What You Can Expect
The NYU Entrepreneurial Institute offers Customer Discovery Bootcamps for startups to learn the fundamentals of the Lean Startup approach and test the value of their solutions with future customers and partners by Getting Out of the Building.
About Customer Discovery Bootcamps:
Each Bootcamp is a two half-day commitment and is held on select Fridays during the semester virtually over Zoom. Here's what accepted teams can expect:
- In Advance of the Bootcamp: Come prepared having completed readings and presentations
- Day 1: Customer discovery workshops led by the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute teaching and coaching team; Participants will also each present their venture ideas and receive feedback during the session
- Between Day 1 & 2: In the week between each session, each team will endeavor to complete at least five interviews with their potential target customers and partners; Teams will also be offered dedicated coaching appointments from the Startup Coaching Program
- Day 2: Each team presents on what they learned from customer discovery and receives "radical candor" feedback from the coaching team; The Bootcamp concludes with an overview of select follow-on resources available to Bootcamp participants. *We offer two dates for Day 2 and teams can select which Day 2 date works best for their team.
- Following the Bootcamp: Teams will be offered continued coaching, and select teams will be invited to interview for the next Startup Sprint (only 30% of Sprint applicants make it to the interview round, so you'll have made the cut!)
Who It's For
Bootcamps are open to all NYU student, faculty, or researcher-led teams who:
- Have an idea for a startup
- Have demonstrated passion for the problem they hope to solve with their idea
- Are committed to attending BOTH the half-day sessions
- NOTE: Preference is given to teams with two or more members; No prior business or startup experience is necessary!
NYU faculty, PhD students, clinicians, and researchers who are working on innovative scientific research, technologies, and ventures in fields such as biotech/life sciences, artificial intelligence, AR/VR, robotics, cleantech, blockchain, advanced material science, photonics and electronics, and quantum computing should consider applying instead to the Tech Venture Workshop. The Tech Venture Workshop is similar to the Startup Bootcamp, but it is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and purpose built for deep tech/biotech ventures. Learn more about the Tech Venture Workshop here.
Bootcamp Dates
The deadline to apply to the Fall Bootcamp 1 is Sept. 27 at 6pm ET. The dates for the Fall Bootcamp 1 are Oct. 13 [Day 1] & Oct. 26 [Day 2] or Oct. 27 (1pm-6pm)
The deadline to apply to the Fall Bootcamp 2 is Nov. 1 at 6pm ET. The dates for the Fall Bootcamp 2 are Nov. 17 [Day 1] & Nov. 30 or Dec. 1 [Day 2].
Want a participant's perspective on the program? Check out this blog post!
If you would like to draft your answers before applying, you can find all of the application questions here.
