Fall 2023 Medical Jumpstart Regional I-Corps Course
September 29 @ 9:00 am - November 17 @ 11:00 am EDT
Free
Course Description
This online course will help you explore the commercial viability of your Medical-based innovation idea. The Lean LaunchPad approach (also called Lean Startup) is a process to help you systematically test key assumptions about your technology and the customer problems it might be able to solve better than current alternatives. This assessment of “technology-problem fit” is the critical first step toward commercial success for any technology venture.
Learning Objectives
- Develop familiarity with Lean LaunchPad concepts and tools such as customer discovery, value proposition design, and business model canvas
- Understand customers’ problems (“pain points”) from THEIR perspective
- Map your customer ecosystem to understand customer roles, requirements, and decision processes
- Identify modifications to your technology assumptions required to achieve product-market fit
- Build connections to the commercial ecosystem (i.e. customers, suppliers, funders) for your innovation
- Explore the size of your potential market, assess the competition, and identify a first target market
- Develop a commercialization roadmap identifying key milestones and required resources to move your idea forward
Course Benefits
- Become eligible for the NSF I-Corps National Teams program and $50,000 grant for qualifying technologies and teams (only deep-tech, university-based teams who complete at least 20-30 customer discovery interviews).
- Receive up to $1,000 in funding for customer discovery-related expenses including but not limited to conference fees, travel, and premium LinkedIn accounts.
- Prepare for applying to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
- Gain valuable market insight to inform the next steps in your research and/or development.
- Develop network connections and receive mentoring from experienced industry experts and entrepreneurs
- Develop the entrepreneurial mindset and toolset needed for a career in academia, industry, startups, or government
This course is for faculty, researchers, and students with Medical-based ideas or Intellectual Property and a strong interest in commercializing their technology.
Course Schedule
All course events occur on Fridays from 9:00-11:00AM ET (8:00AM-10:00AM CT):
- Friday, Sept 29 – Course Orientation
- Friday, Oct 6 – Product-Market Fit
- Friday, Oct 20 – Customer Discovery
- Friday, Nov 3 – Market Assessment
- Friday, Nov 17 – Commercialization Assessment
In between the formal course sessions, you will conduct 20-30 customer discovery interviews, complete online learning assignments, apply the tools to your own tech, and receive feedback and coaching from a team of experienced instructors/mentors.
Not sure if this program is the right fit for you? Contact us!
Please fill out the following application and you will be contacted within 2 business days regarding acceptance.