the Werth Innovators program

The Werth Innovators Program

is for UConn’s undergraduate students looking to grow their mindsets and skillsets. Werth Innovators have an idea they want to pursue in an area they are passionate about, and need help doing so through resources, experiences, and confidence. Students join a cohort-style learning environment and the greater group of all Werth Innovators at UConn.

How to Apply

Applications are now open for the next cohort of Werth Innovators for the '23-'24 academic year and will close at midnight on Sunday, September 10th, 2023. Students will be asked to participate in an interview. The application consists of short answers and video/photo submissions. This cohort is open to first-year students who identify as a woman.
Apply For the '23-'24 First-Year Women Werth Innovators Cohort

Who Should Apply?

Students across all majors interested in building and growing their skills, confidence and leadership experiences while exploring the world of entrepreneurship and growing their network should consider applying. The value a student gains as a Werth Innovator is defined by the student. Each student has unique goals, ideas or projects to pursue and The Werth Institute provides personalized support in the forms of goal setting, skill-building guidance, networking opportunities, mentorship, leadership and ambassadorship opportunities. Students are selected based upon their innovative projects, entrepreneurial mindsets, and their passion in an area they are driven to problem solve in.

Why Should I Apply?

Being a Werth Innovator means you will have access to unique life-transformative opportunities and be a proud member of one of the nation’s leading entrepreneurial leadership development programs. Benefit highlights include:

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Resources

Gain access to unique opportunities, startup company trip and visits and events reserved for Werth Innovators. Set personal career and passion project goals and craft your plan to gain skills and experiences toward achieving your goals.

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Experiences

Receive scholarship* money and participate in unique networking connections. Join the greater community of existing interdisciplinary Werth Innovator UConn students and alum, meet like-minded people to collaborate, ideate, and connect with, and grow your network through the friends of The Werth Institute and experienced alum.

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Confidence

Gained through mentorship and leadership development opportunities.

*Students selected in the spring (Track 2 for rising sophomores and juniors) receive a $3k scholarship in January of their next academic year. Students selected in the fall (Track 1 for first-year students) receive a $4k paid summer internship before their sophomore year and a $3k scholarship in January of their sophomore year. Students must be enrolled full-time and be in good-standing during the full academic year in order to receive their scholarship funds.

“Once a Werth Innovator, Always a Werth Innovator”

 

101

Werth Innovators selected to date (since 2018)

Awarded over

$372k

in scholarships to Werth Innovators (since 2018)

Over

40+

majors represented across 7 schools

 

51%

of 2021 spring graduates worked for an entrepreneurial-related company or started their own venture

Werth Innovators in the News