Welcome to Tsai CITY: A First-Timer’s Guide
Maybe you’ve walked past our building. Maybe a friend told you about us. Maybe you’ve seen Tsai CITY pop up in your inbox or on Instagram and thought, Okay…but what exactly do they do?
Tsai CITY is a place to explore ideas, try new things, meet people, and build something that matters to you. Whether you’re starting with a question or growing an idea already in motion, you’ll find support to take your next step—and keep building from there.
So, what can I actually do here?
Getting involved with Tsai CITY doesn’t have to mean applying to a program on day one.
You can:
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Visit the space and see what’s happening.
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Come to an event and meet students, innovators, and members of the Tsai CITY community.
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Schedule an office hours to talk through an idea, question, or challenge.
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Participate in a workshop and learn a practical new skill.
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Explore a program when you’re ready to spend more time developing an idea.
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Find funding and resources to help move something you’re already working on forward.
Not sure where to begin? Start with the Roadmap that best matches where you are right now: Explore, Experiment, or Expand.
Three ways to find your place
There’s no single “right” way to engage with Tsai CITY, and no one path through innovation.
Our Explore → Experiment → Expand Roadmaps connect you with opportunities based on where you are today, not where you think you should be. Start with the description that feels most like you, and discover what your next step could be.
You don’t need an idea to get started.
Explore is for discovering new interests, meeting people, learning skills, and getting a feel for innovation at Yale.
You might attend an event, take a workshop, find a student opportunity, or simply try something you’ve never done before.
Maybe there’s a problem you keep thinking about. Maybe you’ve started working on something. Or maybe you just want to find out whether an idea has potential.
Experiment is where you can start testing, learning, and building through hands-on programs, workshops, mentorship, funding, and other resources.
You don't have to know whether your idea will work.
Trying it is the point.
You’ve tested something. You’ve learned a few things. Now you’re ready to keep going.
Expand connects you with opportunities to deepen your work, strengthen your venture or project, build relationships, access additional resources, and keep moving forward.
What happens inside Tsai CITY?
Come in and connect
Meet a friend, grab a seat, and spend some time in the space. Whether you’re working on an idea, connecting with other students, or simply taking a break, sometimes belonging begins by showing up.
Ask for guidance
Bring a question to office hours and ask our team which opportunity might be a good fit.
Attend something new
Try a workshop, speaker event, founder conversation, or community gathering. You do not need prior experience.
Test an early idea
Find collaborators, get feedback, build a prototype, or explore funding before your plans feel perfectly polished.
Questions students ask us all the time
Do I need a startup?
No. Many students come to explore interests, build skills, meet people, or work on a problem without starting a company.
Is it too early for me to get involved?
Not at all. You can begin at any point, including your first semester at Yale.
Can I just stop by?
Yes. You do not need an appointment, completed program application, or project to visit Tsai CITY.
What if I don't know where I fit?
Start with Explore or talk with a member of our team. We’ll help you find the next step.
Your first week challenge
Choose one thing.
You don’t need to do everything. Pick one action and call that momentum.
◻Visit Tsai CITY
◻Attend an event
◻Explore the Roadmaps
◻Ask one question
◻Subscribe to the newsletter for updates
Innovation rarely begins with certainty. More often, it begins with curiosity, a conversation, or the willingness to try one small thing.
Start where you are.
We’ll help you find your way forward.