The First-Year Innovation Fellowship (FYIF) is a semester-long program designed specifically for first-year students at Boston University. Whether you have a fully formed venture idea or just a problem you care about, FYIF provides the coaching, community, and resources to help you turn passion into impact.
And, for the first time, participating in FYIF gives you a Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship HUB unit—academic credit that counts toward your BU HUB requirements!
Apply for Spring 2026 by January 9
Here’s what you need to know before you apply.
What FYIF Is (and Isn’t)
It’s a semester-long fellowship for first-year students.
FYIF runs for one semester (fall or spring) and is open exclusively to freshmen. The program was recently redesigned from a year-long format based on student feedback that semester-based programming better fits first-year schedules.
To apply, you just need a problem you care about, not a solution.
The application focuses on problems you’re passionate about, not solutions. Figuring out to solve the problem is what the fellowship is for! If you’re curious about challenges in the world and want to learn how to address them, that’s exactly what FYIF is looking for.
It’s about more than startups.
Innovation at Innovate@BU isn’t limited to tech startups or business majors. Fellows have worked on nonprofits, community programs, sustainability initiatives, educational resources, and more. If you want to create positive change—in any form—FYIF can help you get there.
Cohorts are intentionally diverse.
Each cohort is about 20 students selected not just for strong applications, but to create a community with diverse perspectives. That means diversity across race, gender, major, background, and interests. The program believes exposure to different viewpoints leads to better ideas.
What You Get
A personal innovation coach.
Every fellow is matched with a coach—many of whom have built their own ventures or have deep entrepreneurship expertise. Coaches help you develop your idea, get unstuck, and build real skills. You’ll meet with your coach at least three times during the semester.
Mentor meetings with program staff.
In addition to coaching, you’ll have five check-ins with the FYIF program team (Nana Younge, the Program Director, and Zoe Marsiglia, the Program Marketing Specialist). Use these as opportunities to get support as a student and as a person, not just program updates!
Peer mentors from previous cohorts.
FYIF alumni volunteer to mentor current fellows. While optional, these connections let you learn from upperclassmen who’ve been through the program and may share your major or interests.
Access to Innovate@BU’s space and resources.
Fellows can book meeting rooms in advance (a perk not available to the general public), use the co-working space, and tap into office hours with the full Innovate@BU team.
A HUB unit.
FYIF now carries a Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship HUB unit—academic credit that counts toward your BU HUB requirements.
A seed grant.
Complete the program and you can apply for a seed grant the following semester to continue developing your prototype or idea. (Because of the Hub unit structure, the grant is awarded after the semester ends.)
Exclusive events and community.
Fellows attend FYIF-only events throughout the semester and are required to attend at least three Innovate@BU events (like Pitch & Pizza nights, expert panels, and networking sessions).
Everything you create is yours.
Innovate@BU takes no equity in your work and no cut of any funding you receive. This is different from some external accelerators that require equity in exchange for support.
The Time Commitment
Weekly sessions are mandatory.
FYIF meets every Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. This time slot is non-negotiable—if your spring schedule conflicts, you may need to adjust your classes to participate.
Optional drop-in sessions follow each meeting.
From 4:35 pm onward, you can stick around to work on deliverables, ask questions, or hang out with the cohort. It’s built-in time so you don’t have to find it elsewhere.
Expect manageable homework.
Each session introduces a deliverable due the following week. These are designed to be achievable—sometimes as quick as 30 minutes, occasionally longer, but spread across multiple weeks when needed.
Three required coaching meetings.
These can be over Zoom or in person, depending on your coach’s location.
Two required mentor meetings.
Check-ins with program staff to ensure you’re on track and getting what you need.
Three required Innovate@BU events.
You choose which events to attend, then submit a short reflection (just a few sentences).
Demo Day is mandatory (and fun!).
The final pitch event takes place during the study period before finals. You must attend to complete the program—it’s the most important date on your FYIF calendar.
The Application
There are two parts.
First, a short written application that collects some background information, followed immediately by a video interview where you’ll answer questions on camera. Both must be submitted by the deadline in order to be considered for the program.
You can retake your video responses.
You get two retakes per question—use them. If you get cut off, lose your train of thought, or want to tighten your answer, retake it. Unlike a live interview, the team can’t ask follow-up questions, so make sure your full response comes through.
Each video response is two minutes max.
Be concise. If you tend to go long, practice beforehand and use your retakes strategically.
The questions focus on who you are, not what you’ll build.
Expect prompts like:
- Who are you? How would others describe you? (Share three words and a story that illustrates one of them.)
- What’s a problem you care about or something you’re discontented with in the world?
- Tell us about a challenge you faced when things didn’t go to plan—and what you learned.
- When was your perspective challenged? How did it change the way you see things?
- Why do you want to join FYIF?
- What’s one strength you bring to our community and one area you hope to improve?
Don’t pitch a solution.
The application is about problems, passions, and who you are as a person. Solution-finding happens during the fellowship.
Be yourself!
Imagine you’re having a conversation at a coffee shop. If your application feels like you’re reading from a script or sounds robotic, it’s harder for the team to get to know you. Let your personality come through.
Tips for a Strong Application
Highlight the problems you’re passionate about.
What makes you curious? What pushes you? What issues in the world do you want to address? This matters more than having a polished business idea.
Include the “so what.”
When sharing a challenge or experience, don’t just describe what happened—explain what you learned, how it changed you, or what you did differently afterward.
Show self-awareness.
The question about strengths and areas for improvement matters. The team wants fellows who are reflective about what they bring and where they want to grow.
Don’t overthink it.
The application is designed to be completed in about 30 minutes (longer if you retake responses or pause). It’s not meant to be a burden.
What Happens After FYIF
You don’t have to stop.
Many FYIF alumni continue their work through other Innovate@BU programs. The Innovation Pathway lets you progress through stages to unlock more funding and resources. The Summer Accelerator offers ten weeks of intensive support plus $10,000. The Enlight Fellowship supports students working on social ventures.
Alumni have won major competitions.
One FYIF alum won the Social Impact track of BU’s New Venture Competition! Others have become semifinalists in climate innovation challenges, earned thousands in funding, and launched ventures that are still growing.
You can stay connected.
FYIF alumni can become peer mentors, student ambassadors, or continue working at Innovate@BU in other capacities. The community doesn’t end when the semester does.
If You Don’t Get In
Innovation doesn’t stop.
FYIF cohorts are small by design (about 20 students), so not everyone who applies will be accepted. But Innovate@BU has resources for everyone—office hours, events, the co-working space, and other programs that don’t require an application.
Think like an entrepreneur.
If the most straightforward path isn’t available, how else can you achieve your goals? That mindset is exactly what Innovate@BU encourages. Reach out to the team to talk about other ways to get involved.
Quick Facts
- Who can apply: First-year Freshmen BU students only
- Program length: One semester (fall or spring)
- Weekly meetings: Tuesdays, 3:30–4:30 pm (mandatory)
- Cohort size: ~20 students
- Application deadline (Spring 2026): January 9th
- Academic credit: 1 Hub unit (Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship)
- Funding: Seed grant available after completing the program
- Equity: Innovate@BU takes none—everything you create is yours
Next Steps
- Visit the FYIF page on the Innovate@BU website
- Complete the short written application
- Record your video responses on HireVue (remember: you can retake twice!)
- Submit before January 9th
- Check your schedule for Tuesday 3:30–4:30 pm availability
Questions? Book office hours with the Innovate@BU team or email Harry Mozaic directly. And even if FYIF isn’t the right fit this semester, subscribe to the Innovate@BU newsletter to stay connected with events, deadlines, and opportunities throughout the year.
Apply for Spring 2026 by January 9
