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Start a Project

How to Start a Project

Here is a simple, step by step guide to help you get started.

  1. Initial Proposal: Reach out to the current Director of Project Management or and other Drexel Smart House executives to propose your project idea verbally. We will provide you with a single page application form for you to get started with your project at Drexel Smart House. Once you fill out the form, submit it to projects@drexelsmarthouse.com with your availability to attend the Phase I meeting.
  2. Phase I Meeting (30 Minutes): Once you fill out the form, we will schedule an idea meeting with you where we will discuss the initial proposal and provide feedback and help you to identify the scope of your project going into Phase II. During the meeting, we will also provide you with guidelines to access to DSH resource including:
    • A workspace for you and your project members (Smart House Labs)
    • Tools and Resources for initial designs
    • Mini-Grant Funding (Up to $100 Initially)
    • Mentorship from DSH Alumni, Faculty, and students to help your ideas along
    • Drexel Smart House student community to recruit members to your project group
  3. Project Startup Period (10 Weeks): You have up to a ten week period for you to develop your project idea. During this term, you will be paired with designated mentors who will assist you with general questions relating to the specifics of your project or any DSH procedures. You can use your initial funding explore the discipline of your project more in-depth and complete the official project proposal for SEED funding.
  4. Phase II Meeting (Up to 1.5 Hours): Discuss your idea and how you approach it in detail with the Director of Project Management and/or President. This is where we help you to identify the scope of your project, how it relates to DSH’s overall mission, and the proposal process going further. Official Project Proposal Template, Project Lead Agreement and House Access Agreement will be provided after the discussion. We will also go over project leader’s duties specified in Project Lead Agreement.
  5. Project Proposal Submission (By the end of the project startup period): Submit your Official Project Proposal to the Director of Project Management. Within a week, DSH will review your proposal and will use a template that gauges the project’s focus, purpose, and value.
    • If your project is approved, you will receive a funding allocation based on your project’s need and DSH’s current resources. You will then move to step four.
    • If you project is not approved, don’t worry! We consider all ideas equally, and have only rejected it because the idea may need a little bit more thought. We will work with you to figure out what needs to be worked on, and when the changes are made you may re-submit your proposal.
  6. Approval: Once approved, sign physical copies of Project Lead Agreement and House Access Agreement so your project will be an official DSH project. Depending on your funding allocation, your Bill of materials may need to be revised.You will also receive additional resources including:
    • Access to a larger workspace and project experimentation area (The Drexel Smart House)
    • 24/7 Snacks and drinks
    • Grant Funding up to $1000 per quarter
    • Professional Development Opportunities
  7. Purchase: All the requested materials will be purchased and delivered to the Smart House. Make sure to keep in touch with the Director of Project management to know when your package has reached our door!
  8. Welcome! You are now ready to get started. Make sure to keep in touch with the DSH team and follow all requirements for keeping an active DSH project. Remember communication with the Director of Project Management is important for understanding your available resources and responsibilities.

Seed Funding

Drexel Smart House is lucky to be able to support original student design, research, and entrepreneurship through our seed fund. We realize that external funding search and procurement is an extremely difficult task; even more difficult if you have not proven your idea’s feasibility with with proof of concept.
That’s why we offer our seed fund as an initial push in the right direction. We want to provide you the resources to get your idea off the ground into a proof of concept. From there, you will be better prepared and have a better chance at obtaining external funding.

Grants and Competitions

Although DSH gives away mini-grants through seed funding, we encourage you to take what you have made with DSH resources and go out to get sponsorship and grants! The Director of Project management is your resource for this; helping to connect you with possible leads for external funding or Drexel faculty/staff that can help with this.