Annual Report 2025-2026

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Building What’s Next, Together

A year of ideas explored, ventures launched, and a community that made innovation more accessible across Yale.
2100+

INNOVATORS ENGAGED

200+

PROJECTS CATALYZED

42

STUDENT GROUPS
     SUPPORTED

There has never been a better time to explore innovation at Yale.

This year, Tsai CITY expanded opportunities for students to engage with innovation through new programs, stronger partnerships, and a growing network of mentors and collaborators. Together, these efforts made it easier for students to discover where they belong and how to move their ideas forward.

Innovation Starts With People.

One community. Across disciplines. Limitless potential.

The strongest ideas emerge when people with different perspectives, disciplines, and lived experiences come together. This year, Tsai CITY’s community brought together students from across Yale to learn, collaborate, and build what's next.

50%

WOMEN IDENTIFYING

48%

MEN IDENTIFYING

2%

NONBINARY 
IDENTIFYING

Representation Continues to Grow.

Tsai CITY’s thriving community is more diverse than ever and reflects our continued commitment to building a community where more students can see themselves as innovators.

diverse group of students in front of tsai city

Population by Race/Ethnicity

*Hover over charts for percentages.

15 YALE SCHOOLS REPRESENTED

Population by School

Students working on a project

Explore. Experiment. Expand.

Learning beyond the classroom.

Through workshops, intensives, and programs, Tsai CITY helps students strengthen their creative thinking and practical skills.

41

COMMUNITY EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

Open workshops and events with experts, innovators, and Yale faculty.

108

INTENSIVE PARTICIPANTS

Hands-on, multi-session learning experiences on themes like product development and climate innovation.

356

EXPERTS 
ENGAGED

Mentors, founders, investors, faculty, and industry leaders who shared their expertise and supported students.

From Idea to Impact.

Building projects and ventures that last.

Our venture development programs meet students where they are and help them build what’s next.

student interaction

Launch Pad

Early-stage support for students exploring ideas and building ventures.

109

TEAMS SUPPORTED

whiteboard planning

Accelerator

Semester-long program that helps teams validate ideas and strengthen their ventures.

20

TEAMS SUPPORTED

$40K

AWARDED

participants

Summer Fellowship

A full-time summer accelerator combining funding, mentorship, and community to help teams scale.

16

TEAMS SUPPORTED

$320K

AWARDED

idea to impact

Funding Fuels What’s Possible.

Funding helps students move from exploration to execution–supporting ideas from every stage of development.
$644,347

TOTAL FUNDS AWARDED

Ideas Take the Stage.

Every year, Startup Yale brings together students, alumni, investors, and community partners to share ideas, build connections, and create new opportunities for innovators across Yale. This year was record-breaking, with more participants and engagement than ever before.

167

APPLICATIONS 
RECIEVED

Innovators from across
Yale submitted ideas to
shape what's next.

1000+

REGISTERED 
ATTENDEES

Students, alumni,
investors, faculty,and 
community members
joined the day-long event.

$230K+

AWARDED THROUGH
STARTUP YALE

Including Tsai CITY 
and partner-supported prizes.

start up yale

Looking ahead. Greater together.

As we step into the year ahead, we remain committed to building an even stronger, more connected, and more inclusive innovation.

Our greatest strength isn’t a single program or initiative. It is the community of students, faculty, alumni, mentors, and partners committed to building something larger than themselves.

– Kassie Tucker, Executive Director