ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University’s Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship is opening up applications for its third New Venture Accelerator (NVA). The NVA, which offers students and young alumni an opportunity to launch their businesses with financial support, resources, and mentoring from SLU experts, launched in 2024 with an initial cohort of four businesses.
The New Venture Accelerator, with funding support from Saint Louis University alumni, offers current SLU students and alumni who have graduated within the last five years equity-free investments of up to $50,000. At least one co-founder or owner of 10% or more of the company’s equity must be a Saint Louis University undergraduate junior or senior student, graduate student, or recent alumnus (up to five years) from any SLU degree program.
The 2026 application portal will open on Monday, Jan. 26.
Students and young alumni have until midnight on Friday, March 13, to apply for the NVA. As part of the application process, interested participants must provide a high-level two-minute video pitch, detail their product or service, and share insights into their target market and competitors.
The top 10 finalists will be named on April 7 and invited to compete in a pitch day on April 13. The 2026 cohort will be announced on April 30 and the program will launch in May.
Teams must be available to meet weekly in person during the 14-week accelerator program. During that time, participants will receive funding, resources, access to advisors, and guidance to realize their business idea. Each team will receive between $5,000 and $50,000 in investment funds.
The NVA program includes content delivered by SLU faculty, industry experts, and mentors. Several of the experts and mentors are SLU alums.
Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
Founded in 1910, the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University has shaped the future of industry for more than a century. As one of the oldest business schools west of the Mississippi, the Chaifetz School has built a reputation as a leader in business education committed to innovation, inclusion and impact and recognized with eight undergraduate and graduate programs nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
Saint Louis University
Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic research institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 15,300 students a rigorous, transformative education that challenges and prepares them to make the world a better place. As a nationally recognized leader in research and innovation, SLU is an R1 research university, advancing groundbreaking, life-changing discoveries that promote the greater good.
