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FEP
First-Year Entrepreneurship PROGRAM
August 12-14, 2026 | 11:45 AM - 2:15 PM

About our
virtual program

No matter your experience with entrepreneurship, this program is built to change how you think about it. Here's what the week looks like.

01

Hear from student founders

Undergraduates who've balanced seed rounds with EXPOS20 and EC1011, on what that actually looks like week to week.

02

Sit on both sides of the table

Founders who hit it big and the venture capitalists who wrote their first checks, in the same room.

03

Get cold called by HBS faculty

Real case method. Real professors. You'll be asked to defend why a company succeeded, or why it didn't.

04

Learn how each industry works

Guest speakers from venture, tech, consumer, and finance break down how their corner of the market actually operates.

05

Build your own business plan

From the first idea to a model, a market, and a deck. You'll speed-run the founder's path start to finish.

06

Pitch it, live

The program closes with a live competition judged by real VC representatives that give state-of-the-art advice.

Who it's for

You don't need a startup, a business background, or a finished idea. You just need to be curious about how companies get built.

  • Incoming Harvard first-years, Class of 2030
  • Anyone considering Economics, CS, or a concentration they haven't picked yet
  • Students who want a network before orientation, not after
  • Complete beginners and people already building something

What you leave with

Three days is short. The point is to walk out with things you keep.

  • A business plan you built and defended out loud
  • A pitch deck you can keep developing on campus
  • Direct contact with founders, VCs, and HBS faculty
  • A cohort of classmates you'll see in the Yard in September

The winning doesn't start at the pitch

Prizes run the length of the program. Show up, contribute, and keep pushing your idea forward, and you'll earn rewards well before the final day.

  • Pitch competitionTop teams take the headline prize.
  • Daily standoutsSharpest question, best case response, strongest pivot.
  • ParticipationConsistent engagement across all three days is rewarded.
  • ProgressHow far your plan travels from day one to day three.

Program schedule

Three days, August 12 to 14, 12 to 2 PM EST daily. Speakers for 2026 are being confirmed.

Daily schedule

Day 1 — Foundations, Cases 1 & 2

  • Welcome and team formation
  • Intro to entrepreneurship and business thinking
  • Case 1
  • Group strategy session
  • Guest speaker session
  • Intro to marketing and product development
  • Case 2
  • Group strategy session

Day 2 — Core Skills, Cases 3 & 4

  • Intro to finance and funding
  • Case 3
  • Group strategy session
  • Guest speaker session
  • Intro to social impact and pitching
  • Case 4
  • Group work and feedback checkpoints
  • Optional office tour

Day 3 — Pitch Competition

  • Final team preparation
  • Pitch presentations to the panel
  • Panel feedback on pitches and college life
  • Awards and closing remarks
Speakers from previous FEP editions
  • Larry Cheng — Founding Partner, Volition Capital
  • Patrick Chung — Managing Partner, Xfund
  • Jadyn Bryden — Vice President, Xfund
  • Kirk Benson — Partner, Crestview
  • Kristin Mugford — Professor, Harvard Business School
  • Tom Eisenmann — Professor, Harvard Business School
  • Shuya Gong — IDEO

The 2026 lineup is being finalized. Names will be posted here as they're confirmed.

Key dates

  • Now

    Applications open, reviewed on a rolling basis.

  • Aug 2

    Applications close at 11:59 PM EST.

  • Aug 7

    Decisions sent and cohort confirmed.

  • Aug 12–14

    Program runs across three consecutive days, 12–2 PM daily.

Because review is rolling, applying early gives you the best odds. Spots are capped so the case sessions stay small enough to get called on.

Before you apply

Who can apply?

Incoming Harvard first-years, Class of 2030. You don't need a startup, a business background, or a finished idea.

How much time does it take?

Two hours a day across three days, August 12 to 14, from 12 to 2 PM EST. You'll work on your own plan between sessions.

Is it really all virtual?

Yes. Every session, panel, and the pitch competition run online, so you can join from anywhere before you move to campus.

What does it cost?

We are happy to provide this opportunity free of charge! Simply fill out the application, and we will provide the rest!

Do I need a team or an idea already?

Neither. Teams form during the program, and you'll meet the people you build with on day one.

What if I can't make every session?

Tell us on the application. We'd rather know in advance than have you miss the pitch competition.

Who runs FEP?

Harvard Student Agencies, the largest student-run company in the world, staffed and operated entirely by Harvard undergraduates.

How do I apply?

Use any Apply button on this page. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and spots are limited.

How to apply

Complete the form to apply for a spot in the First-Year Entrepreneurship Program. Applications are open until August 2nd at 11:59 PM EST.

For any questions, reach out to ian.kowalczyk@mail.hsa.net or denise.pan@mail.hsa.net.

Apply now

Start before everyone else does

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Spots are limited to the Class of 2030.

Apply to FEP
Founded in 1957, Harvard Student Agencs on-profit with 10 businesses across various industries that provides educational and business opportunities to students. Managers get the chance to learn about retail, publishing, research, advertising, engineering and more, while making a tangible impact on the Harvard community. With more than 900 employees, HSA strives to defray the costs of education with student wages and inspire the next generation of business leaders.