you’ll have the opportunity to dive deeper into the world of entrepreneurship and innovation to learn together with a diverse and cross-College cohort of fellow students.

  • Practice Pitching with a Team

    In interdisciplinary groups, you’ll need to practice how to communicate your ideas and visions both through multiple pitching sessions and tailored feedback clinics. After all, the art of communication is one that requires repetitive rehearsal.

  • Experiment with New Ideas

    Trial and error sits at the centre of any entrepreneurial journey and during the residential week, you’ll be given the space to experiment, play and build. Put your ideas to the test and learn to be comfortable with getting it wrong and adapting quickly.

  • Join Our Impressive Community

    Community building is at the heart of the September Residential Programme and you’ll join a growing community of aspiring innovators and entrepreneurs and have the chance to socialise with the E-Lab community through dinners, drinks and multiple networking events.

  • Be Inspired by Eachother's Energy

    It should go without saying that the commitment to learning must be paired with the ability to have a little fun and our residentials are designed to support not only serious skills development but the joy of building with others from across and beyond the Cambridge ecosystem!

Read more from Residential Students:

Building Sustainable Impact: Insights from the King’s E-Lab Social Ventures Programme 2025

Maureen Abel, African Studies, Magdalene College
Read Here

Reflections from the 2026: A Three-Day Journey That Shaped My Thinking

Mendos Fidelis, Advanced Materials for the Energy Transition, St. Edmund’s College

Read Here

Transforming Ideas into Impact: My 3-Day Journey in Social Entrepreneurship

Vimal Lamba, MBA, King’s College

Read Here

What Shifted for Me at the King’s E-Lab Social Venture Residential in 2026

Damilola Oyeyemi, MPhil Public Policy, Wolfson College

Read Here

  • "The E-Lab created a space where it was safe to fail, laugh, and grow. I came unsure of my ideas; I left inspired to act, guided by the essons of history, the wisdom of my peers an he experiences from throughout the week."

    Maryam Bham, PhD Education, Lucy Cavendish

  • "Through the mentorship, networking and training sessions at the E-Lab I have broadened my vision into building a venture that fosters entrepreneurship for social good. My passion project is now a scalable enterprise. E-Lab transforms!"

    Sally Musonye, MPhil, Engineering for Sustainable Development

  • "What I enjoyed most was the immersive, high-energy atmosphere. Being surrounded 24/7 by passionate, creative people was incredibly motivating. The late-night brainstorming sessions were where some of the most exciting ideas came to life."

    Enoch Alex, PhD in Physiology Development and Neuroscience, Corpus Christi

  • “Change begins with us and E-Lab gives you that opportunity to make a change in the world “

    Ifeoma Medebem, MPhil Quantitative Climate and Environmental Science, Churchill College

  • “I think everyone who wants to create positive change in their society should get involved in the E-lab. Whether their ideas are clear or not, the E-lab will provide them with a space to think a lot about the “how” of their ideas, or even redefine them and give them new dreams.”

    Favour Uzoma, MPhil in Education, Hughes Hall

  • “Joining E-lab gives you the opportunity to think creatively, build confidence and join a network of like minded people.”

    Rosemond Konadu Tabi, MPhil in Real Estate Finance, Fitzwilliam College

  • “I enjoyed being in the room with people who had such great ideas - it was a really wonderful experience that left me inspired. Whether or not I start my own social venture immediately, I know that there are some incredible people who are going to do valuable work in the world and that brings me hope! “

    Riya Kartha, PhD in Education, Hughes Hall

  • "Throughout the week I got to understand better the magnitude of the E-Lab. What I love the most is how comprehensive it is: it brings together education, support, networking, mentorship, funding opportunities. I have never seen such a range of things in a single programme."

    Daniel Kraus Vollert, PhD in Social Anthropology, Trinity College

  • "The experience reinforced a fundamental insight: meaningful progress in entrepreneurship, particularly social entrepreneurship, rarely occurs in isolation. Rather, it emerges through deliberate engagement, critical exchange, and exposure to diverse ways of thinking."

    Mendos Fidelis, MPhil in Advanced Materials for the Energy Transition, St. Edmund’s College

  • "I’m deeply grateful to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme, the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation, and the King’s E-Lab. Together, they created an environment where ideas could flourish, connections could deepen, and future social entrepreneurs could develop the skills needed to create lasting change."

    Maureen Abel, MPhil African Studies, Magdalene College

Meet Our Past E-Lab Cohort Members

2025/2026
2024/2025
2023/2024

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Applications open at the beginning of November each year and close in early December. Candidates are informed of selection by mid December.

  • Our Social Venture Residential is in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme.

    If you are not a Mastercard Foundation Scholar nor an E-Lab September Residential Student, please reach out to us if you would be interested in applying. These spaces are limited.

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

  • Not at all! While we encourage you to think about potential ideas and demonstrate past entrepreneurial thinking (broadly construed), you do not need to have started a venture or have one idea you would like to build. For the Residential Week, no extensive preparation is required—just bring your enthusiasm and ideas!

    • We emphasise developing sustainable and ethical projects with positive social and environmental impact, while expanding entrepreneurial skills to students from all disciplines.

    • 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.

    • And remember, it's great if you have an entrepreneurial idea, but be prepared to have it challenged!