Startup Launchpad

The Idea Lab offers aspiring entrepreneurs an on-ramp to entrepreneurship. The Idea Lab is a dynamic,  4-week pre-acceleration program aimed at those with an idea for a potential business but are not sure whether it's something to really chase down. This program is specifically designed to explore and test idea viability.

The Idea Lab leverages structured training and mentoring to provide aspiring and early-stage founders an understanding of core startup concepts, while also helping to connect these founders with others in the community that can help them move their ideas forward.

Additionally, the Idea Lab is runs concurrently with the Build Accelerator, so program members have the option to transfer to the Build Accelerator after program completion and continue to build the idea at the same pace. 

Idea Lab members are offered:

• skills training in market discovery, consumer insight research and rapid product development
• weekly one-on-one coaching sessions
• weekly cohort training workshops
• general access to dedicated coworking spaces
• access to prototyping equipment and services
• potential seed funding (as applicable)

Below is the cohort meeting schedule for the Idea Lab (Fall 2023). Training workshops are held on Monday of each week, and social activities (including mixers, cohort dinners, mentor meetups, etc.) are held on Wednesday of each week. All meeting times are from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

The Build Accelerator is a 12-week, venture acceleration program that builds on insights gained from the Idea Lab and aims to help early-stage founders build: a (value) proposition, a (minimum viable) product, a (business) plan, a (go-to-market) strategy, and a (venture) pitch. This program is specifically designed to build a business around vetted ideas.

This accelerator program is heavily focused on three (3) core elements:

1. verifying whether a perceived problem actually exists out in the market; 
2. validating that the founder’s solution solves that problem (and potential customers are actually interested in that solution); and 
3. confirming the founder has developed or has a pathway to developing a minimum viable product (MVP)—which is an early, basic version of the solution that meets the minimum requirements for customer use—so the founding team can get real, actionable customer feedback.

Build Accelerator members are offered:

• skills training in market problem validation, market testing and business model development
• weekly one-on-one coaching sessions
• weekly cohort training workshops
• biweekly mentor sessions with industry professionals
• 24-7 access to dedicated coworking spaces
• $5,000 in AWS Activate Credits valid for two (2) years (if eligible)
• one (1) year of AWS Business Support (up to $1,500) (if eligible)
• access to physical prototyping equipment and services
• potential seed funding (as applicable)

Below is the cohort meeting schedule for the Build Accelerator (Fall 2023). Training workshops are held on Monday of each week, and social activities (including mixers, cohort dinners, mentor meetups, etc.) are held on Wednesday of each week. All meeting times are from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

The Venture Incubator is a 12-month, tenancy-based program that builds on insights gained from the Build Accelerator and leverages a flexible and adaptive curriculum to support program members through the final phases of product development, customer beta testing, market launch, and revenue generation.

The incubator supports emerging companies that have launched within the last two (2) years through operational business development, focusing heavily on operations, revenue generation and funding paths. Membership in the Venture Incubator can also be extended an additional 12-month term upon satisfactory completion of agreed milestones from the first term.

*Participation in the Build Accelerator is generally required prior to application or invitation to join the Venture Incubator.

Venture Incubator members are offered:

• skills training in business management and revenue generation
• biweekly one-on-one coaching sessions
• biweekly cohort training workshops
• monthly social programming activities
• 24-7 access to dedicated coworking spaces
• access to shared printers, copiers and scanners
• high-speed internet and wifi access
• 24-7 access to reserved, furnished offices (as available)
• registered business mailing addresses
• access to indoor and outdoor event spaces
• access to university mentor and partner networks
• $5,000 in AWS Activate Credits valid for two (2) years (if eligible)
• one (1) year of AWS Business Support (up to $1,500) (if eligible)
• access to prototyping equipment and services
• access to content creation equipment and services
• access to on-site business strategy support via venture development teams
• potential seed funding (as applicable)

While all founders are encouraged to move through launchpad programs sequentially, entrepreneurship sometimes follows a non-linear path. The Venture Navigation program is a consulting program designed to meet founders where they are by providing as-needed consulting support.

Generally, most consulting services are focused on problem solving around specific and/or unique issues a startup is facing. Consulting services may be scheduled biweekly, monthly, quarterly or ad-hoc depending on a founder's current needs.

There is no formal application process to join the Venture Navigation program, and membership in the program is generally limited to founders that have previously participated in a launchpad program. However, others may be admitted to the Venture Navigation program upon their request and with staff approval or by invitation.