iSTEM@Stevens
What is the program's impact?
How is iSTEM@Stevens unique?
Conceived and made possible by a generous gift from Stevens’ trustee emeritus and distinguished engineer Emilio A. Fernandez, iSTEM provides stellar opportunities for students who think differently and might otherwise be overlooked by traditional engineering programs, placing great emphasis on qualities like ambition, playfulness, grit and passion. Our program proves that there are several pathways to a successful career and can be replicated at other institutions across the globe to increase the engineering talent pipeline on an international scale.
iSTEM students have an innate gift for making and doing, even if these gifts are not reflected in their grades. The program provides a sustained pedagogical and professional support system tailored to the unique needs of the iSTEM student cohort.
Students are supported through invitation-only courses, annual retreats, access to an accelerated masters’ program and access to a community of peer and alumni mentors through retreats and guest lectures.
iSTEM nurtures the special talents of its student cohort, helps them succeed in graduating from college and supports them in developing their ideas into business opportunities with potential for societal impact.
How does iSTEM work?
Once admitted, the program moves through four stages, each of which typically lasts six to twelve months. Students get access to state-of-the-art equipment, training, and mentorship from an accomplished team of experts in technology, legal, sales, marketing and various business verticals. Building an impactful company is hard and complex, which is why our mentors will work alongside the students in a highly personalized way to break down this complex task into weekly goals and measurable results.
Incorporation, Scale and Growth
In the final stage, you learn the legal mechanics of starting new ventures and raising capital, while building toward a career as a founder, researcher or a star employee.
Since its launch in 2018, iSTEM has recruited 47 students, including 11 in Fall 2022. The program has a 95.75% retention rate, has produced 20 portfolio companies, including four formed in the past eight months, and averages three new incorporations every year. Importantly, iSTEM and Launchpad are leading to enterprises that are backed by some of the world’s most renowned investors, such as YCombinator and Sequoia Capital.
Program Kickoff and Idea Generation
Beginning your first year, we work with you on small, hands-on projects to better understand your innate passions. We then connect that passion to societal needs, identify gaps that need solutions and develop your “master” idea: an opportunity for invention with seeds of societal impact and growth. Our mentorship will help you stay on track through regular meetings and interaction.
You also could be matched with one of our powerful partners, including TIAA, CarePoint Health, Delphi Digital, Mission-50, the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Establishing an Invention
Next, you move into the Launchpad@Stevens portion of the iSTEM program where you learn specific technical skills to realize your invention. Throughout your sophomore and junior years, you enroll in up to 6 credit hours learning technological entrepreneurship.
With exclusive access to labs and mentors, you experiment, iterate and build innovative solutions with the possibility of filing a patent. Invention typically yields a rough prototype that embodies a marked improvement to the current technology.
Develop Customers and Products
Continuing with Launchpad@Stevens, you build professional-grade products and relate your breakthrough innovation to societal needs while learning valuable business skills like storytelling, sales and marketing. You build customer relationships and poise your venture for hyper-growth, since funding typically increases in the later stages of a venture.
During this time, you may also to apply to the Accelerated Master’s Program to earn a graduate degree in just one additional year, while still focusing on your venture.
Incorporation, Scale and Growth
In the final stage, you learn the legal mechanics of starting new ventures and raising capital, while building toward a career as a founder, researcher or a star employee.
Since its launch in 2018, iSTEM has recruited 47 students, including 11 in Fall 2022. The program has a 95.75% retention rate, has produced 20 portfolio companies, including four formed in the past eight months, and averages three new incorporations every year. Importantly, iSTEM and Launchpad are leading to enterprises that are backed by some of the world’s most renowned investors, such as YCombinator and Sequoia Capital.
Program Kickoff and Idea Generation
Beginning your first year, we work with you on small, hands-on projects to better understand your innate passions. We then connect that passion to societal needs, identify gaps that need solutions and develop your “master” idea: an opportunity for invention with seeds of societal impact and growth. Our mentorship will help you stay on track through regular meetings and interaction.
You also could be matched with one of our powerful partners, including TIAA, CarePoint Health, Delphi Digital, Mission-50, the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) and the U.S. Department of Defense.
SecureMeeting
Creating a Safe Space
Apply Now
What started as a side project has now mushroomed into 20 enterprises worth well over $100M and a community of makers and doers united in a mission to bend the arc of STEM innovation to enrich human life. We are only getting started. Join us.
We help the daring build enduring companies.
The creative spirits. The underdogs. The fighters and the true believers. The defiant outsiders. Those who reject the status quo and see the world “differently.” These are the kinds of people we partner with. They are extremely rare. And we are ecstatic when we find them.
Here are just a few iSTEM student startups poised to improve the quality of human life around the world.
Imagication
Visit campuses on the metaverse. Flattening access to higher education, especially for the underprivileged.
Quae
A platform for promoting civil engagement and bringing democracy into the 21st Century.
Sign
The first real-time system that captures American Sign Language users’ hand-signing motions and translates them into text instantly without special equipment.