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Programs

Emerging Opportunities

Opening doors
Emerging Opportunities

Emerging and ongoing opportunities to learn about what it takes to commercialize inventions and/or launch technology/science-driven ventures. Conferences, competitions, events and seminars for innovators and entrepreneurs from MIN-Corps, as well as our collaborators and partners.  Click on the dates for registration info.

Seminars

Seminars
Mar
28

Early Stage Startup Funding

Online
SBIR/STTR and commercialization grants, equity investors, prizes and competitions
Mar
29

Financial Modelling and Telling Your Business Story With Numbers

Online
Coaching and Excel templates from EisnerAmper LLP
Apr
3

All About National I-Corps

Online
Overview of NSF national I-Corps Teams program
Apr
13

How to Leverage I-Corps for SBIR

Online
How to leverage your knowledge gained from customer discovery to build a compelling SBIR/STTR proposal

Accelerators, Competitions and Showcases

Accelerators, Competitions and Showcases
Apr
14

MIN-Cup Venture Competition

Application window March 13-April 14
May
10

Founders Day & MVP Challenge Demo

Walter Library, UMN East Bank
Celebrate entrepreneurship and demo MVP prototypes from students across campus

Value Proposition Design

Online Value Prop Class
Value Proposition Design

Participants apply the Lean LaunchPad methodology to learn how to translate their science and technology innovations to real-life products and services. Five modules: intro, product-market fit, customer discovery, pathway to commercialization, and market assessment. 

  • Science and Engineering VPD - a compressed, localized version of the regional Jumpstart course.  For academics exploring the commercial potential of specific innovations emerging from their research.  Entails outreach for stakeholder interviews. Successful completion can qualify academic teams for the NSF I-Corps Teams program ($50,000 grant). 
  • Launch MN VPD Certificate Course - for business people across the State of Minnesota taking the early steps to build fundable, high-growth businesses based on specific innovations. Provides the groundwork for an SBIR or Launch MN grant application, as well as investor due diligence.
  • VPD Webinar - for business people and academics seeking an overview of the Lean LaunchPad approach; no specific innovation or homework is required.
Apr
6

Launch MN VPD Certificate Course - Q2 23

Online
Apply Lean LaunchPad tools to your own business idea, with instructor feedback. Five sessions: April 6, April 13, April 20, April 27, May 4
Apr
17

Value Proposition Design Webinar - Q2 23

Online
The "no homework" version! Includes all the content of the value prop design course, as well as panels of tech entrepreneurs sharing their experiences. Four sessions 4-6pm: April 17, April 24, May 1, May 8

Jumpstart:Technology Commercialization

Business idea bulb illustration
Jumpstart:Technology Commercialization

The Great Lakes I-Corps Hub Jumpstart Technology Commercialization online workshops help researchers explore the commercial viability of STEM-based innovation ideas. Each course includes 5 biweekly sessions: Course Orientation, Product-Market Fit, Customer Discovery, Market Assessment, Commercialization Pathway. In between the formal course sessions, participants conduct 20-30 customer discovery interviews, complete online learning assignments, apply the tools to their own tech, and receive feedback and coaching from experienced instructors/mentors.  Successful completion of a Jumpstart course can qualtify academic teams for nomination to the NSF I-Corps Teams program, which includes a $50,000 grant.

May
12

Jumpstart: Nanotech and Advanced Materials

Online
Five sessions 8am-10am: May 12, May 19, June 2, June 16, June 30
May
12

Jumpstart: STEM

Online
Five sessions 11am-1:00pm: May 12, May 19, June 2, June 16, June 30

Women Innovators Conference

WIC presentation
Women Innovators Conference
The annual Women Innovators Conference is a professional development summit designed to help women innovators connect the dots between their ideas and achieving a positive, significant impact. This digital event will inspire, inform, and connect women students, faculty, and business professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) to strengthen and extend the diverse talent pool of women innovators in the Twin Cities. The next Women Innovators Conference will take place November 14, 2023.

StartUp: Customer Development and Testing

Customer development phases
StartUp: Customer Development and Testing

This 2-credit course uses the Lean LaunchPad structured process to learn the initial process of customer development by testing market acceptance of a specific new business concept. Students (both undergrad and graduate level) from across the University of Minnesota are welcome to enroll as long as they have a specific idea or technology that they are interested in pursuing. The goal of the course is to teach the process to quickly and efficiently test the value and market fit for a new concept.  This in-person class meets each fall and spring on Tuesday afternoons at 3:45.

Lunch-and-Learns

Illustration of people meeting
Lunch-and-Learns

Tailored and targeted lunch-time sessions on science/technology innovation commercialization and entrepreneurship for academic departments, student clubs, affinity groups, research centers and professional development programs. 

To request a customized program for your group, contact Ashley Mahoney at [email protected]

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MIN-Corps is a joint effort of:

Technological Leadership Institute in the College of Science and Engineering

Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship in the Carlson School of Management

Technology Commercialization in the Office for the Vice President for Research

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