UHTB Innov8 is a founder driven series of accelerator programs for early-stage ventures and entrepreneurs who are faculty, students and staff in partnership with UH SBDC. These programs are run at the UH Technology Bridge in person and virtually. The program consists of series of accelerator programs based on the wendykennedy.com Inc. methodology and ideation programs and will be run by WKI Certified SBDC advisors in partnership with the UH Technology bridge team at the UHTB Innovation center. Each cohort has 6-8 founders and they are equipped with all the tools needed to launch their ventures. Programs are catered to scientists, students and researchers looking to apply for SBIR/STTR grants.

At the end of the programs, each participants have the opportunity to Pitch their business on a Pitch Day. The goal of these programs is to launch new ventures, develop business plans that they can use to raise money and attract C-suite level employees to join their team.

The WKI Design Your Business Methodology

WKI - wendykennedy.com Inc is the creator of the popular ideation and design program,Design Your Business. Since 2005, this methodology has helped to put new ideas on the payload of a spacecraft, launch new drug discoveries, bring game changing ideas to market and launch some of the hottest new food products. The WKI methodology offers engaging, visual frameworks innovators ideate with to explore the best path forward for their ideas to turn into market successes. WKI is at work with over 25,000 innovators in 27 countries, along with a network of WKI certified professionals coaching innovators to create winning startups, launch new products, secure funding, and more.

WKI’s 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 explore and map out areas including: product-market fit, customer discovery, competitive difference makers, path to market, and build this thinking into a compelling value proposition. Since 2005, the WKI methodology 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.

What is different about these programs?

These programs are founder driven and focused on designing the business value for your idea and not classroom/expert teaching driven. That means that the founders have to be committed to prework and open discussions to benefit from the program.

Eligibility:

Founders DO NOT need to be UH employees to participate in the program

Who can Participate?

1. Researcher interested in starting a company, might or might not have a team. Researcher looking for a crash course to develop a commercialization plan for their SBIR/STTR grant application
2. Startup from UH portfolio- Licensed UH Intellectual Property, started a company but stuck at some point: funding, sales, team, etc.

Accelerator Programs Offered

Innovators to Founders Cohort

Objective: Help Innovators launch ventures, participants will build business plans, pitch decks, will have access to all the resources available at the SBDC for launching ventures.

• Starts August-September and January-February
• Timeframe: 3-months, 3hrs/each week
• Runs every Semester (Fall and Spring)
• 6-8 Founders participate

Pitch Day:

At the end of the 12-weeks, participating Cohort will get the opportunity to pitch in front of the community, investors, founders, mentors and answer questions and gather feedback. Based on the popular vote, the winning team will receive prizes.

SBIR/STTR Support Cohort

Objective: To equip SBIR/STTR applicants with the tools, methodologies, and mindset required to effectively communicate the value and potential of their innovations, aligning with both grant requirements and market needs. We will write a draft of the SBIR/STTR commercialization plan using an SBIR Commercialization Plan Template developed by WKI.

• Starts based on the needs to student and clubs
• Timeframe: 5 weeks
• Runs every Semester (Fall and Spring)
• 6-8 Founders participate, multiple groups for different student organizations on campus

Ready to take your idea to the next level? Contact:

Tanu Chatterji, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Startup Development | Office of Technology Transfer & Innovation
Adjunct Faculty, Bauer College of Business
Division of Energy and Innovation
University of Houston Technology Bridge
Phone: 713-743-0201
tchatte@central.uh.edu