UConn Opened Applications for Women’s Leadership Cohort
The Werth Innovators program is accepting applicants for its entrepreneurship training and $4,000 stipend initiative.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Internships
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The University of Connecticut’s Peter J. Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has opened applications for its Women’s Leadership Cohort. This opportunity is available to all first-year students regardless of gender identity and includes a $4,000 stipend.
Why it matters
The program seeks to provide foundational entrepreneurial skills to students while specifically addressing hurdles often encountered by women in the industry. Participants will spend their time developing unique business ideas or solving complex problems through innovation.
The Werth Institute operates with the support of a $30 million donation to the University of Connecticut, an institution that has generated more than 650 patents. Selected cohort members will receive a $4,000 stipend for their participation.
The players
Peter J. Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
This academic body at the University of Connecticut fosters student business development through targeted programs and donor funding.
University of Connecticut
This public research university serves as the primary site for the program and the hub for its extensive patent innovation history.
The details
Selected students will attend an intensive one-week on-campus session in May before moving into remote work during the summer. To be considered, candidates must submit an online application form along with a video introduction.
Timeline
October 2, 2026: The application period officially opened.
October 25, 2026: The deadline for students to submit applications.
May 2027: The scheduled start for the one-week on-campus program.
Market Landscape
The Peter J. Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation serves as the central hub for campus-based entrepreneurial development at UConn, a role that sets a distinct standard for university-backed business incubation. This initiative follows the institute’s established pattern of fostering student-led ventures through specialized cohorts and donor-backed resources.
First-year students at the university gain access to a paid professional development opportunity that provides both financial support and industry feedback. This cohort program helps participants refine business concepts without the immediate overhead costs of independent startup development.
The takeaway
Students should leverage their first year on campus to gain exposure to professional mentorship and venture capital-style feedback loops. Early engagement with these institutional programs can significantly shorten the learning curve for budding entrepreneurs.
Further reading
Learn more about local opportunities through the Internships section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Campus.
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