UC Venture Lab invites CState entrepreneurs to explore new business ideas

Community, Faculty & Staff, Students

Jan 13, 2021

The University of Cincinnati’s Venture Lab invites Cincinnati State students, employees, and alumni to take part in a 7-week program that helps entrepreneurs explore and develop ideas and seek support for launching new companies.

The Venture Lab Pre-Accelerator program is part of UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub, “a one-stop destination” to connect industry with talented entrepreneurs from UC or partner institutions.

Grant Hoffman, the Director of Startups for UC’s Office of Innovation, said Cincinnati State students, graduates, and faculty and staff members are welcome to join the Venture Lab program at no cost.

“Even if you think your idea for a new product or new company isn’t ready to go to market, we encourage you to reach out to us and start talking about it,” Hoffman said.

The Venture Lab program started in June 2018. Since then, 137 individuals or teams have participated, and 44 new start-ups have launched as a result.

Joining the Venture Lab begins by filling out the “Share Your Idea” application form, available at www.uc1819.com/application.

New cohorts (a group of Venture Lab participants) begin 5 times each year.
A new Venture Lab group will begin on Jan. 19, and the next cohort will start in mid-March.
You can apply to participate as an individual or with a team you have formed.

Those selected for a Venture Lab cohort will attend virtual meetings each Tuesday from 9-11 a.m. for 7 weeks. The sessions are recorded for those who can’t attend at the scheduled time.

Each session has a designated topic related to planning a presentation that explains the start-up business idea.

During the final (8th) week, individuals and teams make their short “graduation day” presentation to an audience of experienced entrepeneurs and community supporters.
The presentation focuses on what the new company needs to succeed. Then community members can connect with graduating Venture Lab participants to help bridge skill and knowledge gaps, provide introductions to industry contacts, and form valuable business relationships.
If the team includes someone with a connection to UC (student or employee), the team may be eligible to apply for additional funding to help implement the business plan.

You can view the most recent Graduation Day presentations by members of Venture Lab Cohort 12 on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QlCg6RCTvc&t=1183s.

One of the participating teams in Cohort 12 included a graduate of Cincinnati State’s Interpreter Training Program who helped present the idea “ASL Interpretation for Online Classes.”
Other past Venture Lab presentations are available for viewing at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHzPPsQFNyjvChQh3zWbbw/videos.

If you have questions you can get in touch with Grant at hoffmagt@ucmail.uc.edu, or click here to access his appointment calendar and set up a time for a virtual information session/meeting.

(Image above from the University of Cincinnati)