BEAT-THE-ODDS BOOT CAMP

The “Beat-the-Odds Boot Camp” is aimed at providing NSF’s SBIR and STTR Phase I Grantees with an entrepreneurial training experience patterned after the NSF I-Corps program. The program uses I-Corps instructors, and, like the I-Corps program, the instructional material is based on Steve Blank’s customer discovery process.

This Boot Camp aims to provide an immersive, real-world, hands-on experience to assist in developing a stronger business model, market strategy, and product. The main goal is to provide early-stage companies with an introduction to and training in the area of customer discovery, and development of the value proposition. At the end of the program, companies will have learned the skills to be able to verify their product market fit, and identify critical gaps that need to be addressed in order to commercialize their technologies successfully.

Overview

Grantees will participate in the Boot Camp as a team representing your company. The team should include the PI representing the technology, and President/CEO (preferably) or someone representing business development. Each team should take Steve Blank’s free “How to Build a Start Up” course online as early as possible in their Phase I award, to gain the most benefit from this program. Click “Start Free Course” on the right side of this page to get started. At least one member of each team should attend the following three webinars:

• Kick Off Webinar | January 17 at 12:00 PM EST – Click here to view recorded webinar
• Second Webinar | January 23 at 12:00pm EST - Click here to view recorded webinar
• Final webinar | March 6 at 1:00pm EST - Click here to register

Boot Camp Preparation

Each team should complete the initial draft of your Business Model Canvas (click to download template). Additional recommended activities include:

• View customer discovery interviews (https://venturewell.org/i-corps/llpvideos), specifically those found under these sections: Before Leaving the Building, Outside the Building, Understanding What the Customer is Telling You, Back in the Building
• Identify a minimum of thirty (30) prospective customers to interview over the six-eight week period between the Kick-Off Webinar and the Lessons Learned Presentations on March 13^th
• Participate in “Office Hours” with your assigned Boot Camp Instructor throughout the two month activity
• Utilize the LaunchPad Central platform to manage your Business Model Canvas, log your customer interviews, and share information with your Instructor
• Prepare for your Lessons Learned Presentation (details to be provided in Final Webinar)

Culmination

Each team will present their “lessons learned” at the Beat-the-Odds Boot Camp event on Monday, March 13, 2017. NSF I-Corp instructors will be present to critique your work, and provide you with feedback about your business model (presentation instructions to be provided in final webinar).

We hope that all new Phase I awardees are able to take advantage of the Boot Camp. Please speak to your NSF Program Director if you cannot make it and obtain permission to opt out. If you will not attend, please forward the email from your Program Director to [email protected] and do not select the Boot Camp option during online registration.