Duke

Student Accelerator · Fall 2026

Six weeks to move your startup forward.

An in-person program for Duke student-led startups. Meet every Monday from August 31 through October 5 at Frontier RTP.

The program

From problem to pitch.

The work moves from customer evidence to an MVP, a business model, and a presentation that shows measurable progress.

Length
6 weeks
Cadence
Every Monday
Hours
6:00–8:00 PM
Location
Frontier RTP · Building 600

The six weeks

Every Monday has a job.

Define the problem. Test the demand. Build the product. Make the business work. Tell the story.

  1. Week 01

    Set the direction

    • Founder introductions
    • Six-week goals
    • Problem definition
    • Customer identification
  2. Week 02

    Validate the problem

    • Customer discovery
    • Customer interviews
    • Evidence that the problem is real
  3. Week 03

    Build and test

    • Product development
    • MVP planning
    • Solution testing
  4. Week 04

    Make the business work

    • Business models
    • Pricing
    • Marketing and sales
    • Financial fundamentals
  5. Week 05

    Prepare the pitch

    • Company storytelling
    • Pitch development
    • Investor-style feedback
    • Final presentation preparation
  6. Week 06

    Final pitch showcase

    • Presentations to mentors and judges
    • Feedback from founders
    • Connections with startup-community partners

What participants get

Support tied to the work.

Workshops, direct feedback, and the people who can help a student venture take its next real step.

  1. 01

    Weekly working sessions

    Six structured workshops tied to a clear stage of building.

  2. 02

    Direct mentorship

    One-on-one and team guidance throughout the program.

  3. 03

    Experienced feedback

    Practical input from entrepreneurs and business-support organizations.

  4. 04

    Triangle connections

    Meet startup leaders, founders, and other student teams.

  5. 05

    Product and pitch coaching

    Refine the product, business model, company story, and final presentation.

  6. 06

    Relevant introductions

    Potential connections to partners, programs, and resources.

  7. 07

    A public finish

    Team apparel and a professional showcase for six weeks of progress.

Week 06 · Final showcase

Present what changed.

Teams close the program by presenting their ventures to mentors, judges, founders, and startup-community partners.

Fall 2026 cohort

Build with us this fall.

Tell us what you are building and what you want to accomplish across six Mondays.