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Joiners

A hands-on opportunity to gain startup experience without being a founder. Connect with student-led ventures and contribute your skills while learning how early-stage teams build and grow.

Small startup team collaborating

Overview

Want startup experience without starting your own company? Joiners gives Yale students an opportunity to contribute to student-led ventures participating in Tsai CITY’s Venture Development Programs (Launch Pad & Accelerator).

Joiners can take on roles across product development, marketing, sales, operations, project management, and more. Because early-stage teams often require people to wear multiple hats, the experience offers a firsthand look at how ideas become ventures.

Tsai CITY helps facilitate connections between interested students and founders looking to grow their teams.

Resources

Joiners receive:

  • Access to available projects from student founders
  • Invitations to venture development and skill-building workshops
  • Opportunities to meet founders through dedicated matchmaking sessions
  • Hands-on experience contributing to an early-stage venture
  • Connections to Tsai CITY’s venture development community 

Application and Criteria

Joiners may be a good fit if you:

  • Are a current Yale student
  • Want hands-on startup experience
  • Are interested in contributing your skills to an early-stage team
  • Can attend a matchmaking event
  • Can commit to working consistently with a founder if matched

You do not need to have your own venture or previous startup experience.

Expectations 

If matched with a team, participants are expected to:

  • Establish a clear role and scope of work with the founder
  • Contribute consistently to the project
  • Communicate regularly with the team

Get Involved

Interested in becoming a joiner? 

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