Programs

MIN-Corps offers many options to explore innovation commercialization.  Scroll down past the calendar or click on any of the following:  NSF I-Corps: From Lab to Impact - Innovation Commercialization Bootcamps - Value Proposition Design Workshops - STARTUP - Emerging Opportunities Forums - Strategy Clinics - Women Innovators Conference 

NSF I-Corps: From Lab to Impact

This two-hour seminar introduces the Lean Launchpad methodology that was developed at Stanford to translate university innovations into successful licensed products and ventures and has been adopted as “I-Corps” by NSF, NIH, and other federal agencies. Includes an overview of MIN-Corps programs, as well as University of Minnesota commercialization resources.  

February 6 11:30-1:30 - St Paul Campus - Register HERE for Section LNS X001 - 006

February 7 4:00-6:00 - East Bank - Register HERE for Section LNS X001 - 007

Innovation Commercialization Bootcamps

A half-day overview of commercialization principles and strategies. Topics include:  Identifying Commercializable Technologies, Intellectual Property & Tech Transfer, Product-Market Fit Intro, Market Assessment Intro, Commercialization Milestones, Innovator Roles in Commercialization, Commercialization Resources. 

February 20, 1:00-5:00: Medical Innovation Commercialization Bootcamp - Register HERE - CANCELLED DUE TO SNOWSTORM  - WILL BE RESCHEDULED

February 21, 1:00-5:00: Science & Engineering Innovation Commercialization Bootcamp - Register HERE

February 22, 9:00-1:00: Agriculture, Biotech & Environment Innovation Commercialization Bootcamp - Register HERE

Value Proposition Design Workshops

Four hands-on sessions:  product-market fit, customer discovery, pathway to commercialization, market assessment. NSF-funded grants (up to $3,000) available for customer research. Successful completion can lead to nomination to the I-Corps National Teams program, which includes a $50,000 grant. These workshops are designed for participants interested in exploring the translation potential of specific innovations.

Medical Innovation Value Proposition Design Workshop series  
    • March 6, March 13, March 27 & April 10, 1:00-4:00, East Bank
    • Register HERE

Science & Engineering Value Proposition Design Workshop series

    • March 7, March 14, March 28 & April 11, 1:00-4:00, East Bank
    • Register HERE 

Agriculture, Biotech & Environment Innovation Value Proposition Design Workshop series

    • March 8, March 15, March 29 & April 12, 9:00-noon, St Paul campus
    • Register HERE

StartUp: Customer Development and Testing

STARTUP: Customer Development & Testing (MGMT 5102) is an experiential 2-credit course for UMN undergrad and grad students interested in pursuing their own entrepreneurial ventures.  Students apply lean launchpad methods to test their value proposition and receive recurring feedback from instructors and mentors. Participating students are eligible to receive seed capital grants up to $3,000 to fund prototype development and customer discovery.

Apply for the Spring 2019 semester here.

Strategy Clinics

Monthly dinners where current and future science and tech entrepreneurs share a meal, hear from experts, share their challenges, and seek advice. 

February 27, 5:00-7:00: Equity 101 - Register HERE

March 27, 5:00-7:00: Competing in Venture Competitions - Register HERE

April 24, 5:00-7:00: Launching and Growing Venture Operations - Register HERE

Emerging Opportunities Forums

All  sessions take place at the Carlson School of Management 

February 19, 4:00-5:30: Securing Intellectual Property - Register HERE

April 23, 4:00-5:30:  Early Stage Startup Funding - Register HERE

May 3, 2:00-5:00:  Walleye Tank Life Science Venture Competition - Check back for registration link

May 7, 5:00-7:30:  Founders Day UMN Entrepreneurship Program Showcase - Check back for registration link

Minnesota Innovation Corps Fellows

The University of Minnesota has scientists, engineers and medical practitioners who engage in breakthrough research and are strongly motivated to bring their breakthrough innovations to market, but lack business expertise.  The Carlson School of Management has business-savvy MBA and MS students who want meaningful entrepreneurial experiences.  Combining these talents and skills can help bring more inventions out of the lab to the market. 

The MIN-Corps Fellows program starts with SciPitch, when innovators will pitch their business concepts to a crowd of Carlson MBA and MS students curious about becoming MIN-Corps Fellows.  Each pitch describes the technology, its commercial potential and the business issues that concern the innovator.  Carlson students then circulate to meet the innovators and discuss how their business skills could add value.  Business teams are formed around each innovator.

The 2018-2019 MIn-Corps Fellows cohort is currently underway.  Check back in Fall 2019 for the next SciPitch kickoff.

Women Innovators Conference

The annual 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.

Our next conference will take place in November 2019.  Learn more about the most recent conference at mincorps.umn.edu/women-innovators-conference.