Undergraduate Technology Innovation Fellows Program
Supported by the Roberts Family Foundation
This program is for current Harvard College students only.
As technical and societal challenges become increasingly complex and cross traditional boundaries, leaders who tackle such problems require more than technical skill – they require training in innovation and problem-solving techniques, and the ability to work on interdisciplinary teams.
The Harvard Undergraduate Technology Innovation Fellows (HUTIF) Program, a collaborative founder development program created by the Faculty of Arts & Sciences (FAS), the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and Harvard Business School (HBS), is designed to help develop this new generation of tech entrepreneurs.
Made possible by a generous gift from the Roberts Family Foundation, the HUTIF program enables a group of 10-15 outstanding Harvard College students (from any College concentration) to build knowledge, skills, and a community, that will put them on a path to launch and lead innovative endeavors. Selected students are known as the Roberts Family Fellows.
Who should apply?
Applicants for the Undergraduate Technology Innovation Fellows program are Harvard College sophomores and juniors who have:
A record of academic excellence at Harvard College.
Demonstrated leadership and potential for innovation and/or entrepreneurship.
A "builder" orientation with a zeal for solving problems and creating products, as evidenced by experience in campus laboratories, course projects, and a diverse range of innovative or entrepreneurial endeavors.
A commitment to building a technology venture.
A founder development program that will help you build an entrepreneurial mindset and toolkit to help you identify and solve social problems or build the next Big Thing.
Note: Due to the timing of HBS activities, many juniors will be unable to fully benefit from all the program offerings. Therefore, preference will be given to sophomore applicants.
Register for the 2025 HUTIF Information Sessions
Friday, January 31, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM via Zoom
Wednesday, February 12, 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM, Smith Campus Center, Mt. Auburn Room
Complete a 2025-2026 HUTIF Program Inquiry Form
Introduce Yourself! This is the first step in learning more about our inspiring and collaborative community of Roberts Family Fellows. Please note: By submitting this form, you are opting into HUTIF email communications.
Program Elements
The Roberts Family Fellows gain access to a variety of experiences and resources, including:
Startup Bootcamp
Fellows are required to participate in the HBS Startup Bootcamp, a program taught by HBS faculty that is ordinarily only for MBA candidates. The week-long Bootcamp, which does not confer academic credit, takes place during the College Wintersession in January and uses a learning-by-doing approach to build the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as an early-stage entrepreneur.
HBS MBA Electives
Fellows may take up to two HBS MBA electives (no more than one per term) from a designated set of courses that focus on technology management, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Fellows Seminars
Fall seminar sessions feature case discussions led by faculty and guest speakers. The seminars may also include broader topics in liberal arts, including historical and cultural facets of technology and innovation.
HBS Online CORe
Fellows are required to complete HBS Online CORe coursework in either May (pdf) or June (pdf) prior to enrollment, with its $2,500 fee paid by the HUTIF program. Each wave of CORe consists of 12 weeks, 8-15 hours per week, of self-paced modules. This should be completed by all Fellows prior to enrolling in any HBS elective courses.
Funding
Fellows are strongly encouraged to apply for HUTIF program financial support to spend the summer between their junior and senior year either: 1) at a technology company (or a non-technology company working in a role involving innovation/technology development) in a paid internship or 2) working on their own startup concept. In either instance, Fellows may have access to alumni mentors.
Capstone Project
This is a requirement for all first-year Fellows. Utilizing skills and resources attained during Bootcamp and throughout the year, individuals or teams will create (or continue working on) a venture, practice pitching that venture, and receive meaningful feedback from faculty co-chairs and experts in the field.