APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW
Your Story.
Your Startup.
Your Summer.
$5,000
Stipend + In-Kind Support
5 Weeks
July 24- August 27, 2026
5-7 Teams
Selected for the 2026 Cohort
WHAT IS BASE CAMP?
BASE Camp is the Entrepreneurship@DU Summer Accelerator Program, a bootcamp for entrepreneurs, innovators and creators. BASE Camp is an integral part of the Entrepreneurship@DU ecosystem and is open to all degree-seeking University of Denver students and DU alumni to apply. (Eligibility requirements are listed below). Up to seven teams of entrepreneurs, including up to two teams of alumni, will be accepted to BASE Camp each year.
WHO IS IT FOR?
BASE Camp is designed for founders who are ready to dedicate their summer to building something real. It’s a fit if you are:
- A DU undergraduate, graduate student, or recent alum with an idea you want to pursue.
- At the early stage (from concept through initial traction) and eager to test, validate, and refine.
- Willing to commit 5 weeks full-time (July 24 – Aug 27) to accelerating your venture.
- Open to coaching, feedback, and accountability in a structured program.
- Looking for a community of peers, mentors, and supporters to push your idea forward.
WHY ME?
You don’t have to call yourself an entrepreneur to belong here.
BASE Camp is for the curious, the creative, and the determined — anyone ready to turn an idea into something real. Whether you have a side hustle, a class project, a “what if” moment scribbled in your notes app, or a full-fledged startup, this experience will meet you where you are and push you forward.
In just five weeks, you’ll gain the structure, mentorship, and community to test your ideas, learn fast, and grow your confidence as a builder. BASE Camp isn’t about having it all figured out — it’s about taking the first step and seeing where it leads.
Important Dates
- Applications open: February 25, 2026
- Applications close: March 30, 2026
- Pitches: Week of April 6, 2026
- Interviews: Week of April 13, 2026
- Summer 2026 BASE Camp Cohort announced: Week of April 20th
BASE Camp start date: July 24, 2026
BASE Camp Eligibility
- Teams can have 1–5 members. All team members should be a company founder or at the level of a founder.
- At least one team member must be a current student in a University of Denver degree-granting program as of March 30, 2026, or alumni (see below). This includes undergraduate, graduate and PhD degree-seeking students.
- This year we are opening up the BASE Camp accelerator program to two alumni teams. All requirements are the same for alumni. Alumni teams hoping to apply must be at the MVP or product validation stage.
- For this application process, University of Denver students who graduate in March 2026 or June 2026 are eligible and considered current University of Denver students.
- Teams that are accepted to the Summer 2026 BASE Camp Accelerator must commit to working 16-24 hours per week in The Garage on the University of Denver campus for the duration of the 5-week accelerator.
- Teams are encouraged to attend the Entrepreneurship@DU workshops scheduled for winter and spring 2026.
- Teams must be committed to working full time on their venture during the BASE Camp accelerator program.
Application Instructions
Startups applying to the BASE Camp Accelerator will need to advance through three rounds to gain admittance to the Summer 2026 BASE Camp Accelerator cohort.
Part 1
Applicants are required to fill out the online application form. Application opens on February 23 and closes on March 30, 2026.
The application process should take 60-90 minutes. Applicants will provide details about:
- Their team
- Their idea
- Problem, opportunity, unmet need
- The proposed solution
- The target market
- Competition
- Revenue model
Applicants will be notified the first week of April if they are moving to the 2nd round.
Part 2
Applicants selected to the 2nd round will be invited to pitch their idea the week of April 6, 2026. Applicants will be notified by April 11 if they are moving to the final round.
Part 3
Applicants selected to the final round will be invited to a 30-minute interview the week of April 13.