Innov8 Brochure 2020

8-week program designed to help emerging entrepreneurs develop their business concepts, hone their business strategies, and build a business plan with actionable steps. Gain Entrepreneurial Training Build a Business Model Canvas Listen to Potential Customers Analyze Your Market Examine Legal and Financial Considerations Boost Presentation Skills Launch an Enterprise Understand Business Sustainability rochester.edu/aincenter/innov8

ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING & GRANT FUNDING This program provides entrepreneurial training and modest grant funding to University students, faculty, staff and alumni interested in developing or commercializing any type of business idea. The program teaches the essentials of the Business Model Canvas and how to complete effective customer discovery as well as considerations around launching an enterprise. Program participants can apply for modest grant funding to conduct customer discovery, market research or purchase supplies to create a prototype. YOUR INNOV8 JOURNEY By the end of the program, your team can expect to accomplish the following: Learn about the size of your market and key market trends Interview potential customers or end users Complete a standard business model canvas Hone presentation skills Learn about potential sources of early-stage funding Decide whether or not to pursue your idea Complete much of the research you need to apply for a modest grant INNOV8 SCHEDULE Week 1: The Business Model Canvas, Customer Discovery and Hypothesis Development Week 2: How to Interview and Determine Market Sizing Week 3: Team Building and Team Progress Presentations Weeks 4 – 5: Conduct Customer Discovery Interviews and Update Presentation Deck Week 6: Startup Legal and Financial Considerations and Team Progress Presentations Week 7: Pitching Practice Week 8: Final Presentations and Lessons Learned

INNOV8 COMMITMENT Accepted teams must commit to attending Five synchronous training sessions Customer Discovery interviews Two progress presentations Final Presentation + Lessons Learned session, where participants show how their business ideas have developed over the course of the semester INNOV8 ELIGIBILITY All current University of Rochester undergraduate and graduate students, doctoral students, post-doctoral researchers, recent alumni, administrative staff, and faculty are eligible to apply as a Team Leader. University of Rochester faculty members may serve as advisors. No prior business education is required. Proposed business ventures should be in either the idea, development, or startup stages. Innov8 is designed to help emerging entrepreneurs develop their business concepts & hone their business strategies rochester.edu/aincenter/innov8

APPLICATION INFORMATION All application materials must be submitted online by the deadline indicated Students may only apply ONCE per Cohort Students may only participate on ONE team per Cohort Applicants may find a University of Rochester faculty member to serve as an advisor for the technical or business aspects of the team’s idea (optional) Teams must spend their Grant Awards in the Spending Windows specified by each Cohort Acceptance may be deferred to a later Cohort if the Selection Committee determines the spending outlined in the Itemized Financial Plan falls in a different Cohort’s Spending Window APPLICATION SUBMISSION INFORMATION When completing the application materials, please keep the following criteria in mind: Team and Commitment, Concept Strength, Sustainability, Fit with Innov8 Program Applicants must submit the following in order to be considered: Completed online application Resume of Team Leader 1–2 page Executive Summary rochester.edu/aincenter/innov8 585.276.3500 [email protected]