If you’ve ever had an idea for a new company — or even just felt the entrepreneurial bug — The Garage is the place for you. 

The Garage, Northwestern’s dedicated entrepreneurial space, allows students to gather, work and build startups with guidance from successful creators. Since The Garage started, it’s had over 1,000 student startups under its umbrella. 

The space is mainly designed to facilitate collaborative work, complete with snacks and a mini kitchen. It also caters to the technical needs of some of its startups, housing a prototyping lab that includes 3D printers, woodworking equipment and an electronics workbench.

For incoming freshmen hoping to get involved, there are a few quick ways to jump in, depending on the level of involvement you want to have. 

One of the most popular programs for entrepreneurial-minded students is the Tinker Program. The program serves as the entry points for new students, allowing them to explore and work on their ideas — from the health sector to the art sector — while being supported by The Garage’s resources. Students in this program get access to The Garage’s space and invitations to meet-ups with other student-entrepreneurs, among other perks. 

Sign-ups for the Tinker Program are open the entire academic year. Once entering the Tinker Program, students will remain at “Tinkerer” status for the remainder of that academic year. 

For those looking to join a startup rather than found one, The Garage has special sessions called “Startup Matchmaking.” These sessions are held quarterly, and allow entrepreneurs in The Garage looking for more team members to pitch their companies to other students hoping to join one. 

Founders share what type of team members they’re looking for — from coders to social media managers — and students are given an opportunity to talk further with the teams they’re interested in joining. For further information and dates on these matchmaking sessions, keep an eye on The Garage’s ‘Events’ tab on their website. 

So you’re on a team — what’s next? If your company has spent at least one quarter in the Tinker Program and has at least two members, you can apply for the Residency Program. 

The program, for “the truly committed entrepreneurs,” according to The Garage’s website, offers teams round-the-clock access to The Garage’s space and a dedicated mentor in the industry to help the team along. Applications for the Residency Program are open for about a month at the beginning of each quarter. 

“Office Hours” are a key piece of The Garage’s list of resources for student entrepreneurs. Through The Garage’s website, any NU student can schedule a meeting with peer entrepreneurs or Founders in Residence — a group of alumni and former students that are working on their startups full-time from The Garage.

Members of the Tinker Program and Residency Program get special access to Office Hours with Garage staff and Subject Matter Experts. 

While the Tinker and Residency programs are The Garage’s most popular, they also have more selective programs that offer teams various amounts of funding. A more complete list of these programs can be found on The Garage’s website. 

No matter your level of involvement with The Garage, it offers a unique opportunity to dive into the world of startups — from the comfort of campus. 

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Twitter: @alycebrownn