Mayfield Fellows Program

The application for the 2027 cohort is now open!

The application deadline is Sunday, October 25. Still deciding? Compare our programs.

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From the Stanford classroom to global influence. 

A 9-month work-study program that transforms students into a cohesive community of entrepreneurial leaders. 

The Mayfield Fellows Program (MFP) is Stanford’s flagship education program in building high-growth technology ventures. Each year, 12 exceptional undergraduate and co-term students – from any major, at any stage of their ambition – earn academic credit while forging the relationships and skills that launch extraordinary careers. Through classwork, experience, and mentorship, Mayfield Fellows develop the leadership, judgment, ethics, and financial and people skills to build something that matters. Fellows also complete a paid summer inside a real startup and receive mentorship from two alumni and a top tier venture capitalist.

MFP alumni have founded companies including Instagram and Gusto, taken board seats at Starbucks and Disney, and won Olympic gold for the US in women’s soccer. Join a lifelong alumni network of over 360 accomplished leaders who’ve proven that ambition, properly channeled, knows no limits.

Intro Video

Current Cohort

Year-at-a-glance

ENGR 140A: Leadership of Technology Ventures

Spring

(3 UNITS)

Meet inspiring leaders, bond with your cohort, secure your summer internship, and master the foundational skills of entrepreneurial leadership – from venture financing and product strategy to team building and ethics.

ENGR 140B: Leadership of Technology Ventures + Paid Internship

Summer

(Optional credit awarded in autumn)

Complete a startup internship with executive mentorship, analyze and write about your experience, engage in cohort reflection sessions, and visit other startups to compound your learning.

ENGR 140C: Leadership of Technology Ventures

Autumn

(3 UNITS)

Reflect on your learnings, teach a case study on your experience to other fellows and faculty, write and exchange insights about current inflections we are observing in the world that will lead to the next generation of startups and learn from your peers to complete your program experience.

Curriculum Highlights:

  • Culture in Startups (Josh Reeves, Founder and CEO of Gusto, MFP ’05)
  • Importance of Teamwork (Naomi Girma, US National Women’s Soccer Team, Gold Medalist, MFP ’21)
  • Decision-Making at the Top (Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, and Jonathan Levin, President of Stanford University
  • Live Seed Stage Startup Pitches

PLEASE NOTE: MFP class days and times are subject to change depending on the needs of the selected cohort.

Teaching Team

Tom Byers

Faculty Director, STVP and Professor, Stanford University

Ann Miura-Ko

Adjunct Lecturer, Stanford University and Co-Founding Partner, Floodgate

Program Manager

Program Information

Founded in 1996, the Mayfield Fellows Program invites 12 students each year to engage in rigorous coursework designed to develop the strategic thinking, innovation capabilities, and leadership acumen essential for leading transformative ventures and teams. The program’s distinctive structure combines classroom learning with a summer internship in the San Francisco Bay Area, offering invaluable real-world application of theoretical frameworks.

Fellows will:

  • Engage with world-class guest speakers, including founders, VCs, CEOs, and leaders
  • Receive 1:1 mentorship from VC and alumni mentors
  • Master essential skills in venture strategy, financing, product-market fit, team building, ethics, and decision-making
  • Complete a paid, full-time summer internship at an early-stage startup with a senior-level mentor
  • Host an in-person site visit for fellow cohort members over the summer and attend other fellows’ site visits
  • Gain hands-on experience observing and contributing to real startup operations, then develop and present that experience as a capstone case study
  • Build lasting connections through a diverse network of entrepreneurially-minded Stanford students and alumni from all majors and a cross-section of years

Eligibility

  • Open to active undergraduate or co-terminal Stanford students only
  • Must be available on campus for spring 2027 and autumn 2027 quarters
  • Must be available to intern in the San Francisco Bay Area during summer 2027

Who Should Apply?

We welcome students from any discipline or major—no prior startup experience required. Applicants do not need to have a product idea in-mind or built in order to apply.

Program Requirements

Academic Commitments:

  • Must enroll in E140A (Spring 2027)
  • Must enroll in E140C (Autumn 2027)
  • Optional: E140B course credit awarded in autumn quarter

Summer Internship Requirements:

  • Secure a paid internship at an approved early-stage startup*
  • The summer internship must be at an external company – fellows cannot work on their own ventures
  • Series B or earlier preferred
  • Company must be Bay Area-based or remote
  • Minimum 8 weeks in duration
  • Must report to and/or receive mentorship from C-suite executives or VPs
  • Must reside in the Bay Area during Summer 2027
  • Must participate in MFP summer programming alongside the internship 

*If you are already committed to a summer job when applying, please ensure the company meets all criteria listed above for summer internship requirements. 

Application Information

The application for the 2027 Mayfield Fellows Program cohort is now open!
 

Application Deadline: Sunday, October 25, 2026

Application components include:

  • Academic information
  • Resume
  • Unofficial transcript
  • Video submission
  • Thoughtful essay responses about your entrepreneurial experiences and leadership challenges
  • Letter of recommendation (optional)

What happens next: 

Select applicants will be invited to attend an in-person group interview on November 17 or 18. These interviews give you the opportunity to share your unique background with the selection committee and meet other prospective fellows. If you’re interested in learning more about the Mayfield Fellows Program, please join us for an info session with the MFP teaching team and program alumni (schedule below). Please be sure to RSVP.

Apply

Information Sessions & Events

Virtual Info Session

The Mayfield Fellows Program will hold a virtual info session during the application period featuring the teaching team and program alumni. This session is designed for prospective fellows to learn more about the program, commitment, application process, and interview timeline. Attendees will be able to ask the teaching team and program alumni questions directly. 

Sorry you missed the virtual info session! Watch the recording below (only people with a Stanford.edu email can view).

WATCH HERE

STVP Orientation: Opportunities in Entrepreneurship

This is your best opportunity to meet the MFP teaching team and alumni in person.

Join us for STVP’s signature orientation event – your gateway to Stanford's entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. Whether you're exploring our fellows programs (Mayfield, Threshold, Accel, and Xfund) or want to discover STVP’s broader offerings, this evening brings everything together in one place.

Wednesday, September 30, 5:00-7:00 p.m. PT

Location: Mackenzie Room, Huang Engineering Center

RSVP  

Testimonials

Michelle Lee

"The Mayfield Fellows Program has given me a new perspective on my life and my career – it has…

Testimonial, Mayfield Fellows Program

Paola Martinez

"Mayfield fellows gave me a strong community of mentors that I can lean on to help me through early…

Testimonial, Mayfield Fellows Program

Spencer Chemtob

"MFP provides you robust foundations in community and curriculum to enter the always-changing…

Testimonial, Mayfield Fellows Program
See all Mayfield Fellows Testimonials

Alumni

View over 360+ Mayfield Fellows Program alumni.

2025 Cohort

Aaryan Shah
Ahmed Muhammad
Ananya Sridhar
Ariane Lee
 

Catherine Dickerman
Daniel Mottesi
Divya Ganesan
Emmet Kenney
 

Mia Bhuta
Shrish Janarthanan
William Li
Zhenwei Gao
 

See all Mayfield Fellows Program Alumni

Acknowledgements

STVP offers sincere appreciation to the Mayfield Fund for supporting this opportunity for Stanford students. Special thanks goes to Navin Chaddha.