Key Takeaways
- • Two South Asian American Harvard University students, Soneesh Kothagundla and Hadi Abdul, have launched Boston Square Ventures, a founder-support platform for student entrepreneurs.
- • The platform offers access to venture capital investors, $100,000 in compute credits, mentorship, weekly check-ins, pitch preparation, and a Demo Day, according to the initiative.
- • Cohort 1 is accepting applications and is scheduled to begin Oct. 15.
- • The founders argue that the core barrier in student startups is unequal access to resources and networks, not a shortage of ideas.
- • Fundraising often depends on warm introductions, which first-time founders without established networks struggle to obtain.
Summary
Two South Asian American students at Harvard University have launched Boston Square Ventures, a platform designed to help student entrepreneurs access the capital, computing resources, mentorship, and networks needed to build companies. The initiative was founded by Soneesh Kothagundla and Hadi Abdul, who said they created the platform after observing talented young founders struggling to connect with the people and resources required to turn ideas into businesses, according to The American Bazaar.
According to the initiative, the platform's first cohort is now accepting applications, with Cohort 1 scheduled to begin on Oct. 15. Participants will receive $100,000 in compute credits, introductions to venture capital investors, access to mentors, weekly check-ins, pitch preparation, and a Demo Day in which founders present to investors.
The founders said the main problem in the student startup ecosystem is not a lack of ideas but unequal access to the means of executing them. Abdul said some prospective founders have strong ideas and relevant expertise but do not know how to reach the people who can help them advance. He cited a conversation with a North Carolina-based public policy professional who had developed a product but lacked the connections needed to reach potential users. Kothagundla said first-time founders face particular barriers around computing resources and venture capital, noting that fundraising frequently relies on warm introductions that are difficult to secure without an established network. The idea for Boston Square Ventures emerged from one such introduction.
According to the initiative, the platform's first cohort is now accepting applications, with Cohort 1 scheduled to begin on Oct. 15. Participants will receive $100,000 in compute credits, introductions to venture capital investors, access to mentors, weekly check-ins, pitch preparation, and a Demo Day in which founders present to investors.
The founders said the main problem in the student startup ecosystem is not a lack of ideas but unequal access to the means of executing them. Abdul said some prospective founders have strong ideas and relevant expertise but do not know how to reach the people who can help them advance. He cited a conversation with a North Carolina-based public policy professional who had developed a product but lacked the connections needed to reach potential users. Kothagundla said first-time founders face particular barriers around computing resources and venture capital, noting that fundraising frequently relies on warm introductions that are difficult to secure without an established network. The idea for Boston Square Ventures emerged from one such introduction.
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