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 from Partners - 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.  

Seminars will resume in Fall 2019.

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. 

Bootcamps will resume in Fall 2019.

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.

Summer Value Proposition Design Workshop series  
    • June 20, June 27, July 11 & July 25, 1:00-4:00, East Bank
    • 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 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. 

    Strategy clinics will resume in Fall 2019.

    Emerging Opportunities from Partners

    MIN-Corps is part of a rich ecosystem of commercialization resources.  Here are upcoming programs from our collaborators and partners:

    Discovery LaunchPad Logo

    Payers and Healthcare Economics - June 19 3:30-5:30: Dr. Lewis Sandy, Executive Vice President for Clinical Advancement at UnitedHealth Group and Maren Forsgren, Director at Xcenda will provide an overview of payor systems and the field of healthcare economics.  The seminar will also be available live via Zoom Webinar. You will be able to watch live here once the seminar has begun. Register here.  

    UMN/VA Medical Device Showcase - June 26 5:00-7:00: A portfolio showcase of adaptive design medical devices we are seeking partners for commercializing via licenses and startups. Dr. Andrew Hansen and Dr. Gary Goldish will be presenting.  The mission of the VA’s Multidisciplinary Adaptive Design & Engineering (VA-MADE) Center is to develop and translate adaptive technologies to help Veterans with physical disabilities maximize their function and participation in important roles and activities throughout their lifespan. Since functional abilities and desired activities change over time, the VA-MADE Center creates technologies that adapt to the changing needs of the Veteran. In close collaboration with rehabilitation clinicians and industry partners, VA-MADE Center investigators use a Veteran-centric, experience-based design process to create practical and commercially-viable solutions, promoting rapid development and translation of technologies to improve the lives of Veterans. Register here.

    MN-SBIR LogoHow to Implement an SBIR/STTR Grant/Contract Compliant Financial Reporting System - July 17 9:00-5:00: For SBIR/STTR Phase I/II recipients only.  Led by Ann Pedretti, President of Dynamic Financial & Administrative Solutions Center Inc. (DFAScenterInc.) provides contract CFO, controller, bookkeeping, and administrative support services to small med-tech businesses and specializes in companies with federal SBIR/STTR funding (grants and contracts). $75 fee. Click here for registration and info.

    SBIR/STTR Proposal Preparation Workshops:  Innovators and entrepreneurs face many hurdles in their efforts to commercialize a new technology. Through a competitive awards-based program, the federal government enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. The SBIR/STTR programs provides a pathway to compete for millions of dollars in federal funding. Pat Dillon of MN-SBIR is an expert in the programs. Through 25 years of knowledge, experience and relationships at the local and national level, she applies her know how to help innovators and entrepreneurs to achieve the American Dream every day. Pat has helped innovators and entrepreneurs navigate the federal R&D landscape by providing guidance, mentoring, training, financial and technical assistance to small, advanced technology businesses. Pat works with seed, early stage, emerging or existing firm (1-500 employees) with early stage technology that has the potential for commercialization, you owe it to yourself to learn more.  It is easy to register for any course and it is FREE.   Click here for registration and info.

                              • August 13 9 AM – 12 PM: Department of Agriculture
                              • August 13 1 – 4 PM: Department of Energy
                              • September 10 9 AM – 5 PM: Department of Health and Human Services
                              • September 24 9 AM – 5 PM: Department of Defense

    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 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 on November 13, 2019.  Learn more about the most recent conference at mincorps.umn.edu/women-innovators-conference.