The Stuart and Mimi Rose Program for Student Startups

Have a bold idea but unsure where to start? The Rose Program is your launchpad. The Rose Program is a new for-credit innovation track designed to guide undergraduates through the process of developing a venture from idea to launch. Offered by Goizueta Business School and The Hatchery in collaboration with Emory College of Arts and Sciences, the Rose Program is open to students in any major.

Launching Spring 2026 | Courses will appear in Course Atlas by Fall 2025 | Stay updated via The Hatchery Newsletter

Where Bold Ideas Become Real-World Ventures

Whether you study the arts, sciences, humanities, or anything in between, the Rose Program for Student Startups is your opportunity to transform your ideas into action. Backed by Emory alumni Stuart and Mimi Rose, this new university-wide initiative empowers undergraduate students from all majors to launch their own ventures through coursework, mentorship, summer accelerator opportunities, and access to The Hatchery's collaborative innovation space.

The Rose Program Journey

Your journey through The Rose Program begins with an optional pre-orientation experience, followed by a three-course academic sequence delivered by faculty and professors of the Goizueta Business School, centered around experiential learning.

Pre-Orientation / Ignite (Summer 2025)

Start strong with a one-week startup immersion (optional) focused on innovation for incoming first-year students at Emory College.

Academic Courses

Foundations of Entrepreneurship (Spring 2026):
Learn the basics of startup building through the hands-on Foundations of Entrepreneurship course open to all undergrads. No application needed.
Applied Entrepreneurship (Fall 2026):
Apply to become a Rose Fellow and take your venture to the next level. Build your prototype, test your idea, and connect with experts in our Startup Lab.
Business Development (Spring 2027):
Modeled after Y Combinator and Techstars, this intensive accelerator experience serves as your Startup Launchpad helping you refine your venture and prep for real-world traction.

Rose Program Fellows

After completing the Foundations course (or the Entrepreneurship course for BBA students), students from Emory College and Goizueta Business School may apply to become Rose Program Fellows. Fellows are eligible to take the advanced startup courses and can apply for the Hatchery Summer Accelerator: a 10-week immersive experience with mentorship, resources, and potential startup funding.*

Beyond the Rose Program

Students interested in entrepreneurship with qualified startups are also eligible to apply to participate in a variety of related programs at Emory, including The Hatchery Incubator, Techstars Emory Founder Catalyst, Dooley's Angels, Emory Venture Mentor Community, Pitch the Professors and Pitch the Summit..

Open to All Undergraduate Majors

The Rose Program is designed to be inclusive and accessible. You do not need a business background or a fully formed idea to participate; just curiosity, creativity, and the desire to make an impact.

Why Emory, Why Now

Emory is a leader in healthcare research, artificial intelligence, climate science, and other fields that are increasingly intertwined with innovation. The Rose Program leverages these institutional strengths to support entrepreneurship across disciplines. It provides students with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to create solutions to real-world problems during college and beyond.

The Hatchery: Where Ideas Take Flight

The Hatchery, Emory's 15000-square-foot innovation space, serves as the physical and symbolic home of the Rose Program. Students will work alongside mentors, attend workshops, conduct customer discovery, and learn in a hands-on, collaborative environment tailored to student innovators. The Hatchery offers the space, resources, and support needed to move from concept to creation.

More Than a Business Program

Even if you are not planning to launch a company right after graduation, the Rose Program equips you with entrepreneurial thinking and problem-solving skills that can be applied in any field. Whether you are designing healthcare solutions, advancing environmental change, or building the next creative platform, the Rose Program helps you turn knowledge into impact.

Next Steps

Fall 2025: Program launch and course listing in Emory's Course Atlas
Spring 2026: First courses begin
Now:Sign up for The Hatchery Newsletter to be the first to hear about opportunities and applications

*Note that select students who have a qualified startup in the works but have not taken the Foundations course may apply to take advanced courses on the merits of their startup idea and upon discretion of the selection committee.