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The Impact Innovation Hub (IIH) empowers Drexel student entrepreneurs who want to tackle important social and environmental issues. The program focuses on market-based solutions aligned with the United Nation’s (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Students in this program are guided to create sustainable, market-driven, ventures that make the world a better place.
Now Accepting Applications
Apply by Sunday, July 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (US/Eastern) to be a member of the 2026-2027 Impact Innovation Hub cohort!
How it Works
Students selected for the Annual Cohort Program receive six months of guided instruction through the Impact Entrepreneur’s Bootcamp. The program includes flex space in the Baiada Institute Incubator, targeted mentorship and seed funding to help develop their ideas.
Participants attend 1–2 hours of weekly seminars and take part in hands-on workshops led by faculty, entrepreneurs in residence and industry experts.
The IIH offers a supportive community that helps students navigate complex markets while creating social impact. The program helps participants develop entrepreneurial mindsets, build strategic partnerships and strengthens students’ ability to lead innovative solutions across industries.
Testimonials and Highlights
“The Impact Innovation Hub opened my eyes to the need of innovations that explore science as well as people, finances and strategy. With the mentors I gained in IIH, I experienced a wave of possibilities to not only envision new ideas, but to lead them.”
— Elizabeth Clarkson
“Such a big learning opportunity for me. I was able to get the resources that will actually help me deploy my app in the market right now. I was able to gain confidence. The IIH provided me with so much, and I actually feel ready to deploy my product in the real market!”
— Greeva Yava
“I was looking for a way to stay accountable in college — to build a venture and secure funding while studying entrepreneurship. My advice? Just make that first move and go from there.”
— Faris Dababneh
Meet the IIH Cohort
- 2025-2026
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Donielle Blount
MS in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Allison Choong
Sociology and Criminology & Justice Studies
Faris Dababneh
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Dibora Tito
MS in Biomedical Engineering
Parth Vaswani
Computing and Security Technology
Greeva Yava
Computer Science
Apply to the Impact Innovation Hub Cohort
Deadline: Sunday, July 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (US/Eastern)
Do you have an innovative business idea that tackles critical social and environmental issues and provides a market-based solution? Drexel undergraduate and/or graduate students may apply to participate in a September–May program that includes:
- 6 months of guided instruction – the “Impact Entrepreneurship Bootcamp”
- Incubator flex space in the Baiada Institute
- Targeted mentorship
- Seed money to develop their ideas
- Educational trips to visit startups
- A badge certification
- Application Judging Criteria
Cohort members will be selected based on the following:
- Does their idea/innovation tackle one or more of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals? (These goals were developed with the belief that ending poverty and other deprivations is dependent upon the improvement of health and education, the reduction of inequality, the growth of the economy, the preservation of the environment and the tackling of climate change.)
- Can the applicant commit to attending the 1—2 hours per week of instruction through The Impact Entrepreneurs Bootcamp? (Friday afternoons at 12 p.m., mostly over Zoom).
- Will the applicant benefit significantly from this program?
- Schedule and Logistics
- The call for applications will close at the end of Summer Term 2026. The selected applicants will then start the program during Fall Term 2026.
- Cohort members will complete a course of guided education - “The Impact Entrepreneurs Bootcamp” – which will consist of 1 to 2 hours per week of educational seminars and hands-on workshops with Entrepreneurs in Residence, Professors and Guest Speakers. Instruction will include a focus on metrics: cohort members will learn how to establish actionable and measurable metrics that drive successful decision making.
- A committee of industry experts (entrepreneurs and executives working in the sustainability field) will serve as mentors/coaches to the cohort members. Cohort members will have access to all the resources of The Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship including workspace, community, networking opportunities, and expert advice. Cohort members will be offered continued incubator space in The Baiada Institute for at least one year after the successful completion of their cohort.
- At the end of the Fall Term 2026, cohort members will be asked to present a mid-program update on their learnings, progress and plans for the Winter Term 2027. We will provide continued mentorship and check-in opportunities for cohort members during this time.
- Cohort members will be awarded an monetary award to help seed their idea, divided in equal installments at the start of the program, after meeting their first established benchmark - their Fall presentations, and at the completion of the program.
- In the Spring of 2027, Cohort members will present their ventures and tell the story of their evolution and progress over the course of the program at a special event/reception. Presentations will include:
- the results of any market testing
- metrics
- pivots to their original idea
- wins and setbacks
- their plans for the development of their idea/innovation at the conclusion of the program
- Upon successful completion of the program, cohort members will receive “The Impact Entrepreneurs Bootcamp” badge and certification.
Please Note: Drexel University’s policy regarding the payment of Student Awards for competitions changed in 2026. All awards are now considered “Scholarships” and will be processed through the Financial Aid office. Please review the official University policy.
If you owe a balance to Drexel, your award will be applied to your balance first and then a refund can be issued through Financial Aid for the difference. You can then use the e-Refund process to pull the money into your bank account. Please see https://drexel.edu/drexelcentral/billing/refunds.
Note that appropriate reporting of the payment shall be made by the University in compliance with applicable taxing authority guidelines.