LaunchIt: Product Innovation Bootcamp
Turn your research, invention, or big idea into real-world impact.
Sidebar
Ready to take your ideas to the next level?
As part of the NSF funded Mid-South I-Corps Hub, LaunchIt helps entrepreneurs validate and develop products before market launch. In just eight weeks, we help innovators and entrepreneurs test their ideas or products in the real world and see if they have what it takes to stick.
LaunchIt is perfect for:
- Startups, companies and individuals planning to launch a new product or initiative
- University researchers that would like to commercialize an innovation
- University staff and students with an idea for a new business
Launch Your Startup
In this intensive 8-week program you'll learn how to validate your market, develop a minimal viable product, craft a compelling pitch, and prepare your product for launch or investment.
Program Information
| Target Markets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Materials | Aging and Lifelong Wellness | Arts & Entertainment |
| Biotechnology | Construction | Consumer Products |
| Defense & Security | Digital Health | E-Commerce |
| Education | Electronics | Energy & Clean Tech |
| Environmental | Finance & Insurance | Healthcare & Medical Devices |
| IT & Software | Logistics & Distribution | Manufacturing |
| Media & Advertising | Micro/Nanotechnology | Mining |
| Mobile & Wireless | Public Administration | Public Health |
| Social Enterprise | Social Media/Social Network | Telecommunications |
Through funding from the NSF Mid-South Hub, LaunchIt is offered free for innovators developing technology enabled products. Other innovators are welcome to attend and will be charged a fee for participation. Contact us for more details!
Mid-South I-Corps (funded by NSF): This program offers a competitive opportunity to full-time UofL faculty, staff, and students — as well as alumni — for up to $2,000 for expenses related to customer discovery efforts. Funding is based on technology type, and active participation and completion of LaunchIt training.
All grant applicants will apply using the same LaunchIt application form. Please contact our staff to learn more about any of these programs and whether you qualify.
Classes are held for 90 minutes weekly with set office hours via Zoom.
Out-of-class Commitments:
- About 30 minutes each week listening to the Steve Blank Udacity course, “How to Build a Startup”
- Teams will complete approximately 10-20 customer discovery interviews outside of class to support updates of their business model canvas
- Preparing to present updated Business Model Canvas to the group.
We are offer an entirely virtual short course, over three day, to introduce you to the basics of customer discovery and product market fit. From the short course, teams may choose to go on to the 8 week in-person course, or they choose to focus on additional customer discovery! All teams are eligible for microgrants to support customer discovery once they graduate from the short course or the full course. Contact our staff to learn more.