I'm sending the below note to make you aware of Summer@Highland 2008 and to solicit any referrals to the program that you may have.

 

In its second year, Summer@Highland 2008 is designed to provide student entrepreneurs (graduate, undergraduate or recent grads) with the environment and resources for advancing their startup initiative to the next level.  Selected teams each receive a financial stipend and the opportunity to spend the summer with Highland, either in Massachusetts or California.  The teams will have access to Highland investment professionals along with further resources for injecting real-world advice, insight and perspectives into the entrepreneurial and company-building process.  Full details can be found below and at www.hcp.com/summer.

 

If you're aware of individuals or teams that would be potentially terrific fits for the program and may have interest in applying to take advantage of it, feel free to forward the below email to their attention or direct them to www.hcp.com/summer.

 

Thanks for any support that you can provide.

 

Michael Gaiss

 

Highland Capital Partners | Building Great Companies Together

Website | Careers | Summer Program | Entrepreneurship Central | Facebook

 

 

Summer@Highland 2008

 

Are you a student (graduate, undergraduate or even recent grad) with a business you'd like to rapidly accelerate this summer?  If so, the Summer@Highland 2008 program may be just what you need!

 

Following the success of last year's inaugural Summer@Highland, we are again offering stipends, office space, and experienced advisors to a small number of students with ambitious aspirations for building their businesses.

 

What we're looking for

 

We are especially interested in having you spend the summer with us if:

- You've a leadership team with vision, passion, and drive

- Your business has the potential to be highly-disruptive in its area

- Your business initiative is showing momentum. While you may, or may not, have incorporated, you've more than a vague concept in mind

- You have real depth of expertise in your technology/market of interest

- You can direct us to some advisors who see your business's potential as you do

 

Particulars of Summer@Highland 2008

 

- The program is open to current graduate and undergraduate students, as well as recent (December 2007 or later) grads.  At least one member of the team must meet this criterion.

- Teams can comprise 1 to 4 persons.

- A single person team will receive a $7,500 stipend for the summer.

- A multi-person team will receive a $15,000 stipend.

- Teams will reside in office space in Highland's Lexington, MA or Menlo Park, CA offices (or, an exception basis, in our Geneva or Shanghai offices).

- Teams are required to work full time for 10 weeks.  Start and end dates are flexible and to span the period of June through September 2008. Teams are expected to share our office space with us during this full term.

- Each team will have a Highland sponsor who will be the team's gateway to advice and counsel from Highland's investors and industry network.

- In consideration of these benefits, but not to overly constrain the teams, we ask that if a team goes on to raise venture capital within 180 days from the end of the program, then Highland be provided the option to co-invest in up to 50% of the total financing round.

 

 

How to apply

 

- Please complete the brief online application (available at www.hcp.com/summer)

- Attach to your application (1) resumes/bios for each team member, and (2) up to two referrals/letters of recommendation (recommended).  The latter may be from faculty & administration, board or advisory group members, or others affiliated with close knowledge of your project and/or team members.

- Deadline for applications is April 22, 2008

- Selected projects will be notified via email no later than May 6, 2008.