Tech Venture Workshop (for faculty, PhD & researchers)

The Tech Venture Workshop is a three half-day immersive program where faculty entrepreneurs and their PhD/postdoc teams learn how to test the commercial potential of their research directly with customers and partners. Participating teams receive grant funding from the National Science Foundation, mentorship, workshops on selecting the right market, customer segment, IP, and more.

The Tech Venture Workshop introduces commercialization methodologies adopted by the NSF, NIH, DOD, DOE, and other federal agencies: business model design and customer development (aka the Lean Startup). Participating teams will be eligible to apply for the NSF I-Corps program, new grant opportunities through the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute (TBA later this fall), and will be well poised for a strong SBIR/STTR grant application in the future.

The next Tech Venture Workshop for this academic year will take place virtually (via Zoom) over three consecutive Tuesdays (and you must attend ALL three days):

  • December 1, 9am-2pm EST
  • December 8, 9am-1pm EST
  • December 15, 9am-1pm EST

Workshop applications are due Monday, November 16. You will be notified of your acceptance to the Workshop by Friday, November 20.

Apply Here
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    What You Can Expect

    The NYU Entrepreneurial Institute offers Tech Venture Workshops for faculty, PhD, post-docs, and researchers to learn the fundamentals of the Lean Startup approach and begin to explore the commercial potential of their research and technologies.

    About Tech Venture Workshops:

    Each Workshop is a three half-day commitment, held online on select Fridays during the semester. Accepted teams can expect:

    • In advance of the workshop: Come prepared having completed readings and presentations.
    • Day 1: Market opportunity exploration, customer segment and customer discovery workshops led by the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute teaching team; Participants will also each present their venture concepts and receive feedback during the session.
    • Day 2: Value proposition and value chain workshops; Each team presents on what they learned from their first week of customer discovery interviews and receives "radical candor" feedback from the teaching team.
    • Day 3: IP strategy workshop; Each team presents on what they learned from their second week of customer discovery interviews, and receives "radical candor" feedback from the teaching team; The workshop concludes with an overview of select follow-on resources available to workshop participants, including an overview of how to prepare an application for NSF I-Corps and upcoming grant and program opportunities of interest.
    • Between Day 1 & 2, and between Day 2 & 3: In the two weeks between each session, each team will endeavor to complete at least five customer interviews with their potential target customers and partners; Teams will also be offered dedicated coaching appointments from the Entrepreneurial Institute's Startup Coaching Program.
    • Following the workshop: Teams will be offered continued coaching, and select teams will be invited to submit an application for NSF I-Corps as well as for a new $50K grant programs to be announced later in the fall by the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute.
    Who It's For

    Tech Venture Workshops are open to any NYU Faculty or researcher-led team from across NYU who are interested in commercializing new scientifically driven research developed at NYU in fields including biotech/life sciences, computer science including ML/AI, AR/VR, robotics, blockchain, material science, photonics, electronics, and quantum computing, among others with:

    • An idea for a startup (can be "just an idea" or may have been working on it for a significant period of time)
    • Novel technology (does not have to be patented or from published research)
    • Demonstrated passion for the problem you hope to solve with your idea
    • Commitment to attending ALL THREE of the half-day sessions and completing at least ten customer discovery interviews during the Workshop
    • No prior business or startup experience is necessary.

    NYU students as well as faculty and staff who are working on startup ventures which do not commercialize scientific research should consider applying to the Startup Bootcamp instead. The Startup Bootcamp is similar to the Tech Venture Workshop, but is specifically built for more general types of ventures which do not have to be technology driven. Learn more about the Startup Bootcamps here.

    Workshop Dates
    • Application Deadline: Monday, November 16
    • Technology Venture Workshop Fall '20 #2 (applicants must attend all three days):

      • December 1, 9am-2pm EST
      • December 8, 9am-1pm EST
      • December 15, 9am-1pm EST
    • Additional dates for spring semester will be posted as they are scheduled.

    Apply today by submitting a short application.

Apply Here