Texas
Ideation
Discovery Bootcamp
June 23 - Aug 4, 2022

Discover the business value of your innovation

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Texas Ideation Discovery Bootcamp (IDB)

The IDB is a seven-week, 100% virtual course designed to spark and develop science and technology innovations towards readiness for the next stage of development. The program format uses the dynamic and internationally proven wendykennedy.com inc. (WKI) methodology "So what? who cares? why you?®" which guides innovators to explore and find the best path forward to turn ideas into business successes.

The Texas SBDC Technology Commercialization Center (TCC) has partnered with certified coaches at EPIcenter to present this free bootcamp across Texas sponsored by the Texas Federal and State (FAST) Partnership Program.

Why Texas IDB?

  • Provides an opportunity to explore a growth-oriented, scalable science or technology venture.
  • Utilizes a proven methodology that provides practical hands-on visual tools and frameworks to help entrepreneurs discover and communicate the business value of their innovation.
  • Uses a cohort setting to evaluate, discuss, and communicate your idea with the end goal of creating a commercialization roadmap for a successful venture launch.
  • Other potential benefits include positioning to access resources and assistance for research and development for small business innovations such as America's Seed Fund, a federal funding program.

Who should apply?

To be eligible, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers and/ or companies must be located in Texas. Registered companies must be a small venture. We strongly encourage innovators that are women, minorities, and located in rural and/or socio-economically disadvantaged zones to apply.

Cohort selection is based on a competitive application process.

Texas IDB Timeline

The deadline to apply is May 30, 2022. Finalists will be selected by June 16th, 2022. IDB sessions will be held online every Thursday, from 3pm to 6pm from June 23rd to August 4th, 2022. The final session will be a pitch presentation of the innovator's commercialization roadmap developed during the cohort.

Below is the timeline of the program.

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About WKI Methodology

WKI’s "So what? who cares? why you?®" methodology consists of 13 visual frameworks used to ideate and design the business value of an idea. It was created by founders with decades of experience as founders, funders, and startup veterans. The frameworks engage innovators to think entrepreneurially about product-market fit, customer discovery, competitive difference makers, and build this thinking into a compelling value proposition. This method has delivered results for thousands of innovators in more than 27 countries, helping to secure investment, receive research grant awards, win pitch competitions and more.

WKI DESIGN THINKING METHODOLOGY

Meet your WKI Certified Coaches

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Andi Littlejohn is the Chief of the EPIcenter Energy Incubator and Accelerator (EEIA), which provides curriculum, coaching, mentorship, connections (access to funding and fabrication laboratories) and services to startups in all phases of development to incite the energy evolution. Littlejohn has worked with dozens of startups and innovators from all over the world to help them explore the business value of their ideas and communicate that value to key stakeholders. She is active in the startup community nationally and is well-versed in the specific challenges of innovative startups. She is trained and certified in WKI’s “So what? Who cares? Why you?®” methodology as well as GrowthWheel. She graduated with a B.A. from Texas A&M University and holds a M.A. from Johns Hopkins University.

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idb-Monique-Long-White

Monique Long-White, Ph.D. is a successful interdisciplinary researcher, project manager and advisor. She has product development experience with environmental and biophysical emphases that couples with her business knowledge in marketing, entrepreneurship, and systems. Dr. Long-White has an eclectic portfolio of projects mostly focused on community, business, and economic development for a wide variety of organizations including universities, start-ups, and local, state, and federal government establishments and municipalities. She is a peer-reviewed published author on scientific articles. Monique is trained in assisting companies with SBIR applications and awardees, a Trusted Advisor, and certified in WKI’s “So what? Who cares? Why you?® methodology. Monique received her Ph.D. from Purdue University, MSc. from Texas Tech University, and a B.S from Prairie View A&M University.

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Texas IDB Week by Week

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Interested? Apply here

For more information

Contact us at Lizeth.marroquin@utsa.edu

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency will be made if requested; contact TCC at tcc-admin@utsa.edu.

SBDC Texas

Texas SBDC Technology Commercialization Center

The Technology Commercialization Center (TCC) provides advanced technology and scientific innovators and businesses with professional one-on-one and confidential technical and business assistance and entrepreneurial resources to propel their innovation to military and commercial markets. Clients of the center engage in a lifetime relationship with the center, modulating their interaction and resources request based on their particular needs and their respective business trajectory at that time. Find out more at: https://tcc.txsbdc.org/.

SBA

Texas Federal and State Technology Partnership Program (TX-FAST)

The TX-FAST program of the TCC is focused on providing technical assistance to innovative entrepreneurs and small technology firms to enable increasing their participation and award success in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. The TX-FAST Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Epicenter

EPIcenter

EPIcenter propels energy innovation and thought for our global future with a think tank, incubator and accelerator, strategic partnerships, advisory engagements and critical conversations about energy. The nonprofit, established in 2015, focuses on ways to make the production and consumption of energy faster, smarter, cleaner, and more efficient. Find out more at: https://www.epicenterus.org/ .

So what? who cares? why you? is a registered trademark of WKI-wendykennedy.com inc.

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