BASE Camp is the Entrepreneurship@DU Summer Accelerator Program, a bootcamp for entrepreneurs. BASE Camp is an integral part of the Entrepreneurship@DU ecosystem and is open to all degree-seeking University of Denver students and DU alumni to apply. (Eligibility requirements are listed below). Up to seven teams of entrepreneurs, including up to two teams of alumni, will be accepted to BASE Camp each year.
This intensive 5-week program is for startups that want to grow and accelerate their business idea, find market fit and create value. Startups that are accepted to this program will have a private office, access to co-working space and maker space, curated workshops, mentors, networking, one-to-one advising with industry experts and a $5,000 stipend.
- BASE Camp Dates: July 26 – August 29, 2024
- Teams Accepted: 5-7 teams (up to 2 DU alumni)
- Location: The Garage @ the University of Denver
- Stipend: $5,000 per team + in-kind
- Eligibility: Open to all University of Denver degree-seeking students and DU alumni (see details below for eligibility criteria)
- Applications open: March 1, 2024
- Applications close: April 1, 2024
- Pitches: Week of April 8, 2024
- Interviews: April 15 – April 19, 2024
- Summer 2024 BASE Camp Cohort announced: April 22–26, 2024
BASE Camp start date: July 26, 2024
- Teams can have 1–5 members. All team members should be a company founder or at the level of a founder.
- At least one team member must be a current student in a University of Denver degree-granting program as of April 1, 2024, or alumni (see below). This includes undergraduate, graduate and PhD degree-seeking students.
- This year we are opening up the BASE Camp accelerator program to two alumni teams. All requirements are the same for alumni. Alumni teams hoping to apply must be at the MVP or product validation stage.
- For this application process, University of Denver students who graduate in March 2024 or June 2024 are eligible and considered current University of Denver students.
- Teams that are accepted to the Summer 2024 BASE Camp Accelerator must commit to working 16-24 hours per week in The Garage on the University of Denver campus for the duration of the 5-week accelerator.
- Teams are encouraged to attend the Entrepreneurship@DU workshops scheduled for winter and spring 2024.
- Teams must be committed to working full time on their venture during the BASE Camp accelerator program.
Application Instructions
Startups applying to the BASE Camp Accelerator will need to advance through three rounds to gain admittance to the Summer 2024 BASE Camp Accelerator cohort.
Part 1
Applicants are required to fill out the online application form. Application opens on March 1 and closes on April 1, 2024.
The application process should take 60–90 minutes. Applicants will provide details about:
- Their team
- Their idea
- Problem, opportunity, unmet need
- The proposed solution
- The target market
- Competition
- Revenue model
Applicants will be notified on April 5 if they are moving to the 2nd round.
Part 2
Applicants selected to the 2nd round will be invited to pitch their idea the week of April 8, 2024. Applicants will be notified by April 12 if they are moving to the final round.
Part 3
Applicants selected to the final round will be invited to a 30-minute interview between April 15 and 19.
Summer 2024 BASE Camp teams will be announced between April 22-26.
2024 BASE Camp applications are due April 1.
Contact us with questions at
du.entrepreneur@du.edu.