Wilbe × UPenn Build Week application
Apply to Wilbe × UPenn, Wilbe's 7-day online Build Week for scientists and engineers starting 24-31 Jul 2026. Build fast and access first-check funding.
Status: Applications open. Week 30. Dates: 24-31 Jul 2026.
What is Wilbe Build Week?
Wilbe Build Week is a 7-day, online, high-intensity venture-building and investment program where scientists and engineers work through Wilbe's build process, access office hours with the Wilbe team, and compete for a first-check investment and a place on the next in-person founder residency.
Application questions
- Name
- LinkedIn profile
- Whether you are working on an idea
- Previous funding
- Funding details, if applicable
- Problem you are trying to solve in 5 words
- Confirmation of weekend availability and engagement over the following week
Schedule
- Friday kickoff
- Weekend independent build using the Wilbe platform
- Monday and Tuesday office hours with the Wilbe team
- Monday to Friday 1:1 calls if requested by the Wilbe team
- Wednesday submissions
- Thursday and Friday material review and next steps
Investment decisions may happen at any point during or soon after the week.
Investment offer
During or after Build Week, Wilbe may offer to invest $125,000 for 3.5% equity, with optional follow-on capital up to $400,000 in the pre-seed round. Investment is not required to participate, and there is no obligation to accept investment from Wilbe.
Confidentiality and IP
You do not need to disclose confidential technical details or sensitive IP to participate. Wilbe encourages applicants to keep patent-enabling details, unpublished results, confidential data, or anything they are not ready to discuss publicly out of the application, office hours, and community discussion.
Themes of interest
- Robotics
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Defence
- Materials Science
- AI Infrastructure
- Photonics
- Quantum
- Bio
- AI x Science
- Hardware