Become an entrepreneur or intrapreneur.
New Product Tech Ventures (NPTV) Fellowship Program
New Product Tech Ventures (NPTV) Fellowship Program
The New Product Tech Ventures (NPTV) is a 15-month Fellowship Program for graduate students pursuing a master's degree in engineering, software, data science or information technology from the University of St. Thomas - School of Engineering. This highly selective program is designed to provide a cohort of up to 15 graduate students with a unique combination of skills in engineering, software, business, and entrepreneurship, and to prepare them for careers as leaders and innovators in industry as entrepreneurs or intrapreneurs.
Through coursework, networking events with professionals and a venture project, the NPTV Fellows learn to synthesize their engineering and software expertise with an entrepreneurial mindset and obtain an unique lens into the product development process. The program includes a mentorship component, where students will work closely with experienced industry/technology professionals, and business leaders to refine their skills and gain insights into what it takes to conceive, design and bring to fruition a product that addresses a market need.
Contact
Dr. Kundan Nepal
Fellowship Information
Program Requirements
- Complete their master’s degree from the School of Engineering in four consecutive semesters (Fall-Spring-Summer-Fall)
- Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or greater.
- Maintain a full-time student status (minimum of 2 courses each semester)
- Attend program orientation and other required cohort-based events and activities.
- Serve as peer mentors to new NPTV students during their second year in the program.
- Commit to the program full-time. NPTV Fellows will receive a full-tuition and monthly living expenses stipend during the program. No outside employment is permitted during the 15-month program.
Program Timeline and Coursework
- First semester - Fall (3 Engineering/Software graduate courses + cohort activities)
- Second semester - Spring (2 Engineering/Software graduate courses + 1 Tech Venture course + cohort activities)
- Third semester - Summer (1 Engineering/Software course + 1 NPTV Project+ cohort activities)
- Fourth semester - Fall (1 Engineering/Software course + 1 NPTV Project + cohort activities)
Program Benefits
- A full-tuition scholarship for the duration of the 15-month program.
- A monthly stipend to cover living expenses (currently $2100/month).
- The opportunity to connect with faculty and outside mentors to integrate their engineering and software skills with business and entrepreneurial knowledge to explore bringing a new technology to market.
Application Deadlines
Applications for the Fall 2025 NPTV Fellowship Program are now being accepted.
There are currently two application phases with separate application deadlines:
- Phase 1 – Open to current University of St. Thomas undergraduate engineering seniors who will complete their bachelor’s degree in any engineering discipline from St. Thomas and gain conditional admission into a master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering.
Application deadline October 31, 2024. Fellowship decision will be made by November 30, 2024. - Phase 2 – Open to graduate students who are admitted to start a master’s degree program from the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering in Spring 2025, Summer 2025 or Fall 2025.
Application deadline June 15, 2025. Fellowship decision will be made by July 15, 2024.
How to Apply for the NPTV Program
- What draws you to this Fellowship program and motivates you to apply? What strengths, abilities, and experiences do you have that will enable you to excel in the program? (Maximum: 500 words)
- NPTV fellows are often asked to identify a product or venture opportunity around a theme. Consider the theme of "Energy Technology" - defined very broadly as energy generation technologies, storage, conversion, chemistry, management, energy modeling, energy software, data analysis etc. Share a problem, opportunity, or concept you want to pursue around this theme. How will this program support your growth as an entrepreneurially minded engineer and empower you to make an impact in that area? (Maximum: 500 words)
- To complement your written response, please upload a video pitch of your idea (must be 30 seconds OR less). In your pitch, briefly state your product or concept, relate it to the theme, highlight its potential impact, and convey your enthusiasm for the project. Keep it concise and engaging. Your video should NOT be more than 30 seconds long.
Since there is no option to save a partially completed application, we recommend that you prepare your response before beginning the application form.
Program Requirements
- Complete their master’s degree from the School of Engineering in four consecutive semesters (Fall-Spring-Summer-Fall)
- Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or greater.
- Maintain a full-time student status (minimum of 2 courses each semester)
- Attend program orientation and other required cohort-based events and activities.
- Serve as peer mentors to new NPTV students during their second year in the program.
- Commit to the program full-time. NPTV Fellows will receive a full-tuition and monthly living expenses stipend during the program. No outside employment is permitted during the 15-month program.
Program Timeline and Coursework
- First semester - Fall (3 Engineering/Software graduate courses + cohort activities)
- Second semester - Spring (2 Engineering/Software graduate courses + 1 Tech Venture course + cohort activities)
- Third semester - Summer (1 Engineering/Software course + 1 NPTV Project+ cohort activities)
- Fourth semester - Fall (1 Engineering/Software course + 1 NPTV Project + cohort activities)
Program Benefits
- A full-tuition scholarship for the duration of the 15-month program.
- A monthly stipend to cover living expenses (currently $2100/month).
- The opportunity to connect with faculty and outside mentors to integrate their engineering and software skills with business and entrepreneurial knowledge to explore bringing a new technology to market.
Application Deadlines
Applications for the Fall 2025 NPTV Fellowship Program are now being accepted.
There are currently two application phases with separate application deadlines:
- Phase 1 – Open to current University of St. Thomas undergraduate engineering seniors who will complete their bachelor’s degree in any engineering discipline from St. Thomas and gain conditional admission into a master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering.
Application deadline October 31, 2024. Fellowship decision will be made by November 30, 2024. - Phase 2 – Open to graduate students who are admitted to start a master’s degree program from the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering in Spring 2025, Summer 2025 or Fall 2025.
Application deadline June 15, 2025. Fellowship decision will be made by July 15, 2024.
How to Apply for the NPTV Program
- What draws you to this Fellowship program and motivates you to apply? What strengths, abilities, and experiences do you have that will enable you to excel in the program? (Maximum: 500 words)
- NPTV fellows are often asked to identify a product or venture opportunity around a theme. Consider the theme of "Energy Technology" - defined very broadly as energy generation technologies, storage, conversion, chemistry, management, energy modeling, energy software, data analysis etc. Share a problem, opportunity, or concept you want to pursue around this theme. How will this program support your growth as an entrepreneurially minded engineer and empower you to make an impact in that area? (Maximum: 500 words)
- To complement your written response, please upload a video pitch of your idea (must be 30 seconds OR less). In your pitch, briefly state your product or concept, relate it to the theme, highlight its potential impact, and convey your enthusiasm for the project. Keep it concise and engaging. Your video should NOT be more than 30 seconds long.
Since there is no option to save a partially completed application, we recommend that you prepare your response before beginning the application form.
Explore bringing new technology to market.
Venture Projects
The Venture Project is a two-semester project course related to commercializing a technological innovation.
- Students are supervised by an engineering faculty and mentored by an outside mentor who has experience with the business and commercialization portions of the product development cycle.
- Students learn to integrate their engineering and software skills with business and entrepreneurial knowledge to explore bringing a new technology to market.
- The NPTV project combines individual research, market study, faculty mentorship, prototype development, business planning, and final presentation of the project outcomes.
Spotlight: Get to Know Our NPTV Fellows
Evelyn Truong
Degree: MS in Electrical Engineering
Growing up in Vietnam, Evelyn witnessed the stark healthcare disparities faced by marginalized communities due to inadequate resources and technology, leading to unaffordable care. With her expertise in embedded system design and IoT, she aspires to bridge this gap, creating innovative solutions to make quality healthcare affordable and attainable for all, while also addressing the scarcity of essential medical equipment in underserved hospitals. Evelyn aspires to empower communities and transform the future of healthcare.
Outside of her studies, she enjoys watercolor painting, embarking on adventures with her dog, and exploring different cuisine.
John Endris
Degree: MS in Electrical Engineering
John's lifelong curiosity in emerging technologies led him to pursue an electrical engineering degree with a physics minor at the University of St Thomas. Since childhood, he has always been fascinated by futuristic concepts like artificial intelligence and virtual reality. He hopes to explore how these emerging concepts can be used to solve often overlooked problems.
During his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, soccer, drawing, and reading about emerging technologies.
Srajan Pillai
Degree: MS in Mechanical Engineering
Srajan’s fascination with nanomaterials began in childhood, reading science fiction depicting their potential applications. This inspired him to pursue materials-based research, seeking to unlock the promise of 2D materials and composites. He is working on synthesis, properties and applications of these materials to address a number of societal challenges.
CJ Warren
Degree: MS Mechanical Engineering
Meet CJ, a passionate mechanical engineering graduate student with a flair for both academics and athletics. As a valued St. Thomas football team member, he seamlessly merges teamwork and determination on and off the field. Beyond his pursuits in engineering, CJ is an avid snowboarder, carving his way down the slopes with enthusiasm during winter breaks. With a heart set on product development, CJ aspires to fuse his technical skills and creative drive, eventually manifesting his entrepreneurial dreams into a reality.
Amarachukwu Anieke
Degree: MS in Manufacturing
Driven by a passion for innovation and precision, Amara is pursuing a Master's in Manufacturing Engineering at UST. Their journey began in Nigeria, where formative internship experiences in the cathodic protection industry provided a strong engineering foundation. This early exposure also sparked Amara's interest in sustainably utilizing natural resources to address local challenges. They hope to one day apply their manufacturing expertise in their native country, developing creative solutions that leverage overlooked natural assets to solve pressing issues.
Engineering alone cannot contain Amara's creative spirit. In their free time, they channel their imagination into scriptwriting and filmmaking pursuits.
Mentor a Fellow
Help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs.
This is a great opportunity for experienced professionals with expertise in technology entrepreneurship, business development, or commercialization. You might be an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, industry expert, or other professionals with relevant experience and knowledge who is willing to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs or intrapreneurs.
Expectations for Mentors in the NPTV Program:
- Guide and advise students on their projects and provide feedback and support throughout the 15-month program.
- Help students develop their entrepreneurial mindset and skillset.
- Meet with their assigned students on a regular basis and provide guidance.
- When suitable, mentors help students build their network by introducing them to industry experts and potential investors.
- Mentors do not have any claim to the intellectual property rights of the students' projects.
- Mentors do not take part in the development of the project.
Mentors will engage in a variety of activities throughout the year:
- Fall (First semester): There are two general meet and greet events with NPTV Fellows.
- Spring (Second semester): Idea refinement (once a month check-in with fellows).
- Summer (Third semester): Fellows start their project (weekly or biweekly meetings as needed).
- Fall (Fourth semester): Continuation of project (weekly or biweekly meetings as needed).
NPTV Innovation Network
A key element of the NPTV Fellows program is a group of experienced tech business development innovators that engage and help move the effort forward. The NPTV Innovation Network is a group of up to 15 tech leaders from the region supporting our NPTV Fellows with mentorship, new product ideation, and financial support of the program.
As a NPTV Innovation Network member you will have the opportunity to collaborate with the School of Engineering faculty in shaping this young program. Sponsors will also have facilitated access to competent future employees who have both the engineering know-how and a unique lens into the product development process. All while being connected to this forward thinking group of fellow Innovation Network members.
For more information on membership in the Innovation Network contact Curt Kietzer at curt.kietzer@stthomas.edu or 651-962-6913.
Contact Us
If you have interest in joining the NPTV Innovation Network, serving as a mentor, engaging with our students in networking events or have questions, please contact us.
Dr. Kundan Nepal
New Product Tech Ventures Director
kundan.nepal@stthomas.edu
651-962-5518
Dr. Don Weinkauf
Dean, School of Engineering
dhweinkauf@stthomas.edu
651-962-5760
Curt Kietzer
Director of Development, School of Engineering
kiet1596@stthomas.edu
651-962-6913