Jumpstarting Aspiring Developers and Entrepreneurs

The 2025 Jumpstarting Aspiring Developers and Entrepreneurs program will take place over the course of a week in January, beginning Sunday, January 12th–Sunday, January 18th, 2025. Apply to become a first-year participant by Friday, October 18th at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Applications will open Friday September 20th

Jumpstarting Aspiring Developers and Entrepreneurs (JADE) is a week long immersive program for first-year students of all backgrounds in the U.S. tech and startup ecosystem. Through in-person visits and discussions with companies of varying sizes that span numerous industries, students will gain insight into the growth of startups and how they can dive into the tech and entrepreneurship space. Web development lessons will guide participants in acquiring tangible skills through building their own websites. By meeting and networking with founders, investors, company employees and JADE alumni, participants will learn how these skills can translate into future professions.

Get to know a cohort of like-minded students curious about tech and entrepreneurship, and make lifelong friends! In previous years, JADE participants have been hosted by companies such as Google, Facebook, Spotify, New York Times, Flatiron Health, General Catalyst and Rent the Runway.

Questions? Email jade@columbia.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Jumpstarting Aspiring Developers and Entrepreneurs

What sort of web development will we learn?

We focus on teaching introductory web development skills. Participants will learn the basics of HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Github. The month will culminate with students developing their own personal websites.

How large is the program?

The program includes 20 first-year participants and is coordinated by five upperclassmen. The program adviser is Nestor Hernandez, assistant director of Student Engagement.

What is the best part of JADE?

Below are some testimonials from past JADE participants:

"My favorite part of JADE was definitely connecting with everybody from the coordinators to the other JADErs. I posted a picture of a site visit on my Instagram and one of my older peers told me messages me asking if I was doing JADE. Turns out they were a previous JADE participant as well! Now both of us are able to connect deeper not only personally, but also business-wise. She visited other companies and our combined pool of contacts will be helpful to the two of us."- 2020 JADE participant

"I really like doing the web development. I loved seeing my work change and get better every time I refreshed the page. It was really cool and I feel like it connected well with my interests in art and tech bc of the creativity and the application of programming." -2019 JADE participant

"I learned a lot about the tech world, or just workplace general. I was studying computer science but I was kind of scared and had no one to ask questions. But now I know I can ask the leaders or just the members of the group. I also learned how to ask questions that are challenging and also productive. I learned a lot from the other students." - 2020 JADE participant

What sorts of companies will we visit?

We will visit small startups, Fortune 500 companies, incubators/accelerators, and venture capital firms whose industries span various sectors.

What will JADE look like in person?

Participants will still have the opportunity to connect and network with featured companies through virtual and in-person visits, panels, and Q&A sessions. Current employees and past JADE alumni in the workforce will be featured. JADE is a great opportunity for establishing industry and mentorship connections. Fun bonding activities will be led by current upperclassmen so participants can meet each other and form lasting friendships!

Who can apply to participate in JADE?

All current first-year undergraduate students in Columbia College, Columbia Engineering and Barnard College are eligible to apply for the program. Students must have completed all their New Student Orientation Program (NSOP) programming requirements to participate. All majors are encouraged to apply, as we want to focus on students who have had minimal exposure to the startup and tech ecosystem of New York.

Student Engagement

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515 Alfred Lerner Hall
2920 Broadway
New York, NY 10027

Call: 212-854-3612

Fax: 212-854-6972

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Office Hours
Monday–Friday
9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.