The Eugene M. Lang Entrepreneurial Initiative Fund Competition Selection Process
About
Important Dates
Eligibility
Apply
About the Lang Entrepreneurial Initiative Fund
Established in 1996 with a $1 million gift from Eugene M. Lang, MS '40, the Eugene M. Lang Entrepreneurial Initiative Fund fosters an entrepreneurial environment at Columbia Business School by providing early-stage investing opportunities to qualifying student business initiatives. It also allows the School to share in the success of funded ventures through negotiated equity or other participation.
The Lang Fund Competition offers graduating students serious about launching a business upon or shortly after graduation the opportunity to present their plan to a panel of judges who together help select which students will advance to present to the Lang Fund Board of Directors. During the process, a select number of students will have the opportunity to make a formal presentation followed by Q&A. Approximately five companies will be selected from the event to present to the Lang Fund Board for investment consideration.
Learn about the latest Lang Fund Recipients.
About the Competition's Selection Process
Important Dates
- Application period: On or about Mon, March 23 to Fri, April 3, 2020
- The first round of the selection process for The Lang Fund will take place on or about Fri, April 17, 2020
- Approximately five companies will be selected to present to the Lang Fund Board for investment consideration on or about Fri, May 15, 2020
Dates subject to change. Check back here for updates.
Eligibility & Requirements
Graduating students who intend to work on their ventures full-time after graduation are eligible to apply for funding from the Lang Fund Board. In order to apply you must be a Columbia Business School student graduating in May for MBAs and August for EMBAs.
The entry requirements include:
- Five to seven-page executive summary outlining venture
- Completed application highlighting venture accomplishments and intent to work on venture full-time
- Participation in due diligence process
Apply
The application deadline has passed.
Conditions of Investment: In order to provide more access to seed funding in a venture’s early stages, the Fund will make an initial investment in each venture, typically in the amount of $25,000-50,000, in the form of a convertible demand note for ventures that meet its investment criteria. This criteria requires that ventures have a viable business model with a good chance of success and a full-time commitment by the graduating student to the business as its owner or prime mover. The Fund retains the right to make an additional equity investment in the business when the business raises its first round of equity backed by professional investors.
The Board retains sole discretion for deciding which businesses it will fund each year and may decide in a given year to forgo the funding of any projects if none of the ventures presented meet its investment criteria.
Questions? Contact langcenter@gsb.columbia.edu.