Innovation Accelerator
Daily Digest & Promotion – Fall 2016
Cutting-edge entrepreneurial education for students; value-added support for early-stage ventures.
What is it like to start a new company? What special challenges do startups face on the path between developing a business plan and generating their first sales? Through participation in this course, you are about to find out – but not by analyzing business cases and decisions – you will be helping a UConn-affiliated start up in real-time.
Teams will be responsible for addressing a pressing challenge the host company is facing with growth development. Each teammate will bring a different perspective and set of skills to contribute to this challenge by design. Your group is also paired with a professional mentor who possesses deep experience and knowledge of the industry the host company will be entering. A true composition of opportunities and challenges!
This course provides an opportunity to hone and expand your skills in the areas of market-based research, analysis, and problem solving, interpersonal and team dynamics, strategy development, and professional consulting. Successful completion requires teamwork, dedication to solving the very real challenge at hand, and an acceptance and willingness to work through ambiguity, good judgement, and creativity within an environment of scarce information and resources.
Students gain:
- Experience solving real-life challenges for a local startup
- Training in key consulting principles employed by McKinsey & Company and the Lean Launch approach to Business Model Development
- Mentorship from an experienced entrepreneur
Startups gain:
- Fresh perspective on key elements of their business model
- Assistance with primary and secondary market research
- Market entry strategy recommendations that maximize early-stage revenue
Real Time, Real-World Learning! Want to be a part of it? Apply for this 3 credit course today! (Open to graduate students and distinguished undergraduate students for all majors!)
Apply at http://ccei.uconn.edu/innovation-accelerator/
For more information, contact: Rae Asselin / CCEI at 860-486-6774 / rae.asselin@business.uconn.edu