Hi Prospective Applicant!

The Startup Shell Team is extremely excited to open applications for the Spring 2023 batch! Before you get started filling out the application, there's a couple of things we'd like to cover as well as provide answers to some frequently asked questions.

Startup Shell is a startup incubator for student creators and entrepreneurs here at the University of Maryland. The application is a place where the Startup Shell community is looking to see how you will utilize the resources Startup Shell has to offer and become a part of an organization that so many students call home. We want to hear from the real you and understand what inspires you, why it inspires you, and why you want to create – or already are creating – something great.

For the Spring 2023 batch, we have rethought the application process from the ground up. Last semester, Startup Shell received a record number of 230 applications – more than double any previous application cycle in Startup Shell history. The volume of applications we now receive has caused us to revamp both our internal processes and how you apply. Most notably, you no longer have to pick between different application tracks. Instead, each applicant is evaluated individually. Not to worry though: we've carefully chosen our questions to make every applicant be able to shine.

Many of you may be left wondering if these changes to our application process mean that Startup Shell is focusing less on student ventures. We can say with confidence that our new process allows for student ventures to thrive even more in our organization. Instead of becoming a Startup Shell company solely by being accepted through a venture-specific application, we've adapted our organization to better support the ebb and flow of the status of experimenting (being a “Fellow“) and founding a venture (being a “Founder“). As our members incubate, they can bring their ideas to fruition and apply internally to become a Startup Shell company. By doing so, their venture is supported with $100,000 in digital and physical resources, individualized mentorship, and a network of hundreds of past and current founders. As they move on to new ventures or return to incubation, Startup Shell supports their entire entrepreneurial journey. Overall, it means that Founders are uplifted during execution and Fellows are supported as they experiment with creating the future.

With these considerations and changes in mind, we're looking forward to reading your application and getting to know you better! Please complete your application by February 19th at 11:59 PM ET and have two check-ins to the Startup Shell space by February 24th at 11:59 PM ET. You'll receive an update on your application to your email by February 28th indicating whether you've moved on to the interview stage.

~ Anaum, Nabeela, and Wesley