The Werth Innovators program at the University of Connecticut is accepting applications through Oct. 25 for its Women’s Leadership Cohort.
The program, operating under the Peter J. Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, is designed to teach students entrepreneurial skills while addressing women-specific hurdles in the field.
The Werth Institute is named for the generic pharmaceutical entrepreneur, Peter J. Werth, who donated approximately $30 million to UConn. Innovations originating from the university have yielded more than 650 patents.
Selected students will receive a $4,000 stipend to develop a business idea or tackle a specific problem through innovation. Participants must remain on campus for one week in May before transitioning to remote work for the rest of the summer.
Throughout the program, students will collaborate with peers and receive feedback from industry leaders and experienced entrepreneurs. The program aims to help students build entrepreneurial skills, expand their professional networks and form lasting peer connections.
According to Werth Institute Director of Leadership Development Katie Britt, notable student projects include the Magic Mirror, an app by Brianna Flores that includes a smart mirror display that helps students prepare for their day by showing their schedule and daily weather, and Prickle, an eczema-tracking app designed to log flare-up triggers and past treatments for medical consultations by Laura Park.
The opportunity is open to all first-year UConn students, regardless of major or grade point average. Applicants must demonstrate a passion for creativity, curiosity or innovation through an online application form and a required video submission, according to the program’s Daily Digest post.
More information is available on the institute’s website or by emailing Katie Britt at katie.britt@uconn.edu.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated as of Oct. 2 to clarify that the program is “designed to teach students entrepreneurial skills while addressing gender-specific hurdles in the field.” The program is open to students of all gender identities.