The Entrepreneurship and Diversity Scholarship

Founded by Dan Phillips, the Entrepreneurship & Diversity Scholarship is meant to encourage students from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about pursuing careers in the startup and growth technology ecosystem of Massachusetts. The program is open to sophomores and beyond from any major who have a desire to work in the technology sector, and potentially start their own company someday. Areas of particular interest in the tech start-up industry should include software development, IT, cyber security, sales, marketing, or finance. In addition to a scholarship, the program includes a mentorship opportunity with Dan Phillips or another appropriate mentor in the technology sector, if desired.

To be considered for the award students must complete an application and meet the following criteria:
- Passionate about pursuing an entrepreneurial startup/growth technology career.
- Currently working, utilizing loans, and/or scholarships to pay for tuition.
- Have an unmet tuition need.
- Diverse background in terms of not growing up connected to the startup/growth technology industry.
- Be available to interview with the scholarship committee online or in person.
- First generation in family to attend college is preferred.
- Acceptance to the Hack.Diversity* program is valued, but not required.

About Hack.Diversity
Hack.Diversity is a program of the New England Venture Capital Association, created to address one of the region’s most glaring workforce inefficiencies, bringing together under-represented sources of talent with the region’s hottest, fastest-growing companies in tech and healthcare. A unique internship-to-employment pipeline, the program provides diversity consulting and training for hiring companies, and provides engineers of color with training, coaching, and mentoring – positioning both employer and employee for long-term success. Contact UMass Boston’s ACES team (https://www.umb.edu/academics/seas/university-advising/) or visit www.hackdiversity.com to learn more about applying for the Hack.Diversity program.