VC firm Highland Capital Partners is issuing a call for applicants for their 3rd annual “Summer@Highland” entrepreneurship program. Highland is trying to tap into the same early-stage, young talent pool as start-up incubators like Y Combinator and TechStars.
Highland’s 10 week program is only open to enrolled graduate and undergraduate students or recent graduates (no later than December 2008). But only one member of a start-up team has to meet this criterion. Teams can have up to 4 people and will be given the option of working in the VC firm’s Menlo Park, CA or Lexington, MA offices. Stipend amounts range from $7,500 to $15,000, depending on how many people are part of the team.
Interestingly, Highland doesn’t ask for anything in return, like some incubators and programs do. Depending on the success of the idea, Highland says that some start-up teams could qualify for seed funding. Similar to most startup incubators, Highland is giving the startup teams access to investment professionals and industry leaders along the way. Also, Highland stipulates that preference will be given to ideas that somehow involve the VC fund’s areas of expertise, including information and communication technology, digital media, life sciences, advanced materials & semiconductors, cleantech.
The deadline for applications is April 9, 2009. Here’s more information.
I am normally very critical of VCs, but this seems like a truly worthwhile program. In this economic environment, it would have been easy for a VC to exploit vulnerable recent graduates who do not know what preferred shares or series B placements are to take large portions of startup companies in the guise of a “training program”, but I commend Highland for literally taking the high road here.
In the long term, this can only be good for Highlands’ reputation amongst startups.
I am sure that the investors at Highland Capital Partners feel very relieved now that the “Queen of Spam — From India, of all places” have endorsed and approved of their activities…
“I am normally very critical of VCs” the Queen writes, offering her endorsement. Officers at HCP are now busy trying to decide what kind of gift to send Her Royal Highness of Indian Spam – Instead of a few goats, she will receive about 100 pounds of very, very smelly goat cheese, so She could nourish Herself while spamming the world from Delhi…
What an incredible RETARD! Your “Higness” please GET LOST!
Seriously. Stupid babes are stupid. Please? Pretty please? Leave. Go away!
Rahul, no matter what you think of another person or their opinion, you shouldn’t use the word retard. It’s just not right to use words that demean and mock others.
I defend your right to say it but wonder why you would when you know the hurt it causes.
This spammer again? Well, I have to confess, some of us are like flies, always attracted to $hit… meaning the incredibly obtuse comments from this retard…. yeah, the self-appointed “babe”
[I am sure whe is scary ugly]
ps – My roommate Vinod is speechless with embarrassment – He is from Delhi too!
He just shakes his head in disbelief at what this Anjali character writes…
“Rahul”=TwistedCodeMonkey=Mhitos
What is your problem? Why are you spamming Techcrunch with personally derogatory comments that have nothing to do with the article. I have the guts to post under my name for all the world to see … you, as someone from /. would say are an “anomymous coward” trying to degrade other people, but actually revealing your ignorance,and misogynistic sexism in the process.
If you have something meaningful to say about Highland and their program and if you disagree with my comments, I welcome your thoughts.
Yesterday was International Women’s Day. Your presence proves that we still have a long way to go before the world is rid of people like you.
From India
Anjali Sen
@Mhitos,
Dude, if you don’t like her (or for that matter, somebody’s) comments, then just skip them. Nobody’s forcing you to read them. I don’t think her comments are “spammy” (they are on-topic, and I am not talking about their quality/credibility here). Whatever YOU (and others like Rahul, Alok, SomeMoneky and SomeLocator guy) are writing is here is SPAM.
Dude, get a life, get a job, get well soon.
Morons:
You don’t need Ycombinator. But Ycombinator–with it’s incredible 1970s string of failures–sure needs you.
Good Lord. I have to follow Smart Babes are Idiotic, who might be running the worst conceived blog EVER!!!!!!
Enough of her.
File story under yet another Wal-Mart cheap way to steal ideas from kids who don’t know any better.
I will say it a THOUSAND times. These chickenhawk VCs offer little to nothing of real value for a startup.
Handshakes and introductions are useless if your product doesn’t serve a purpose. And if–by miricle–it does, you do not, repeat
DO NOT
need seeding VCs to get you to the next step. You are much, much, much, much better off with private “friends and family” money.
You have a larger investment, greater control, and no fear of being bent over the table.
So endeth the lesson, idiots…
Stop beating around the bush. How do you really feel?
Yes, true!
The most VCs dont want people with business experince and deep knowledge, they are not easy to control.
I disagree, VCs want smart people as they have a higher rate of success (ei: return on investment and big profits) than dumb ones.
VCs have their role, just like banks and angel investors.
Jon
http://WoodMarvels.com – Create Unique Memories
Is this limited to college students, or can high school students apply as well?
On their website, they specify that it’s only Undergraduate and Graduate students.
But maybe you should ask if they will make an exception.
Good for the students.
Lay off guys! Anjali is not a spammer. She is entitled to post her views. If you don’t like them, don’t read them.
i live about 1 mile from the lexington office (in lexington myself) and i can tell you that they have an awesome collection of brains on hayden ave….and this area is beautiful in the summer
choose boston, not ca
15k really? pfff…
Stay away from Highland. It is by far the most evil VC on earth.
This “program” is yet another example of highland’s sliminess. Rest assured that you will get raped if you apply.
PS: If any real entrepreneurs are listening, this is one VC you really want to stay away from.
Baseless allegations that seem to be out of nowhere without proof or evidence just seems incredibly low and weak.
Is there a list of Startup Incubators somewhere? I know there’s YCombinator, TechStars, YEurope, etc but it hard to tell how many are active…
Knuckleheads who believe Chickenhawk VCs are good for your startup.
They are not.
Consider these Chickenhawks dangerous predators who prey on unknowning–but well-intentioned–startups.
The reason these chickenhawk VCs do not target more established companies for bigger money is because they would be laughed out of Dodge if foolish enough to offer similar terms to anyone over the age of 21.
I tell you this as someone well over 21, who has more than 20 years experience running a business.
This is not the answer. It’s candy offered by a guy without pants driving a van near your junior high.
Highland. Ycombinator. Chickenhawk VCs.
STAY AWAY.
nice opportunity for young people especially students
http://www.heal...tedirectory.com
I am an entrepreneur that participated in the Highland Capital Summer program in summer 2007 and although my company has not received funding from Highland, I can honestly tell you that Highland’s program was awesome! They organized weekly speakers (experienced entrepreneurs, lawyers, academics, CEOs, etc) who came and talked to our small group of entrepreneurs, we were hosted in some incredible offices and were personally mentored by Paul Maeder, the founder of Highland. On top of this we got 15K without giving away any equity. I really don’t know if there’s a better deal out there than Highland’s program. It’s the perfect way to get your company started. All I can say is that you should apply… there’s really no downside.
Alain Chuard
Wildfire Promotion Builder
Website: http://www.WildfireApp.com
Follow us: http://www.twit...com/wildfireapp
Become a Fan: http://www.face...fireinteractive
You won’t see many (if any) entrepreneurs going back to Highland for a second time.
For NameMedia IPO,
How can you say such things about highland, when Bob davis, a highland general partner is on your board?
For NameMedia IPO,
How can you say such things about highland, when Bob davis, a highland general partner is on your board?
Brandon:
I think you just answered your own question.
My name is Will O’Brien and I was a participant in the Summer@Highland program in 2008. I graduated from MIT Sloan in June 2008 where I founded Project Einstein, Inc., the company behind http://hiscatalog.com. Highland offered my team a position in their Menlo Park office for this program. I am no longer affiliated with Highland, nor is my company funded by them.
Given my first-hand experience with the Highland team, let me provide some insights.
The Highland partners are smart and respectful. They have world-class networks that stem from their significant track record of successful companies. In other words, they have the capacity to serve the entrepreneur by brokering strategic relationships or finding additional sources of capital.
“Sliminess” is not part of the equation at Highland. I developed personal relationships with several of the partners, who were generous with their time to help me think through challenging decisions for the company and for my own professional development.
In my opinion, Summer@Highland is an outreach program with dual purposes of a) finding promising early stage companies targeting a massive market, and b) establishing a relationship with the academic communities (business schools and undergraduate) where a lot of great companies are formed.
We came into the program with a business plan and some technology design. During the summer, we established partnerships and completed building the team and technology. We launched His Catalog in the DemoPit at TechCrunch50 and the site opened to the public in December 2008. http://hiscatalog.com
I am surprised by the negativity of comments coming from this community. I invite serious entrepreneurs to contact me with questions about the program. will@hiscatalog.com
re: “…no later than December 2008…”
I think you mean people who have graduated “…no earlier than December 2008…”
Since time is a linear progression and all, occurrences in past are increasingly earlier and times past the present are increasingly later.
People who graduated no later than 12-08 included everyone before that time and negates everyone since.
(I’m a nit-pic. What can I say?)
What makes them chickenhawks? Could you explain further please.
I have considered these programs in the past but am thinking twice about applying now because of all the negative comments.
Please advise, thanks.
I appreciate this program is great – I know some details about it.
test
glad someone has finally dethroned locator dude. ill side with the chickenhawk comments down below. most students dont have enough experience to be business entrepreneurs. what ever idea or invention they do come up with will probably be plagarised. better to stay in mama’s basement, pawn the playstation and promote your own endeavors.
InventorLocator.com – create yourself