Incubator giving student founders mentorship, workshops, and funding to launch early-stage social impact startups.
- Joining
- ApplicationFirst-years eligible
- When
- Usually recruits in fall and spring
About
The Institute of Politics' Governance Lab, or GovLab, is an incubator for early-stage social impact startups at Harvard University. Its mission is to provide student founders with the mentorship and funding to launch startups that will make a tangible impact in their communities.
How to join
- Application — A written application, often followed by interviews.
What they do
- Pitch competition awarding an equity-free grant to the top startup
- Practical workshops, one-on-one mentorship sessions, and collaborative projects
- 10-week workshop series led by an Entrepreneur-in-Residence accelerating ten Harvard-based startups
Sponsors & partners
Institute of Politics
More links
- IOP program pageHarvard directory
Sources
- Governance Lab (GovLab)Harvard page · seen Oct 29, 2026
- Programs | The Institute of Politics at Harvard UniversityHarvard page · seen Oct 12, 2026
- Instagram: @harvardgovlabSocial account · seen Oct 7, 2026
Similar clubs
Compare these →
Harvard Undergraduate Foreign Policy InitiativeStudent-led nonprofit connecting undergraduates to foreign policy decision-making through policy research, speaker events, and conferences.
- Research & Strategy Group
Undergraduate teams that research and develop tailored strategies for non-profit, public sector, and private clients on socio-political issues.
Harvard Model CongressUndergraduate-run nonprofit that hosts congressional simulation conferences for high school students in the US and abroad to experience American government.
Harvard Undergraduate Think TankIndependent, non-partisan, nonprofit student group turning academic expertise into policy recommendations and think pieces on global challenges.
