UC Venture Lab NEXT summer program paves way for student startup success
Empowering student entrepreneurs from ideas to enterprise
There has never been a better time to start, join or fund a student startup.
Young founders with an idea or technology they want to develop into a business while still in school have an increasing number of resources to tap into at the University of Cincinnati.
Venture Lab NEXT is a student accelerator program designed to offer tailored resources and guidance to student teams who have already gained traction and are seeking specialized mentorship aligned with their industry domain or stage of development.
Over the 12-week summer program, student founders will gain the critically important business acumen, experienced mentorship and deep network to develop, grow and eventually launch their venture.
Kate Harmon Assistant vice president of the 1819 Innovation Hub, executive director of the UC Center for Entrepreneurship
A UC NEXT student meet with an entrepreneur-in-residence. Photo/Center for Entrepreneurship
Student visionaries daring to pioneer a company can leverage VL NEXT to hone early-stage operational skills to cultivate entrepreneurial wisdom. It could lead to the next unicorn company as per a recent article in Entrepreneur Magazine that reported UC surpassed Ivy League schools such as Harvard and Yale in graduating unicorn founders.
Located inside the 1819 Innovation Hub, the VL NEXT program offers an exceptional opportunity for students to venture into startup creation.
Participating student teams will receive $10,000 in non-dilutive funding, empowering them to bring their innovations to life. This funding can be utilized flexibly, whether for developing the startup itself or supporting team members' living expenses as they commit full-time to their venture during the summer. Teams are required to submit a detailed funding plan outlining individual milestones they aim to accomplish throughout the program.
For students contemplating their next move, the advantages are plentiful. VL NEXT offers a unique prospect for chosen student teams to dedicate their time, effort and funding to developing their ventures during the summer months.
“Over the 12-week summer program, student founders will gain the critically important business acumen, experienced mentorship and deep network to develop, grow and eventually launch their venture,” said Kate Harmon, assistant vice president of the 1819 Innovation Hub and executive director of the UC Center for Entrepreneurship.
Criteria
VL NEXT is seeking student teams with a minimum viable product or strong customer discovery data, committed to advancing their venture. Selected founders will benefit from peer engagement, staff facilitation and mentorship. Cohorts will receive curated mentorship and provide weekly updates on both technological and customer discovery progress.
The deadline to apply is April 5. Students can register and view itinerary for the program.
What to expect
During the VL NEXT summer program, entrepreneurs-in-residence (EIR), including industry professionals, academic mentors and technical experts, will be available to support teams with tailored expertise. These mentors will guide student founders in processing information and staying on track with their milestones. Participants can forge connections and map out their startup launch trajectory, leveraging this invaluable networking platform.
“If you want to experience what it is like to build a startup, including all the heartaches and challenges that come with being a startup founder, the VL NEXT program will be a valuable resource for you. We are looking for applicants who are deeply committed and have the work ethic to give it their all this summer,” Harmon said.
Featured image at top: UC NEXT students meet with mentors. Photo/Center for Entrepreneurship
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