What is a Cohort?
A cohort refers to a group of students who participate in a specific term of the Riipen Labs program. Each cohort operates within set dates, during which students engage with their lab projects. This structure allows for organized timelines and ensures that students can collaborate effectively. Students and employers must apply to participate in each cohort.
Note: Students are limited to participating in ONE Riipen Labs cohort per funding year (Current funding year: May 2026 - April 2027).
Open cohorts for the 2026-2027 Funding Year:
June 2026: June 1st - June 19th
August 2026: August 10th - August 28th
September 2026: September 8th - September 25th
November 2026: November 15th - December 4th
February 2027: February 1st - February 19th
Dates and cohort availability are subject to change.
June 2026 Cohort
June 2026 Cohort
Lab projects must align with following cohort schedule:
April 20th, 2026:
Students Invited to Confirm Eligibility and Submit an Application
Selected students are invited to confirm their eligibility by completing their application. Visit our application process help article for more details.
May 25th - 28th, 2026:
Student Verification Period
Students who are successful in the application process will receive an invitation to verify their identity. Failure to verify within this timeframe will result in removal from the cohort.
May 29th, 2026:
Student Team Creation
Students are added directly to projects and teams within the cohort. Their next action is to set up their payment accounts and press “Start” on their projects to be ready for Monday’s kick-off!
June 1st, 2026:
Project Start Date
Projects officially begin. Students will begin following the milestones as they are set out in the cohort. Failure to complete the milestones as intended may result in removal from the cohort.
June 2nd, 2026:
Employer Kick-Off Date
A series of meetings will be held, depending on the project that students are matched with, to kick-off their project with the employers in charge! Amongst each group, students are expected to ensure at least one member of the team can attend and ask questions as needed!
June 19th, 2026:
Project Completion
All projects must be completed by this date. Visit 4. Guide to Completing a Riipen Labs Project for more details.
August 21st, 2026:
Last Payment Date
All projects will be paid out by this date.
August 2026 Cohort
August 2026 Cohort
Lab projects must align with following cohort schedule:
June 8th 2026
Students Invited to Confirm Eligibility and Submit an Application
Selected students are invited to confirm their eligibility by completing their application. Visit our application process help article for more details.
August 3rd - 6th, 2026:
Student Verification Period
Students who are successful in the application process will receive an invitation to verify their identity. Failure to verify within this timeframe will result in removal from the cohort.
August 7th, 2026:
Student Team Creation
Students are added directly to projects and teams within the cohort. Their next action is to set up their payment accounts and press “Start” on their projects to be ready for Monday’s kick-off!
August 10th, 2026:
Project Start Date
Projects officially begin. Students will begin following the milestones as they are set out in the cohort. Failure to complete the milestones as intended may result in removal from the cohort.
August 11th, 2026:
Employer Kick-Off Date
A series of meetings will be held, depending on the project that students are matched with, to kick-off their project with the employers in charge! Amongst each group, students are expected to ensure at least one member of the team can attend and ask questions as needed!
August 28th, 2026:
Project Completion
All projects must be completed by this date. Visit 4. Guide to Completing a Riipen Labs Project for more details.
October 23rd, 2026:
Last Payment Date
All projects will be paid out by this date.
September 2026 Cohort
September 2026 Cohort
Lab projects must align with following cohort schedule:
July 6th, 2026
Students Invited to Confirm Eligibility and Submit an Application
Selected students are invited to confirm their eligibility by completing their application. Visit our application process help article for more details.
August 31st - September 3rd, 2026:
Student Verification Period
Students who are successful in the application process will receive an invitation to verify their identity. Failure to verify within this timeframe will result in removal from the cohort.
September 4th, 2026:
Student Team Creation
Students are added directly to projects and teams within the cohort. Their next action is to set up their payment accounts and press “Start” on their projects to be ready for Monday’s kick-off!
September 8th, 2026:
Project Start Date
Projects officially begin. Students will begin following the milestones as they are set out in the cohort. Failure to complete the milestones as intended may result in removal from the cohort.
September 9th, 2026:
Employer Kick-Off Date
A series of meetings will be held, depending on the project that students are matched with, to kick-off their project with the employers in charge! Amongst each group, students are expected to ensure at least one member of the team can attend and ask questions as needed!
September 25th, 2026:
Project Completion
All projects must be completed by this date. Visit 4. Guide to Completing a Riipen Labs Project for more details.
November 20th, 2026:
Last Payment Date
All projects will be paid out by this date.
November 2026 Cohort
November 2026 Cohort
Lab projects must align with following cohort schedule:
September 21st, 2026
Students Invited to Confirm Eligibility and Submit an Application
Selected students are invited to confirm their eligibility by completing their application. Visit our application process help article for more details.
November 9th - 12th, 2026:
Student Verification Period
Students who are successful in the application process will receive an invitation to verify their identity. Failure to verify within this timeframe will result in removal from the cohort.
November 13th, 2026:
Student Team Creation
Students are added directly to projects and teams within the cohort. Their next action is to set up their payment accounts and press “Start” on their projects to be ready for Monday’s kick-off!
November 15th, 2026:
Project Start Date
Projects officially begin. Students will begin following the milestones as they are set out in the cohort. Failure to complete the milestones as intended may result in removal from the cohort.
November 16th, 2026:
Employer Kick-Off Date
A series of meetings will be held, depending on the project that students are matched with, to kick-off their project with the employers in charge! Amongst each group, students are expected to ensure at least one member of the team can attend and ask questions as needed!
December 4th, 2026:
Project Completion
All projects must be completed by this date. Visit 4. Guide to Completing a Riipen Labs Project for more details.
February 5th, 2027:
Last Payment Date
All projects will be paid out by this date.
February 2027 Cohort
February 2027 Cohort
Lab projects must align with following cohort schedule:
November 16th, 2026:
Students Invited to Confirm Eligibility and Submit an Application
Selected students are invited to confirm their eligibility by completing their application. Visit our application process help article for more details.
January 25th - 28th, 2027:
Student Verification Period
Students who are successful in the application process will receive an invitation to verify their identity. Failure to verify within this timeframe will result in removal from the cohort.
January 29th, 2027:
Student Team Creation
Students are added directly to projects and teams within the cohort. Their next action is to set up their payment accounts and press “Start” on their projects to be ready for Monday’s kick-off!
February 1st, 2027:
Project Start Date
Projects officially begin. Students will begin following the milestones as they are set out in the cohort. Failure to complete the milestones as intended may result in removal from the cohort.
February 2nd, 2027:
Employer Kick-Off Date
A series of meetings will be held, depending on the project that students are matched with, to kick-off their project with the employers in charge! Amongst each group, students are expected to ensure at least one member of the team can attend and ask questions as needed!
February 19th, 2027:
Project Completion
All projects must be completed by this date. Visit 4. Guide to Completing a Riipen Labs Project for more details.
April 16th, 2027:
Last Payment Date
All projects will be paid out by this date.
Ongoing cohorts from the 2025/2026 funding year (April 2025 - March 2026)
March 2026
March 2026
May 15th, 2026:
Last Payment Date
All projects will be paid out by this date.
April 2026
April 2026
April 17th, 2026:
Project Completion
All projects must be completed by this date. Visit 4. Guide to Completing a Riipen Labs Project for more details.
May 15th, 2026:
Last Payment Date
All projects will be paid out by this date.