Accelerate Co-op for Entrepreneurs (ACE) and Innovators
Built to meet the needs of Wentworth’s entrepreneurial students, ACE is a unique opportunity for students to use their co-op to launch and/or grow a business, while getting paid! Spend a full semester focusing exclusively on your business, while working directly with faculty advisors and mentors, getting Accelerate support through its staff and makerspace, and immersing yourself in a peer network of other WIT student entrepreneurs. You will also receive up to $2,500 to spend on materials and supplies and up to $9,000 in wages to ensure that you can focus on your business full-time.
The ACE program takes place every semester and is open to seniors, juniors, and sophomores. Generally, seniors participate in the fall, juniors in the spring, and sophomores in the summer. However, each semester we typically receive applications from students who may have a different co-op schedule.
To participate, you must have a business idea and some traction to date. Traction can be in the form of customer discovery, prototypes, market research, etc. Unfortunately, we cannot accept students who have an idea but haven't done anything to move that idea forward.
To learn more, you can read our current brochure.
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Meet the Founders
Ellie Austin
Pose Posture-wear creates comfortable, stylish tops that gently encourage better posture and help relieve back pain. The Pose top empowers women to stand tall, feel confident, and easily move through their day.
Bethany MacDonald
Irondove focuses on women’s motorcycle gear that truly fits, offering comfort, protection, and style. From backpacks to riding pants, every piece is thoughtfully designed with women’s bodies and needs in mind, moving beyond the outdated “shrink it and pink it” approach to gear.
Aakash Mukherjee
Virtuoso is a hands-on learning platform that helps students and professionals build soft skills. We do this through personalized, interactive experiences that are practical, engaging, and go way beyond traditional lectures.
Nathalie Qadri
PharmEZ: A compact, smart pill-managing machine designed for busy pharmacies. It quickly counts pills and analyzes them to ensure the correct medication is dispensed, with a design that allows for easy cleaning after handling hazardous drugs.
Cammy Stead
Tippsy is a press-on nail brand that offers a nail size scanner, quality and longevity, and custom orders all in one user-friendly app.
Ryan Ballard
Impact Biking: An IoT sensor system for bike rental businesses, making preventative maintenance and tracking easy.
Danny Kraus
Sebanny is a company focused on improving safety and alleviating stress and fear for cyclists and riders alike. The SafeGrip is their solution to the problem at hand; a handlebar grip with built in headlights, taillights, turn signals, road projectors, horn, bell, and mirrors. With it, they will bring back the joy of riding without the constant fear of being hit.
Shubaan Meyyappan
Kinnections is a proximity-based professional networking app that helps users connect with like-minded individuals for academic, professional, or creative collaborations in real time. By emphasizing shared interests, trust, and meaningful engagement, Kinnections isn't just mass networking but also a localized networking platform.
Sebastian Ruiz
Sebanny is a company focused on improving safety and alleviating stress and fear for cyclists and riders alike. The SafeGrip is their solution to the problem at hand; a handlebar grip with built in headlights, taillights, turn signals, road projectors, horn, bell, and mirrors. With it, they will bring back the joy of riding without the constant fear of being hit.
Evan Stein
Stein Media is a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in helping small businesses attract and convert more high-quality leads through targeted advertising campaigns and automated sales systems. We empower our clients to scale their businesses efficiently by implementing cutting-edge marketing strategies and a sophisticated lead nurturing process that turns prospects into loyal customers.
Jacob Thomas
Block Lock: A 3-in-1 bike lock system, built for the urban commuter. Designed to secure both the front and rear wheel, as well as the frame, giving peace of mind to the user that they will always return to a fully intact bike.
Conor Baron
innovio is an innovative toy company, creating products for children 4-7 years old that focus on building social cognizance, critical thinking, and cooperation through STEM based construction toys and challenge cards.
Emma Conant
EveryBody is a gender inclusive swimwear company, developing size inclusive swimwear products specifically designed for the LGBTQ community.
Cam Farrington
The1Lure: We're a new type of fishing lure company focused on developing innovative, affordable, and effective lures designed to shake up the fishing industry.
Max Fisher
Procurahs is a workforce management platform that cultivates performance data on union tradespeople, streamlines the project onboarding process, and uses predictive analytics to create the highest yields for subcontractors.
Cameron Hsu
innovio is an innovative toy company, creating products for children 4-7 years old that focus on building social cognizance, critical thinking, and cooperation through STEM based construction toys and challenge cards.
Jaden Reid
SenStep: We're developing a new type of mobility walker with built in fall detection to decrease medical response time and give caregivers more peace-of-mind.
Carla Santana
Saflan Sweet: Our business specializes in artisan homemade flan, offering a variety of unique and traditional flavors made from high-quality ingredients. And the best part? Everything we make is 100% gluten-free, so you can indulge without worry, while enjoying a dessert that’s as safe as it is delicious!
Nick Spooner
SenStep: We're developing a new type of mobility walker with built in fall detection to decrease medical response time and give caregivers more peace-of-mind.
Iman Cherif
PillSwift Solutions provides innovative medication management solutions, including the PillSwift dispenser, designed to simplify medication adherence and improve patient outcomes. Our technology aims to revolutionize the way people take their medications, ensuring convenience, accuracy, and peace of mind.
Hayden Desmond
Peeko Clothing prides itself in high quality, minimalist apparel inspired by popular anime that anybody can wear and feel confident in.
Thylia Estine
Hooked on Style is a crochet company specializing in handcrafted items tailored to your unique style. Our mission is to infuse every stitch with passion and craftsmanship, creating timeless pieces that bring warmth and joy to your life.
Joshua Kimber
Regen Electronics: Redesigning the everyday, portable, cooler to make it more light weight and sustainable by utilizing rechargeable batteries and thermoelectric modules instead of compressors. He has researched and 3D rendered the initial prototype after developing something similar for his high school capstone.
Travis Marchant
Kreativ Hockey aims to improve the functionality of hockey stick extensions by making them quicker to put in and stay in more effectively. The design adds functionality of different ergonomic shapes of the handles for added customizability.
Aakash Mukherjee
Virtuoso is a hands-on learning platform that helps students and professionals build soft skills. We do this through personalized, interactive experiences that are practical, engaging, and go way beyond traditional lectures.
Nico Alonso Froeling
Vida: Our product is a mobile application that serves as a personalized AI assistant. It focuses on guiding users through various activities and exercises to help them achieve their goals, whether they're related to academic success, professional development, or personal well-being.
Conor Baron
innovio is an innovative toy company, creating products for children 4-7 years old that focus on building social cognizance, critical thinking, and cooperation through STEM based construction toys and challenge cards.
Cauã de Oliveira Adomaiti
Vida: Our product is a mobile application that serves as a personalized AI assistant. It focuses on guiding users through various activities and exercises to help them achieve their goals, whether they're related to academic success, professional development, or personal well-being.
Jimmy Herbst
Fiini: A carrying case that attaches to the waistband of a pair of pants. The case would have pockets for two epinephrine pens, other medications such as Benadryl, an allergen card, and detailed pictoral instructions as for how to administer the epi-pen.
Cameron Hsu
innovio is an innovative toy company, creating products for children 4-7 years old that focus on building social cognizance, critical thinking, and cooperation through STEM based construction toys and challenge cards.
Scott Palmer
Palmer Woodworks: Handcrafted wooden products and small space furniture design.
Carla Santana
Saflan Sweet: Our business specializes in artisan homemade flan, offering a variety of unique and traditional flavors made from high-quality ingredients. And the best part? Everything we make is 100% gluten-free, so you can indulge without worry, while enjoying a dessert that’s as safe as it is delicious!
Nick Sullivan
EnerDrop is a fitness enthusiast inspired water bottle that makes protein powder and pre-workout consumption a breeze, with two built-in compartments that house what you need, until you need them.
"The Accelerate Co-Op for Entrepreneurs “was the perfect opportunity to take the time I needed away from things like school... to focus on my passion and really push it towards becoming a business.”
- Emmanuel Andre Chalumeau ‘22, Computer Science
“Accelerate’s Co-op for Entrepreneurs has allowed me to create and develop a [biomedical product] design that my partners and I have been working on for the last three years. It’s given me the space, materials, and time to work on it, make what I want, and have it actually come to life.”
- Jessica Woyton ‘24, Biomedical Engineering
“I think students should prove to themselves that they can [build a business]. There are so many holistic skills that you will gain... It’s one of the few times that you will get paid to do something that you’re so passionate about and [students] should take full advantage of that.”
- Cathleen Hallinan ‘22, Biomedical Engineering
“Definitely do it. It’s a once in a lifetime chance to have four months to work on something you’re passionate about. It could lead to a senior capstone project, or it could lead to your very own business.”
- Emma Manning ’21, Business Management
“The Accelerate Co-op for Entrepreneurs helped me move my business forward by granting me access to a set of professionals that are here just to help me grow my business... Being able to have the opportunity to build something for yourself is incredible. Take the chance and just go for it.”
- Tristin Wells ‘24, Industrial Design
Video Testimonials
Manny Chalumeau '22
Inspired by controversies around natural hair, Manny Chalumeau ’22 and a group of friends started Krown, a shopping site for natural hair products. It’s also a cultural hub that encourages Black women and men to artfully celebrate their “Krowns.”
Emma Conant ‘25
Emma Conant is the founder of Everybody Swimwear Company, which designs gender-inclusive swimwear so everyone can feel comfortable and confident at the beach.
Heather Torella-McLoughlin ‘24
The Accelerate Co-op for Entrepreneurs has enabled Heather to move her business forward by giving her the time to focus on this project, something she hasn’t been able to do during her busy semester.
Felipe Pinto ‘25
The ACE program gave Felipe Pinto time, funding, and mentors, turning ideas in his head into real progress.
Jessica Woyton ‘24
Through ACE Co-op for Entrepreneurs, Jess has been able to create and refine a design she and her partners have been developing over the past three years.
Conor Baron and Cameron Hsu '25
Connor Baron and Cameron Shu, co-founders of Inovio, create STEM-based toys that encourage large-scale building and creativity using design parameter cards instead of strict instructions—teaching kids critical STEM skills through imaginative play.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who is this co-op experience for?
This experience is open to seniors and juniors participating in a mandatory co-op. Sophomores who would like to complete an optional co-op can also apply
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Does the ACE experience count as a co-op?
Yes, it fulfills Wentworth’s mandatory co-op requirement for juniors and seniors.
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Is this co-op open to all majors?
Yes, this co-op is open to all majors.
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Is there an application process?
Yes, the application process involves a written application and, if you make it to the second round, an interview. The point of this process is for the committee to gather information on your idea, what problem you’re solving, how much traction you’ve made, and whether the co-op is the right fit for you.
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Do you already need an idea or business to apply?
This co-op is for those students who are passionate about an innovation, invention, or a business concept and want to work on it full time. Participants should be past the idea stage and already working on some aspect of making their idea a reality, whether it’s creating a prototype, working on customer discovery, developing the business model, etc.
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Is this co-op paid?
Yes. Juniors and seniors will receive $9,000 in wages, paid in three installments. If you’re a part of a co-founder team, this $9,000 will be split between the two founders. Sophomores participating in the summer experience will receive $7,000 in wages and be given on-campus housing for 11 weeks.
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Are there restrictions on the use of the wages received?
No. This money can be used at your discretion, whether you’re covering living expenses like food and rent or putting it toward your business!
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Will there be space for us to work on campus?
We provide a large conference room as co-working space for ACE participants and ACE alumni.
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Who are the advisors?
There are three advisors leading this opportunity, all of whom have entrepreneurship, strategy, and leadership experience.
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Is there a formal process I have to follow during the co-op?
We require that you meet with your advisor once a week and attend all workshops, social events, and content sessions. You will also be asked to give a final presentation at the end. Outside of that, you are responsible for setting and meeting your own goals. Being an entrepreneur means you hold yourself accountable and keep yourself motivated so we intentionally keep a big part of this experience self-directed.
We also require that you be available for content sessions between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday so please do not plan anything else for those times, including shifts for a part-time job.
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What other support can I get during this experience?
In addition to your advisors, you have access to the Accelerate makerspace and its staff, who have varying degrees of experience in developing prototypes, testing entrepreneurial ideas, and running startups. You can also tap into Accelerate’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence for mentorship and office hours and work with the Accelerate Lab Technician if you want to start bringing a prototype to life.
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Should I still apply if I plan to get a full-time job after graduation?
Yes. While you may not work on your business full time after graduation, the skills, knowledge and network that you develop will be critical to your success, regardless of what you do down the road.
You also have the option of working on your business during your non-work hours and could press the pause button, only to pick it up again a few months or years down the road.
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We’re a team of co-founders. Can we both apply?
Yes, both co-founders can participate in the program but the co-founders will have to split wages and the $2,500 in materials and supplies money will be allocated to the team, not to each individual co-founder.
Please submit one application per team and ensure both co-founders are available for an interview. If a co-founder doesn’t interview, they are not eligible to participate.
If you get in, both co-founders will be required to attend all of the sessions.
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If I participate, will Wentworth own any of my Intellectual Property (IP)?
No! Wentworth nor Accelerate will own any of your business and/or IP unless you put a contract in place that states otherwise.
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Who should I reach out to if I have questions?
Contact Yonalis Rosario Perez, Accelerate’s Program Manager or Ashley Lucas, Accelerate’s Executive Director.