The Ivy Fund
The Ivy Fund is the Ivy Brothers internal incubator. When a student’s project is ready for real money, we write the check. Founders keep building with their Ivy Brothers mentor and report to the fund the way any startup reports to its backers.
Talk to Your MentorOpen to current Ivy Brothers students.
Why It Exists
The next step is the one that costs money. A manufacturing run, a pilot at three schools, a first batch of inventory. The Ivy Fund pays for that step.
Funded students also learn to write a budget, report to backers and hit milestones on a deadline. Admissions officers ask about exactly this work in interviews, and funded founders can answer with numbers.
What We Fund
Hardware prototypes and first manufacturing runs.
Software and app builds, including tools, hosting and launch.
Nonprofit launch costs: registration, materials and first program delivery.
Research materials, field work and lab supplies.
First inventory and the cost of reaching first users.
Every check is spent on the project itself, against a written budget, and tracked with the student’s mentor.
What We Look For
A working version. A prototype, a pilot, first users or a first sale.
A specific budget. One that shows what the money buys and what it proves.
A founder who has already shipped. Something built before any funding existed.
A clear milestone. One that can be reached in the next six months.
How It Works
Two pages covering the problem, what exists today, the budget and the next milestone.
Fifteen minutes with the Ivy Fund committee, followed by questions.
Funds are released in stages tied to milestones. Founders send a short update every month.
Checks are made out to the project, and a parent or guardian signs alongside the student.
Applying
Current Ivy Brothers students can bring the Ivy Fund up with their mentor at any time. The committee reviews memos on a rolling basis.
Talk to Your Mentor