The EWOR Advantage: 5 Reasons Princeton Students Should Look Beyond Local Incubators

As a student at Princeton, you may be familiar with the local incubators and entrepreneurial programmes offered on campus. While these initiatives provide valuable support, expanding your horizons could significantly increase your odds of long-term success. In fact, one study found that 87% of startups that went through top-tier programmes were still active after five years, compared to just 44% of those that went it alone. That’s the kind of difference the right programme can make.

But how do you know if an incubator programme is right for you? With so many rigid, one-size-fits-all options out there, finding the right fit can be tough. That’s where EWOR comes in: a uniquely flexible platform combining global mentorship, funding opportunities, and a prestigious network – designed specifically to help ambitious founders thrive.

In this article, we’ll explore five key reasons why Princeton students should look beyond their local incubators and consider EWOR to accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.

1. Access to Global Mentorship

Many university incubators and local programmes offer mentorship from faculty, alumni, or nearby founders. While helpful, these perspectives are often limited to regional markets and conventional startup paths.

EWOR operates borderless, on a global scale. Fellows are paired with mentors who have founded and scaled companies across continents and industries – including unicorns like SumUp, Adjust, and ProGlove. Rather than sporadic office hours, mentorship is built into the fabric of the programme – modular, consistent, and personal.

Princeton's local incubators, such as the Princeton Innovation Center BioLabs and the Princeton Entrepreneurial Hub, offer valuable mentorship opportunities for early-stage entrepreneurs. These programs connect startups with seasoned entrepreneurs and innovators, including Princeton alumni, who provide guidance on various aspects of building a business. Local mentors offer expertise on specific challenges, business planning, strategy, and navigating the entrepreneurial journey. The value of these local connections lies in their understanding of the regional ecosystem and ability to provide tailored advice and networking opportunities. Programs like OfficeHours specifically connect entrepreneurs with mentors based on subject matter expertise. This local support is crucial for early-stage companies as they develop their ideas into viable ventures.

With EWOR, you’ll have the chance to work with mentors who have scaled their businesses across different countries and industries, providing invaluable insights that can help your startup succeed in the global marketplace.

2. Larger Funding Opportunities

While local incubators may provide grants or limited seed funding, securing substantial capital is often a challenge for early-stage entrepreneurs. EWOR offers up to €500,000 in initial funding for selected startups, which can significantly boost your ability to develop your business. Moreover, EWOR provides access to a global network of investors, venture capital firms, and angel investors, ensuring that you have the opportunity to secure further rounds of funding as your startup grows.

Princeton University offers various funding opportunities for student startups through its entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Keller Center is a key hub, providing resources like the eLab Summer Accelerator Program, which offers mentorship and support to student teams. Princeton Student Ventures (PSV), a student-run initiative, provides grants to student founders. Additionally, the university connects students with external funding sources, including Princeton-focused VC firms and angel groups. Programs like the NSF I-Corps Northeast Hub also offer grants for customer discovery and potential follow-on funding. While the Keller Center's project funding is not for startup funding directly, it can support research and development activities that may lead to entrepreneurial ventures.

By choosing EWOR, Princeton students can tap into larger funding sources, giving them the financial support needed to scale their businesses more effectively.

3. A Highly Selective and Prestigious Network

One of the main advantages of EWOR is the highly selective nature of its community. EWOR accepts only the top 0.1% of applicants, bringing together some of the world’s most talented and ambitious entrepreneurs. 

This exclusivity doesn’t just elevate the quality of each cohort — it also unlocks access to an extraordinary network of investors, mentors, and industry leaders. Just to name a few: Fabrice Grinda, one of the world’s leading angel investors and founder of OLX; Christian Kroll, founder of Ecosia, Europe’s largest search engine after Google; and Vaitea Cowan, co-founder of Enapter, (€640M IPO) and a Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Energy. 

Princeton's entrepreneurial ecosystem, centered around the Princeton Entrepreneurial Hub, fosters a strong network and community for students. The Hub provides co-working spaces and hosts numerous events, workshops, and seminars, encouraging the exchange of ideas and collaboration among students, faculty, and alumni. Programs like eLab and Tiger Challenge, based in the Hub, offer funding, workspace, mentorship, and training. Students can access personalized coaching from industry experts through office hours. The broader community includes experienced entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and investors who connect with students through guest lectures and extracurricular activities. This network helps students build connections, gain real-world experience, and develop their ventures.

While local incubators at Princeton may provide valuable networking within the campus or regional ecosystem, EWOR’s global network opens doors to entirely new levels of collaboration. Fellows work alongside peers from dozens of countries and industries, connecting with elite investors, unicorn founders, and seasoned operators.

As many fellows have said, the community is one of the most unexpected – and most valuable – parts of the experience. “The real magic lies in the community: the kind of conversations, insights, and connections that lead not only to breakthroughs – but to lasting friendships with some of the most fascinating people they’ve ever met”.

4. Flexibility and Remote Access

Many local incubators require in-person participation, which can be limiting for students balancing coursework, part-time jobs, or other commitments. 

Princeton University offers various programs that support entrepreneurial endeavors, including the eLab Incubator and the Princeton Innovation Center BioLabs. The eLab Incubator is a program for self-directed students running from October to April, providing resources, mentorship, workshops, and potential project funding. Princeton Innovation Center BioLabs offers co-working lab and office space for science startups, including specialized equipment. While some programs, like the eLab Incubator, have a defined timeframe, the format regarding in-person, remote, or hybrid participation can vary. The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased flexibility, with some programs offering remote or hybrid options. This flexibility can positively impact student participation by removing geographical barriers and allowing for greater accessibility for students who may have other commitments or limitations. However, the specific format of each incubator program should be checked individually.

EWOR’s fully remote programmes are built for modern entrepreneurs – offering the flexibility to participate from anywhere, on your terms. Princeton students can access top-tier mentorship, founder-led education, and global resources without needing to relocate or follow a rigid schedule. Whether you’re validating an idea or scaling your first product, you’ll have the freedom to build around your life, not the other way around.

And if you're worried about missing out on in-person connection – don’t be. EWOR hosts real-world gatherings like the EWOR Connect and EWOR House, a multi-day retreat where fellows, alumni, and investors connect in person. We also organise city-based meetups and our flagship Grand Pitch event, which brings hundreds of top-tier investors together twice a year. So while the programme is remote-first, it’s far from remote-only.

5. Comprehensive Entrepreneurial Education

Local incubators often provide valuable workshops and learning modules, but they may be limited in scope and depth. EWOR offers over 200 exclusive videos, workshops, and educational modules designed by top entrepreneurs and industry experts. This comprehensive entrepreneurial education covers everything from refining your business idea to scaling and securing funding, ensuring that you develop both as an entrepreneur and a leader.

Princeton's entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the Princeton Entrepreneurial Hub and programs like those offered by the Keller Center and the Princeton Entrepreneurship Council, provides robust educational support. This includes workshops and seminars covering essential entrepreneurial skills such as financial accounting, legal principles, strategic planning, customer discovery, marketing, and design thinking. Programs like the eLab Incubator and Summer Accelerator offer intensive workshops and a specialized curriculum to help students develop startup ideas. Additionally, there are opportunities for practical skills-building through series like Tiger2Tiger and events like TigerTalks featuring experienced entrepreneurs.

With EWOR, you’ll gain access to a more extensive and detailed entrepreneurial education, giving you the tools needed to overcome challenges and succeed in today’s competitive startup landscape.

That’s a Wrap

While Princeton's local incubators offer great resources for students starting their entrepreneurial journey, EWOR provides an unmatched opportunity for those looking to take their startup to the next level. With access to global mentorship, larger funding opportunities, a highly selective network, flexible remote programmes, and comprehensive entrepreneurial education, EWOR offers Princeton students the chance to build and scale their startups on a global stage. If you’re ready to look beyond local incubators and accelerate your entrepreneurial success, EWOR could be the ideal platform for you.

Image credits: Andrew Stutesman on Unsplash