Blog/Initiatives

Nov 19

Your pathway to Innovation and Entrepreneurship

PostX is a set of programs that provide a flexible pathway for you to explore innovation and entrepreneurship, test your ideas commercially, and link to exciting opportunities presented by others. At this time, our programs include:

  1. A video library of resources to get you quick exposure to and knowledge of the essentials.

  2. A pathway to explore the topics through team formation and initial ideation through StEP, the Student Entrepreneurship Program.

  3. A second, more intense, pathway for potential startups. This one-week session is based on customer development as the validating tool for problem-solution fit. Certain postdocs may apply and receive $5,000 grants to help complete this program.

  4. Opportunity Recognition at I-Corps. I-Corps is a seven-week program run by the National Science Foundation that takes a team through business model development and broader customer development processes. If accepted into I-Corps you will receive a $50,000 grant from the sponsoring agency. (Completion of step 3 may be required before application)

  5. SBIR Phase I programs for company building and creating the business. Agencies such as the NSF, DoD, NIH and others provide seed funds for companies to get them across the “valley of death.” Completion of I-Corps vastly improves your chances of receiving grants that range from $250,000 to $500,000.

  6. SBIR Phase II grants for prototyping, testing and commercialization. Upon successful completion of SBIR Phase I, companies may apply for a larger and more long-term funding to help move the company forward (averaging $930,000 over three years).

  7. Special opportunities. We have several government agency sponsors who have agreed that, should there be a match between the skills of the team and the needs of the sponsor, that they would be willing to consider special awards for the team. We are happy to discuss these with you at the appropriate time.