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Why Join the Accelerator?
At Dartmouth, engineering and impact go hand-in-hand. A partnership between Thayer School of Engineering and Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship, DIAEn aims to bridge the gap between research and entrepreneurship and help accelerate the pace that early-stage innovations move from lab to market—and into the hands of people who need them most. DIAEn teams have access to funding and additional resources, including:
Mentoring & Guidance
Gain insights and expert feedback from Dartmouth alumni entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
Entrepreneurial Training
Learn critical and practical skills that prepare you for a future in startups.
Pitch Preparedness
Practice at demo events where you'll communicate your innovation to potential investors.
How to Apply
Your innovation—whether it addresses health, energy, climate or another challenge—must have a strong engineering foundation.
Teams are eligible if they are:
- Experienced and/ or interested in starting a business
- Working on a technology that could become a product within five to ten years
- Led by Thayer School of Engineering faculty (other team members may be from outside Thayer)
- Able to participate in all sessions, with at least two team members attending each event
To Apply
Submit a "napkin sketch," a brief project description, and team member names by the deadline. Don't wait! Space is limited.
Key Program Dates
Application Period:
Applications accepted through Feb 15, 2026
Kickoff Workshop:
March 6 and 7, 2026
Educational Program Period:
March 30–May 8, 2026
Demo and Pitch Competition:
May 25, 2026
Award Period:
June 1, 2026–May 31, 2027
About the Accelerator
The Dartmouth Innovation Accelerator for Engineering (DIAEn) is one of several innovation accelerators aimed at helping researchers commercialize innovations into products and systems with real-world impact.
Goals
- To provide Thayer faculty-led teams with the knowledge and funding needed to bring their innovative ideas and technologies to the marketplace.
- To develop and strengthen Dartmouth intellectual property (IP) and increase licensing of Dartmouth IP to startups and other companies.
- To strengthen Thayer's entrepreneurial ecosystem of alumni, faculty, students, and corporate partners to facilitate collaboration and support.
Contacts
To learn more about the accelerators or for application-related questions, contact:
DIAEn is a partnership of:
