SHI Venture Development Program

In alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Yale Institute for Global Health (YIGH) Sustainable Health Initiative (SHI) strives to support innovative organizations to solve complex global health challenges through business-minded approaches, creative problem-solving methods, and international collaboration.

The SHI venture development program is a collaboration between the Sustainable Health Initiative (SHI) and Tsai CITY (Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale). Yale student-led startups are invited to apply to this semester-long program to enhance and share their global health innovations. The program consists of one-to-one mentorship with SHI fellows, access to mentors-in-residence who are global health innovation experts, and seed grants.

FAQs

When do applications open?: Applications open at the beginning of each fall and spring semester. Applications are now closed and will open in Fall 2024.
What is the benefit of joining the SHI Venture Development Program?: The SHI Venture Development Program provides participants with access to SHI’s network of health innovators, mentors, and fellows. Teams will work with an SHI fellow as well as SHI Mentors-in-Residence to build and test their ideas. Ventures may also have access to grant funding specifically for SHI participants.
What is the time commitment?: The time commitment for the venture development programming is variable and will depend on team needs. We expect 3-5 hours a week.

The cohort will meet once per month during a required lunch or dinner hour to learn and discuss global health innovation topics and connect with peers. SHI fellows will check-in with teams weekly to support in the venture building process. Mentors-in-Residence will be available on an ad-hoc basis.
Who can apply?: Innovators from all disciplines with ideas to address global health challenges are encouraged to apply. The program is open to anyone within the Yale student, faculty, or alumni network though each team must have at least one current Yale student in a key role.
Can my startup be a non-profit organization or project?: Yes!
What is the Application Process and How Can I Apply?: For teams interested in global health innovation specific sessions only, you can apply here.

For teams interested in general entrepreneurship and innovation training in addition to the aforementioned global health innovation work, you can apply here and opt-in to the SHI cohort.
What’s the difference between applying directly to SHI and applying through Tsai CITY?: The Tsai CITY Accelerator, which runs every fall and spring semester, guides students and teams with innovative ideas through the process of building effective organizations, projects, and ventures through workshops, mentorship, and funding. This extracurricular activity is expected to take 5-10 hours per week. Every Friday, participants are expected to attend the Venture Dev Keynote and are allotted dedicated time to meet one-on-one with an early-stage startup expert. This is a great option if you are needing entrepreneurship support and could use a general framework.

The SHI cohort will focus specifically on global health innovation learnings, networking and support. This extracurricular activity is expected to take 3-5 hours per week. Once a month, there will be a required cohort session over a lunch or dinner hour. This is a great option if you have been through the accelerator program already and/or have some experience with entrepreneurship.
Who can I contact to learn more?: Please schedule office hours with Fatema Basrai, Managing Director of SHI, to learn more.