Levy Inspiration Grant Program

Inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs 

At Kellogg, we believe that one of the best ways to support student entrepreneurs is getting them into the world to investigate problems with their own eyes. In this spirit, we offer two experiential programs under one entrepreneurial umbrella: the Levy Inspiration Grant Program and Levy Inspiration Treks. Each funded by a generous gift from Larry and Carol Levy, these programs share a goal of moving beyond online and secondary research and allowing students to speak directly with experts, researchers, founders, and potential customers in the hopes that they'll be inspired to build a business and solve big, gnarly problems across the globe.

The Levy Inspiration Grant Program provides funding for students who want to be an entrepreneur to immerse themselves in on-the-ground, in-market research. Rather than studying a problem from afar, we want you to experience it firsthand. As the name implies, the core tenets of this program are inspiration, exploration, and immersion. What you immerse yourself in and where you do it is completely up to you. With a Levy Inspiration Grant, we want you to go see for yourself. 

Ready to apply?

All full-time and Evening & Weekend Kellogg students are eligible to apply with the timing restrictions below. To be eligible for the Levy Inspiration Grant Program, students must have at least two full quarters remaining in their Kellogg degree program to ensure that they have time to continue building their business while at Kellogg and access Northwestern resources before graduation. This means that the latest that students can travel is:

• 1Ys, 2Ys and MMMs: Winter Break of their graduation year
• JD-MBAs and MD-MBAs: Winter Break of their Kellogg year
• MBAi students: August/September prior to their second Fall quarter
• Evening & Weekend students: Must have at least two full quarters remaining

As you consider building your application, please know that we expect to see some level of entrepreneurial involvement during your time at Kellogg so far, such as classes, co-curriculars, clubs, or participation in other Northwestern entrepreneurial programs.

Application deadlines vary depending on your intended travel dates. If you are approved for an Inspiration Grant, your travel must take place within the current or next quarter.

Application Deadlines

Program applications are due 10 weeks prior to your anticipated travel start date. In addition to the application form, students will also be asked to participate in a brief 20-minute interview during the application process.  

Before submitting an application, we recommend taking a thorough look through the Program Guide below to learn about the ins-and-outs of the program, including application tips, deliverables, and other important details.

View Program Guide

Apply Here

A word about the difference between Levy Inspiration Grants and Levy Inspiration Treks, deciding which is right for you, and the possibility of participating in more than one...

Both Inspiration Treks and Inspiration Grants are intended for students who want to be founders and are looking for inspiration beyond secondary/online research. A Inspiration Trek is a small group experience led by a faculty member around a particular topic in a particular location, and an Inspiration Grant is for you (with possibly one other person) to design an itinerary around nearly any topic in any location.

After participating in one of these programs, you will still be eligible for the other, but we will not be able to prioritize your participation above other applicants. 

Feel free to reach out to the Entrepreneurship at Kellogg team if you have questions about whether an Inspiration Grant or Inspiration Trek makes the most sense for you.

Questions?

For any questions that aren't covered in our Program Guide, please reach out to entrepreneurship@kellogg.northwestern.edu to learn more.