FAQs

What do you look for in companies admitted to Apex?

We accept companies across a wide range of industries. We look for strong product-market fit, a demonstrated commitment to the venture, and the expertise of the founding team as related to the mission. We make sure our team and resources can be of use to the company.

How do I apply for the Ignition Award?

We offer a limited number of Apex Ignition Awards to select founders, and this is intended for use towards housing during the 9-month-long Apex program. Preference is given to founders intending to relocate to NYC to participate in the program. To be considered for the award, please mention that in the application where asked — residency details will be confirmed in the final round of interviews, and no further actions are required at the time of application. Applying for the award does not in any way impact acceptance to Apex.

If I was accepted into the Veterans Entrepreneurship Training (VET) program, am I automatically accepted into Apex?

Several VET graduates have joined the Apex incubator program, and we strongly encourage this. However, acceptance into one of our past or upcoming VET programs does not guarantee admittance to the Apex incubator program.

What NYU resources do you offer?

The value of NYU’s resources are largely dependent on each company. We connect founders to NYU faculty and staff. The Future Labs also run a for-credit internship program, where companies have the opportunity to recruit NYU Tandon undergraduate students to work on specific projects in return for academic credit. Through the VFL, companies have access to NYU Tandon’s MakerSpace facility. Also available is access to data sets, model sets, and other similar resources.

What are other Apex benefits?

Apex companies are eligible to apply for the START-UP NY program, receive pro bono legal hours with Orrick, up to $100K in Amazon Web Services, up to $100K for Google Cloud, up to $5K in credits for use at Twilio, and discounts with a range of services that startups find useful. This is an ever-expanding selection — we work with our founders to identify and offer perks that they need.

I applied to your program and have not heard back from the VFL. What’s the status of my application?

Upon submitting your application, you should receive a confirmation email with tentative dates. If you have not received this confirmation, please email us (vfl@nyu.edu). We aim to notify all accepted companies by August 16, 2021.

Apex used to be a year-long program. Why is it now 9 months long?

After two years of running Apex as a year-long program, we’re able to streamline programming to make it more efficient and effective. We work with each company to set up mutually agreed upon milestones, which must be met to graduate in good standing. Remember: The program is 9 months long, but Apex companies graduates will always remain members of our community.

Is Apex2022 virtual or in-person?

Apex was launched as an in-person program but successfully moved to virtual programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We anticipate returning to in-person programming, but are prepared for a hybrid (in-person/virtual) program if required. We will keep founders up to date on all developments.

What does ‘no cost’ mean?

We do not take equity or other compensation from selected ventures for participation in Apex. We are able to keep this a no-cost program thanks to strong support from NYU Tandon, our founding partner Barclays, New York State, and our other valuable supporters and sponsors.

How do I learn more?

Sign up for the VFL newsletter here or email us at vfl@nyu.edu!