How it will work:
- You will pitch your idea/research virtually to students and faculty across a number of mostly Capital Region campuses
- Entertain questions
- Work with coordinators to select the student(s)/faculty with whom you wish to work based on your needs and their expressed interest
- Aid those students/faculty in the development efforts conducted in Spring 2024
- A full exploration of commercialization opportunities and business models associated with the innovation.
- A thorough customer discovery process to test the viability of the product, service, or business.
- A full understanding of the product, service, or business positioning and possibility/probability for future success.
- A strategic marketing/communication plan that streamlines messaging to potential stakeholders.
- A plan that enhances the potential commercial promise or capabilities of your product/service.
- A proof-of-concept, which can range from a physical prototype to a software prototype.
- A design binder that summarizes their design process, which includes assessing user needs, background research, alternative design. concepts, design details, and future design planning.
- Offer the volunteer student(s) an experience they won’t forget.
- Introduce them to your whole team and your research.
- Share how you got started, the importance of your work, the impact you want to make with it and why.
- Avail yourself to the student(s) regularly over the course of the spring 2024 semester for updates on their progress and answers to their queries.
- Consider the students as essential team members or founders instead of students. Experience has shown this improves communication, team chemistry, and professionalism to ensure a stronger final product.
- Alert course instructors if you are unhappy with the progress being made.
In total, it will be what you make of the opportunity.
August 25: Registration opens
September 18: Registration deadline
September 25-29: Live virtual pitches
October 23: Matches communicated to students & faculty.
January 9: Spring semester courses begin and students begin to work with you and your team.
It is also key to know:
- We don’t force anyone together as the clinician/research/project lead must approve interested parties to join their team. You will review the list of students who expressed interest in working with you and a timeline for selection turnaround so the matches can be communicated.
- The relationships formed in this program are non-binding. The intent is to get the brightest minds working together, and the goal is to facilitate the introduction of potential co-founders.
- There is a beginning and end to the process, which culminates at our Demo Day at the end of April 2024.
- Outcomes are not guaranteed but will be a step forward for interdisciplinary teams to bring an idea or technology to market and mirror the true entrepreneurial innovation process.
Campus contacts
Albany College of Pharmacy - Michelle Lewis michelle.lewis@acphs.edu
Albany Medical College - Stephanie Dosiek dosieks@amc.edu
Center for Disabilities - Eric Ledet eric.ledet@cfdsny.org
Mount Sinai - Brian Nickerson brian.nickerson@mssm.edu
RPI - Brett Orzechowski orzecb@rpi.edu