Startup Academy: Eight Summers of Real Startup Experience

Now in its eighth year, Lehigh University’s Startup Academy bridges the gap between academia and industry by pairing top-talent Lehigh students with Silicon Valley Bay Area startups for a rigorous 10-week summer talent accelerator. 

With just an 8% acceptance rate, select entrepreneurial interns tackle high-impact projects — securing VC funding, refining scalable business models, driving product innovation, and leading customer-acquisition strategies — for their host companies.

Beyond project outcomes, Startup Academy students hone their entrepreneurial chops by receiving structured mentorship, peer coaching, and access to Lehigh’s global alumni network. To date, Startup Academy has empowered more than 100 students to translate classroom theory into real-world solutions, while giving startups access to early talent ready to support their need to accelerate growth.

As the 2025 cohort prepares to celebrate its achievements on July 31 in San Francisco, Startup Academy looks ahead to expanding its partnerships and deepening its impact on both student development and startup success.