Match. Build. Repeat: The Rise of the Joiners Program
Not everyone arrives with an idea; some just want to be part of building one. The Joiners Program gives students a risk-free, real-world entry point into entrepreneurship—no pitch deck required.
When Reyansh Bahl (YC ’28) joined Tsai CITY’s new Joiners Program in fall 2024, he wasn’t a founder, he just wanted to contribute.
“I wanted to be part of something real, something being built in real time,” he shares.
That experience didn’t just spark ideas, it gave him the confidence and insight to start building something of his own. By spring 2025, Reyansh returned to Tsai CITY not as a joiner, but as a Launch Pad founder. His venture, PaperBridge, uses AI to help students better understand scientific research papers, offering tools to bridge the gap between complex language and clear comprehension.
This kind of transformation is exactly what the Joiners Program was designed to make possible. It offers a hands-on, risk-free gateway into entrepreneurship—no idea required. Rather than building their own startups, joiners jump into existing ones, contributing in areas like product development, marketing, design, research, and operations. Whether they are exploring an interest or building new skills, joiners gain real experience working on live ventures from day one—collaborating, problem-solving, and seeing firsthand what it takes to build something new.
Here’s How It Works
Founders submit projects and describe the kind of help they are looking for. Students interested in joining a founder or co-founding team respond to a form and rank their top three projects. Founders then review the profiles of the joiners who expressed interest in their venture and select collaborators based on alignment. Tsai CITY staff facilitate introductions, but from there, students take the lead—shaping their own working relationships, timelines, and deliverables. Staff remain available for support and guidance, but the collaboration is student-driven.
A Program That Caught On Quickly
Launched as a pilot in fall 2024, the program quickly gained traction. In its first year, 125 projects were submitted by student founders, 98 students signed up as joiners, and 62 successful matches were made. Those matches sparked real momentum: new team dynamics, clearer ideas, and unexpected personal growth.
One of those founders, Hanwool (Han) Jung (SOM ’26), launched Comitia, a platform that empowers anyone with an interest in storytelling to easily create and share their own universe through comics. Han matched with multiple joiners throughout the semester, creating a collaborative environment that pushed the project forward.
“Various joiners joined and worked together towards achieving Comitia’s goals,” Han shared. “The numerous and frequent matchmaking opportunities this semester made it easier to find the right people. I was also able to receive advice on technical aspects that I lacked expertise in.”
The ripple effects didn’t stop there. Students like Bianca Taya (SPH ’25), Yue Ying (SOM ’25), and Ameesha Masand (SPH ’26)—each of whom started as joiners—went on to become Venture Associates at Tsai CITY, taking on program support roles across the center’s venture development pipeline.
Other founders shared similar experiences. Krystal Zhang (SOM ’25), solo founder of WeSave—a venture that empowers rural families with a digital platform combining group and personal savings—shared:
“The Joiners Program provided a great platform for idea exchange and quick pitching. It gave us the opportunity to connect with a diverse group of people and learn from each other. Having someone to brainstorm with while working on our venture was incredibly helpful. The two-way dialogue was meaningful, and I truly appreciated the chance to be part of it.”
A New Entry Point and a Lasting Impact
“One of the most energizing parts of this program was how it activated a largely untapped population at Yale,” said Isabelle Schellenger, former assistant director of student programming, who led the program. “It gave joiners a tailored opportunity to explore areas they were curious about, while directly supporting student founders. It was a win-win and a real example of Tsai CITY’s collaborative spirit.”
Some matches became more than semester-long collaborations. Bianca Taya, for example, joined the Verustruct team (formerly Impact3D) during the very first joiners pilot—and a year later, she’s still on the team, now an integral part of their progress.
The Joiners Program also ignited community events like Yale Startup Matchmaking, which drew over 400 registrants in both 2024 and 2025. These events gave students a chance to pitch themselves, connect with teams, and see where they might engage.
With the pilot year behind it, the center is preparing to refine and expand the Joiners Program. Plans include streamlining the matchmaking process for greater scale, increasing visibility through partnerships with other entrepreneurship and innovation centers across campus, and opening the program to more ventures. The goal is to make it easier for more students to join, contribute meaningfully, and find their place in Yale’s growing innovation ecosystem.