Programs

Innovation Commercialization Bootcamp
Value Proposition Design Workshops
STARTUP
Women Innovators ConferenceEmerging Opportunities Forums
Strategy Clinics
Office for Technology Commercialization Seminars

Thursday, June 15, 2017 - 10:00am

Innovation Commercialization Bootcamp

This bootcamp offers a one-day overview of commercialization practices and principles, including

  • Identifying and Defining a Commercializable Solution
  • Academic Roles in Commercialization
  • Product-Market Fit: Customer Segments and Value Proposition Design
  • Market Assessment
  • Getting Started: Commercialization Milestones
  • Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer - Working With the OTC

The summer session of the Commercialization Bootcamp will be held June 15, 2017 from 10am-4pm, in Bruininks Hall room 530B. Register for the bootcamp here!

Wednesday, June 21, 2017 - 1:00pm

Value Proposition Design Workshops

Four hands-on sessions cover the following:  product-market fit, customer discovery, pathway to commercialization, market assessment. 

  • Determine initial product/service application to a specific market, as well as longer-term market potential
  • Develop competence in customer discovery methods
  • Identify steps toward commercialization - scientific, market, and business
  • $3,000 NSF-funded mini-grants available for customer discovery and prototyping

The four sessions of the summer course will take place June 21, July 5, July 19, and August 2 from 1-4pm in  Lind Hall 303. Register for the course here!

STARTUP: Customer Development & Testing

Students interested in pursuing their own entrepreneurial ventures are encouraged to apply for a new course offering based on lean startup principles and tools. STARTUP: Customer Development & Testing (MGMT 5102) is an intensive 2-credit course in which students test business model assumptions and receive recurring feedback from instructors and mentors. This is a self-directed class in which students must get outside of the classroom to meet with potential customers and partners. The class meets weekly during the initial 4 weeks, followed by periodic presentations and updates with instructors and mentors.

Application is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Minnesota. Participating students are eligible to receive pro bono legal assistance and seed capital grants up to $3,000 to fund prototype development and customer discovery. While individual students may apply, teams are encouraged to have sufficient capability. Apply here.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017 - 12:30pm

Women Innovators Conference

The Women Innovators Conference is a professional development summit designed to help female innovators connect the dots between their ideas and achieving a positive, significant impact. This event will inspire, inform and connect women graduate 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.

Learn more at mincorps.umn.edu/women-innovators-conference.

Emerging Opportunities Forums

Panel discussions on entrepreneurial opportunities and showcases of UMN ventures.

No forums are scheduled for Summer 2017. Please check back in August for information about forums for the fall.

Strategy Clinics

In collaboration with the Office for Technology Commercialization Venture Center

Current and future science and tech entrepreneurs share a meal, hear from experts, and seek advice.

No clinics are scheduled for Summer 2017. Please check back in August for information on our plans for the fall.

OTC

OTC Graphic

Office for Technology Commercialization Seminars

The University of Minnesota's Office for Technology Commercialization Venture Center offers seminars for UMN faculty, staff and students considering a startup based on inventions emerging from their research.

No seminars are scheduled for Summer 2017. Please check back in August for information on our plans for the fall.