UW–Madison’s Discovery to Product (D2P) is accepting applications for two fall semester programs that help campus innovators bring their ideas for groundbreaking products and services to the marketplace, Innovation to Market (I2M) and Igniter. All D2P programs are free and open to UW–Madison faculty, staff, and students. Applications are due on Thursday, September 19.
Innovation to Market (I2M) is a five-week course that begins on Wednesday, October 9. I2M is ideal for individuals or teams that are just getting started with an innovation. Participants will learn how to avoid one of the main reasons startups fail: building something nobody wants. Minimizing this risk involves getting out of the lab and going out into the field to interview real people to refine what’s known as product-market fit.
Igniter is an intensive eight-week course that begins on Tuesday, October 8. Igniter is designed for teams that are further along in the process of developing their innovation, and includes practice on all the steps and strategies that increase the odds of success in launching a startup company. Each week, teams work on a different component of creating and validating their business model.
Not sure which program is right for you? D2P is hosting two open house information sessions with free pizza, an overview of the curriculum, and time for questions and answers. The first session will be Friday, September 13 from 11:00 – 11:45 am, and the second session will be Monday, September 16 from 5:00 – 5:45 pm. RSVP here.
UW–Madison has a passion for problem solving and a long history of transforming groundbreaking research discoveries into innovative products and services that change the world. D2P’s cohort programs give entrepreneurs hands-on practice with steps and strategies that improve the odds of success in translating a concept from idea to implementation. Both programs use the industry-leading Business Model Canvas framework to help teams learn how to assess their innovation’s value and develop an implementation strategy. Program instructors are veteran business developers, entrepreneurs, product managers, and start-up executives with specific industry experiences in engineering, life sciences, information technology, food science, and consumer goods.
The deadline to apply to join either summer program is Thursday, September 19. If you have any questions regarding the programs, please contact D2P at engage@d2p.wisc.edu. The programs will be offered again in the spring semester. Course dates and application details are available on the D2P website.