Est. 1989 · Stanford University
Build something great.
Backed by our sponsors
Programs · 2026–27 Bulletin
Showing 5 of 5 listings
Since 1989
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.
Investor network
Through VC3, Stanford startups pitch directly to top venture capitalists for feedback and funding. Through Breakthrough, members spend eight weeks learning venture from mentors inside these firms. Their focuses range from consumer tech to education, enterprise, health, and beyond.
Members
Joining ASES Bootcamp my freshman year was definitely one of my most fulfilling Stanford experiences in both a social and entrepreneurial context. I’ve met some of my best friends through the organization. It allowed me not only to explore what it means to be an entrepreneur outside of just Silicon Valley, but become a part of a close-knit community here at Stanford.
Haley Tran
Operations Manager @ Ramp
Joining ASES through the Bootcamp program my frosh fall was one of the most important decisions I’ve made during my time at Stanford. Not only did I learn an incredible amount from knowing nearly nothing about entrepreneurship, I was sucked into a community of amazing people that extends around the world. I absolutely love my friends (family!) in ASES.
Charles Tsao
ASIC Engineer @ NVIDIA
I joined ASES my freshman year and I immediately felt at home with the welcoming community. It was easy to talk to everyone and I made tight-knit friends both in and outside of bootcamp at quarterly retreats and team events. I developed personally and professionally and was able to learn valuable entrepreneurial skills and apply them to real-world experiences.
Alex Lin
Software Investor at JMI Equity
The network
Notable alumni
Garry Tan
President & CEO, Y Combinator
David Lee
Founder, SV Angel
Elain Szu
VP Marketing, Sentry
Startups from our network
Skybox Imaging
Acquired by Google for $500M
PlaygroundRL
Pre-seed, backed by Pear
TranscribeGlass
Assistive tech, recently viral
FAQ
Can't find what you're looking for? Reach out on any of our social channels.
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!).
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!
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!
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.
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.