You don’t need to sound like a startup veteran to get into the Student Founder Bootcamp. In fact, you’ll stand out more if you don’t.
Every round, hundreds of students apply — some with ideas, some with none, all with curiosity. The best applications aren’t the flashiest; they’re the most real.
If you’re wondering what to write, this is your guide.
💡 Show curiosity, not credentials
We’re ain’t looking for your CV. We’re looking for ✨curiosity ✨
Tell us about a problem you can’t stop thinking about. Something that frustrates you enough to want to fix it. It doesn’t need to be a startup idea yet it just needs to show that you care about how the world works.
The best answers sound like this:
“I noticed how hard it is for students to find mentors who actually reply. I want to explore how we could make mentorship easier to access.”
Not like this:
“I am passionate about innovation and creating change in the education ecosystem.”
The first one tells us what you notice. The second one could’ve been written by ChatGPT circa 2024.
⚙️ Speak like a person
Pretend you’re explaining your idea to a friend after class. That’s the tone we love.
If you wouldn’t say it out loud, don’t write it here. Avoid the “corporate pitch” voice.
Founders are builders, not buzzword collectors 🙏
🧠 Talk about what excites you, not what you think we want to hear
You don’t have to be working on something world-changing. You don’t even need to have something working.
Just tell us what makes you curious right now. What topic makes you Google at 2am? What problem did you notice that you can’t stop thinking about?
If you can communicate genuine energy (even about something small) it stands out instantly.
🤝 Show how you work with others
The Bootcamp is built around teamwork. Every cohort brings together 150+ students from every kind of background.
Tell us what kind of teammate you are. Are you the ideas person? The organiser? The do-er? The question-asker? There’s no right answer but showing awareness of your role makes you a great fit.
🪿 Let your uniqueness through
This isn’t a grad-job application. You don’t have to be perfect (in fact, pls don’t be)
Share your personality, humour, quirks and the things that make your brain work the way it does.
Startups thrive on difference.
📸 What happens after you hit “submit”??
Once you apply, the Startmate team reads every application (yas, I know real humans).
We’re looking for energy, openness, and curiosity, not polish.
If you’re accepted, you’ll join the two-week virtual Student Founder Bootcamp
You’ll meet your team, brainstorm, build, and pitch to Startmate’s Investment Team. Then, over summer, you’ll have time to keep developing your idea before submitting your final pitch video in mid-January 2026.
If you submit that pitch you’ll get your program fee refunded.
Preeeettty sweet deal if you ask me.
Also a GREAT program to add to your CV 😏
😈 A few “application don’ts” from us
❌ Don’t copy-paste your uni statement of purpose.
❌ Don’t apologise for not having experience.
❌ Don’t write what you think a startup founder sounds like.
We’d rather see messy honesty than polished buzzwords any day.
Goodluck legends!
Apply for the Student Founder Bootcamp
