Frequently Asked Questions

No, the GSE application focuses on skills and experience. The first two days of the program will be an idea generation and analysis workshop, where your team collaboratively comes up with a viable solution to a problem through a product or service. However, in your application you can tell us if you have an idea or are already running your own business. We’d love to know about it, but you and your team will start with a fresh new idea at GSE.

Yes, you may apply to all the programs. Depending on whether the dates overlap, if you are accepted to more than one, then you may need to choose only one to attend. All programs will send out acceptance letters around the same time and all allow you to turn down an acceptance – you would only need to let us know by the deadline given in our letter so that we can offer the spot to another entrepreneur.

Recommenders have until January 23rd to submit their recommendations via the online form. 

That’s great! You should apply on the basis of your skills and passion for entrepreneurship. When you get back home, you will be able to apply the concepts you learn at GSE to your own business idea and be ahead of the game. You may even see a new way of looking at your business to make it more innovative than you thought possible before.

There is no typical day, but you can expect to spend some mornings interacting with an experienced entrepreneur and learning one of the nine blocks of the Business Model Canvas. In your co-working space you’ll apply what you've learned to your startup. How you choose to apply it will be up to your team. For example, you might decide to call local businesses that relate to your idea and set up a time to speak with the owner about their successes and failures when starting out. As teams move along developing their product or service and validating their business model, they’ll have flexibility to create a schedule that works for them. Also, special field trips and activities will be planned throughout the three weeks.

No, we encourage you to meet and hang out with entrepreneurs from other teams during social times. Networking is an important part of business. Roommates and living quarters will be assigned in a way to separate teams and allow for more social interaction.

You will have some free time in the evenings. There will be organized recreational and social activities as well as down time to recharge. Some participants also choose to workout in the mornings before the sessions begin.

No, due to the tight schedule family visits are not permitted. You will be having a fantastic time, and it will fly by! You can email and talk/text with your family from GSE, but they will not be allowed to visit and you will not be allowed to leave campus. We do invite all families to attend Pitch Fest on the last day of Summer Startup. This is an inspirational and thrilling event when the teams pitch their business ideas to judges and an audience full of loved ones and supporters.

Yes, GSE is a full three weeks including weekends. Your teammates are counting on you to be there, and every person has talents and skills that make them a valuable asset to the team. Exceptions must be disclosed and approved in advance of the summer session and will only be made for compelling reasons, such as the death of an immediate family member.

Feel free to call (502) 592-0520 or email [email protected].