BASE (Ballard Academy for Student Entrepreneurs)

The BASE 2026-2027 cohort application will open on June 1 and will close on July 31. All applicants will be notified of their status no later than August 14.

Please click here for the official BASE application: Apply for BASE

Empowering the next generation of student and early-stage founders with legal, business, and entrepreneurial guidance—powered by Ballard Spahr.

Ballard Spahr's BASE (Ballard Academy for Student Entrepreneurs) offers a nine-month, virtual startup accelerator (October 2026-May 2027) designed to help founders build, fund, and scale ventures confidently. Delivered pro bono, the program culminates in a Shark Tank-style pitch competition, empowering participants to put their learnings into action and pitch before investors, judges, and mentors.

Why Partnering With Ballard Spahr Matters

Trusted legal power with startup empathy: Participants receive $10,000 of pro bono in-kind legal support, guided by a dedicated team of Ballard Spahr attorneys across entity formation, IP, contracts, financing, and exit planning.
Network, mentorship, and visibility: Our attorneys mentor, advise, and connect you with the broader ecosystem of venture professionals and alumni, enhancing credibility and access as you grow.
Impact-driven accessibility: Delivered entirely free of cost, this program supports under-resourced founders and aligns with Ballard Spahr's commitment of nearly 50,000 annual pro bono service hours.

What BASE Offers

Monthly Virtual Sessions (Fridays 12:00-2:00 PM ET, October-May)

Month	Focus Topics
October	Kickoff & Cohort Icebreaker – Meet your peers, set goals, and build a learning community
October	Startup Entity Formation – Choose the right entity structure for fundraising, taxes, and growth
November	Agency & Governance – Founder agreements, board/advisory setup
December	Intellectual Property – IP strategy, patents, trademarks, and competitive advantage
January	Accounting Basics and Founder Fraud – Learn accounting fundamentals, compliance pitfalls, and best practices for maintaining financial transparency
February	AI & Emerging Tech – Use cases, strategy, and ethical considerations
March	Go-to-Market Execution – Positioning, customer acquisition, sales strategy
April	Fundraising Prep – Pitch decks, due diligence, and fundraising readiness
May	Shark Tank Pitch Competition – Final pitches before a panel of mock investors and mentors

Each session features instruction, real-world case studies, Q&A, templates, and peer interaction. Optional pre-work deepens engagement and practical application.

Who Should Apply

Student entrepreneurs or early-stage founders with ventures in pre-seed to Series A stages
Those seeking both legal support and business acumen in formation, growth, and fundraising
Founders wanting to growth-hack their network and gain confidence pitching investors

Apply Now

Apply here for the 2026-2027 cohort through the official BASE application: Apply for BASE

What You Gain

Legal readiness for incorporation, IP, governance, and contracts
Investor confidence through polished pitch materials, financials, and negotiation insights
Strategic growth frameworks for customer acquisition, leveraging tech (like AI), and team leadership
A final pitch platform to showcase your startup to mentors and possibly earn recognition or resources

About BASE

Since 2013, BASE has connected student-led ventures with critical legal and business resources to help them thrive—often from dorm rooms to launched companies. From advising clients during early growth to supporting emerging innovators across the U.S., BASE continues to amplify impact by pairing legal rigor with entrepreneurial spirit. BASE reflects Ballard Spahr's core mission: to democratize access to legal support and startup growth—empowering underrepresented founders to build sustainable and scalable enterprises.

Contact and Collaboration

Interested in applying, sponsoring, mentoring, or partnering? Visit our BASE page or contact us directly to explore how you can engage with this high-impact program.