University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Fall 2023 I-Corps
October 16 @ 5:00 pm - November 19 @ 7:00 pm EDT
Free
Course Description
The Milwaukee I-Corps Program, an affiliate of the NSF I-Corps Hub of Great Lakes Region, helps researchers and academic entrepreneurs explore the viability of their research discoveries and/or technologies through the “Lean Launch” process of direct engagement with the potential markets in a series of online workshops. The program, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is a collaboration among five Milwaukee academic institutions: Concordia University of Wisconsin, Marquette University, the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee along with the UWM Research Foundation. In addition to exploring markets and the “problem-solution fit” participants will also gain important professional development skills and industry contacts. Teams are composed of three members who can be students, post-docs, staff, faculty, alumni, or members of the local entrepreneurial community. Applicants should apply as a team and identify at least two members who will commit to the customer discovery process the Entrepreneurial Lead (EL) and the Academic Lead (AL). Teams will be matched with the Mentor (M) who will guide them through customer discovery (or they can identify their own mentor).
Course Benefits
- Learn, practice, and hone your innovation skills.
- Improve the odds for commercial success.
- Workshops on Customer Discovery – providing practical tips on reaching customers, asking good questions, and gaining insights relevant to your business model.
- Mentoring and Networks – connections to I-Corps mentors and a growing network of support for entrepreneurs in the Milwaukee region.
- Monetary support – academic teams will be eligible to receive a $1,000 mini-grant.
- 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)
Course Schedule
The program consists of one pre-meeting with your team and five group in-person workshops at the UWM’s Lubar Entrepreneurship Center on Monday evenings. Group workshops will provide a mix of short-format instruction, team exercises, and report-outs. Teams will conduct stakeholder interviews, and complete exercises and other materials outside of the Monday night sessions.
Teams must commit to attending each of the IN-PERSON workshops on:
– Individual team pre-meeting (Week of 10/9) – Canvas brainstorming (90-minutes)
– Monday, 10/16 – 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
– Monday, 10/23 – 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
– Monday, 10/30 – 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
– Monday, 11/6 – 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
– Monday, 11/13 – 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Please fill out the following application and you will be contacted within 2 business days regarding acceptance. Questions can be directed to avdeev@uwm.edu.