ASES (Affiliated Stanford Entrepreneurial Students) was founded at Stanford University in 1989 with the goal of connecting student entrepreneurs all over the world. Today, active ASES chapters provide educational programs on entrepreneurship, design, and venture capital for students across the globe. We challenge our members to think beyond Silicon Valley and solve global problems.
Haley Tran
Operations Manager @ Ramp
Charles Tsao
ASIC Engineer @ NVIDIA
Alex Lin
Software Investor at JMI Equity
Haley Tran
Operations Manager @ Ramp
Bootcamp
ASES Bootcamp is a 12-week design-thinking intensive for Stanford freshmen that serves as a stepping stone into the world of entrepreneurship. Following an innovative, action-oriented process, students will learn to identify and prototype impactful solutions to problems they’re interested in tackling. Bootcamp culminates in a final pitch presentation, in which teams pitch their startup ideas to a panel of Silicon Valley investors. This year, each team will build a Minimum Viable Product, with the prospect of funding post final presentations! You'll get a chance to have dinners and roundtable discussions with venture capitalists, mentorship from industry professionals, a chance to pitch at VC offices across the Bay Area, and the opportunity to join Stanford’s closest-knit startup community!
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September - January
Launchpad
We've all been high schoolers at one point so we know that high schoolers have great ideas! Launchpad is all about enabling these students to turn their ideas into realities, whether they be simple websites advances mobile apps, or fast growing businesses..
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September - January
VC3
VC3 brings together top Stanford startups and Silicon Valley venture capitalists for a fast-paced, speed-dating style pitch competition. Startup participants get access to an exclusive VC network, personalized feedback, and a shot at some unique prizes. The event has sparked some outlier outcomes, with startups like PlaygroundRL (pre-seed, Pear), Skybox Imaging (acq. by Google for $500M), and TranscribeGlass (recently viral) previously in attendance.Past VCs have included Sequoia, a16z, YCombinator, NEA, Redpoint, Pear, Floodgate, and more.
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February - March
Summit
35 of the best collegiate entrepreneurs from around the world are invited to a weeklong entrepreneurship immersion at Stanford University. In this exclusive program, delegates work in teams to launch their own startups, iterating through design and receiving feedback from industry-renowned guest speakers and venture capitalists. During Summit, delegates and ASES members alike have the opportunity to network with other top entrepreneurs and learn from Stanford's world-class faculty.
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February - March
Breakthrough
Every Spring, we select a cohort of Stanford undergraduate, graduate, and even PhD students, partner them with VC Mentors from top VC firms nearby, and curate an 8-week curriculum that teaches entrepreneurship from a VC perspective. You'll learn the fundamentals of working in venture capital from the ground-up, with a proven expert of your favorite industry.
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February - March
FAQ
Is Bootcamp the only way to join ASES?
Absolutely not! Bootcamp is one of many ways to get involved in our community. Students may join any of our teams (ex. Summit, Launchpad, VC3, etc), all of which enable participants to interact with our partners, meet potential co-founders, and learn more about the world of entrepreneurship. In fact, we strongly encourage students who already have a foundation in entrepreneurship or venture capital to consider other ASES programs (for example, Breakthrough might be a great fit!).
What's the difference between ASES, BASES, and SENSA?
ASES is differentiated by our focus on global entrepreneurship, our tight-knit alumni network, and our vibrant on-campus community. That's just our perspective though -- the best way to find out is to get in touch! You can reach us through the contact form below, our instagram account, our facebook account, or by reaching out directly to any of our leadership members!
What are some fun things the ASES community has done together?
Beach days, VC dinners, poker nights, boba sessions, In-n-Out runs, SF trips, hot pot adventures, and more -- we have a team of students dedicated to fostering community at ASES, and they are always open to new suggestions!
What resources do ASES members gain access to?
Some resources ASES members can take advantage of include... - Our 800+ member alumni network (including Garry Tan, David Lee, and Elain Szu). Our members go on to become founders, Thiel Fellows, VCs, engineers, business leaders, and more. It's not uncommon to see ASES alumni invest in the companies of other ASES alumni! - Partnerships with 20+ VC firms from around the world. ASES members gain access to an exclusive list of internships from these firms and portfolio companies, as well as office hours with the VCs to discuss potential ideas. - Mentorship and community. ASES ties run tight across generations and borders. We host a student-alumni mentorship program, monthly community events, and regular speaker series.
Can my time commitment to ASES vary quarter-to-quarter?
Yes! Different programs require different time commitments. For example, VC3 planning and execution takes place primarily in winter quarter, leaving fall and spring open; Bootcamp runs across fall and winter, but spring is free. We recommend you get in touch with the specific program director(s) to learn more.
