the last mile: building an innovation ecosystem to support technology entrepreneurs
DESCRIPTION
The last mile in the development of a new venture, moving from feasible concept to business, can result in the venture never starting. Entrepreneurs, especially those in rural communities, often lack access to the resources and expertise needed to harden the concept and convert it to an operating business. In 2009, the N2TEC Institute launched a unique summer accelerator program that included an AI2V intensive workshop and an eight-week period that addressed the critical knowledge, expertise, and resource issues of the participants by surrounding them with a team of mentors and experts. The result was the launch of five new businesses in South Dakota and one in Oregon. Participants were selected from a national call for technology entrepreneurs willing to move to Sioux Falls for the summer, receive a stipend of $15,000, and work aggressively toward the launch of their business.TRANSCRIPT
© 2007 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Innovation Ecosystem
Faculty-Firm-Not for Profit Consulting/ Sponsored Research
Open Collaborations
iBridge Network
The iBridge Network provides the centralized online source for research and innova9ons.
Drive transparency and access to: • University developed innova9on • Thought leaders and exper9se • Ideas and informa9on
hBp://www.iBridge Network.org
Kauffman Entrepreneur Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Fall 2009 Workshop
Kauffman Entrepreneur Postdoctoral Fellows
Brigham & Women’s Hospital Brown University Carnegie Mellon Duke Georgia Tech MIT Stanford UC Davis UC Irvine Univ of Florida Univ of Louisville Univ of Michigan * Univ Wisconsin-Madison
* Funded by New Economy Initiative (Michigan)