Special Announcement - Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop
Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop
Do you have an innovation that could make a difference? Whether a researcher, entrepreneur, inventor or problem solver, the Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop at Venture Partners at CU Boulder can help you transform your concept into a successful venture.
Offered as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps™ Hub: West Region, this workshop is for anyone from a research or community institution—not just CU—motivated to bring their ideas to life, secure funding and create lasting impact. Over three weeks, gain a deeper understanding of the commercialization process, test your ideas with real potential customers and accelerate your journey toward bringing your idea to market.
Program Components
- Interactive and engaging virtual workshops on understanding and empathizing with end-users and key partners. The program equips participants with the knowledge and skills to create a compelling impact case and to bring their innovation to those who need it.
- Twelve targeted interviews with people who could use or benefit from your idea to better understand and test assumptions about their needs and challenges.
- Weekly office hours with experienced staff to provide guidance and support.
Program Dates
Application Deadline: Friday, July 25
- Friday Aug. 1, 9 a.m.-noon MT
- Friday, Aug. 8, 9 a.m.-noon MT
- Friday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m.-noon MT
August sessions will be held in person at BaseCamp at the Pearl East Innovation Campus (4909 Pearl E Cir, Boulder, CO 80301)
Application
Our I-Corps programming is available to all researchers, inventors and problem solvers from any research or community institution; all you need is an innovation and an interest in bringing it to those in need. Our programming serves a diverse range of people and ventures, so please contact us if you have questions about your eligibility.
Questions? Contact Emily Vogt at eklein@colorado.edu | Additional Starting Blocks Workshop: Nov. 6-20, 2025 | Special Therapeutics Starting Blocks Workshop: Oct. 7-21, 2025
Completed Starting Blocks? Take the next step with the...
Research-to-Market (R2M) Customer Discovery Program
Research-to-Market (R2M) is a four-week program designed for researchers, entrepreneurs, inventors and problem solvers to commercialize their innovations, helping teams through customer discovery and finding a market for their innovation.
- Sept 3-Oct. 10, 2025, Virtual