You’ve identified a specific innovation that you think you may want to commercialize. Now what? The University of Minnesota Value Proposition Design program applies the Lean Startup approach and Customer Discovery methods to specific innovations. You are strongly encouraged to participate in the Customer Discovery 101 Workshop before this course. External industry executives, as well as experts from the Office for Technology Commercialization, the UMN Libraries, and the Carlson School of Management, will be available to help. Up to $1,000 available to support customer discovery for academic teams. Lunch provided for participants.

You’ll learn and apply the Lean LaunchPad customer development concepts promoted by the NSF I-Corps program. Successful completion of this program by academic teams or ventures with university-licensed technologies can lead to qualification for recommendation to the National I-Corps Teams program, which includes a $50,000 grant.

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)
• Increase chances of receiving commercialization grants such as PFI-TT or SBIR/STTR
• Gain valuable market insight to inform the next steps for creating impact from your idea
• Gain an exceptional professional development experience appropriate for any career path—academic, industry, startup or other
• Expand your network of like-minded peers, instructors, investors, customers, and mentors.
• Learn, practice and hone your innovation skills

Course Schedule

All events will be held in person at the University of Minnesota. Specific location TBD. 

• ​Friday, October 18 – 12:00pm – 2:00pm CT
• Friday, October 25 – 12:00pm – 2:00pm CT
• Friday, November 1 – 12:00pm – 2:00pm CT
• Friday, November 8 – 12:00pm – 2:00pm CT
• Friday, November 15 – 12:00pm – 2:00pm CT
• Friday, November 22 – 12:00pm – 2:00pm CT