BVZ Inspire
INSPIRE is a 5-week market-validation program to inspire "entrecurious" individuals in becoming full-time technology entrepreneurs. We provide industry-driven content, introductory venture creation materials and a curated curriculum that supports first-time founders with accelerating their market validation. Our industry sectors of focus for 2022-2023 are Food Sustainability, Smart-City, Mobility, and Logistics as well as Health and Wellness. Program participants will gain exposure to a variety of technology and market opportunities across these respective sectors.
Participants may sign-up as individuals or teams. Whether you have a pre-existing tech startup, just a business idea, or have a desire to learn what it takes to launch a tech startup, our virtual program will give you the opportunity to learn how to research and validate your business idea within an emerging industry!
Registration is now closed
Program Overview
Weekly Market Research Workshops
Workshops on conducting market research & understanding your target customers, led by various industry organizations.
Industry Overview Sessions
Learn about your sector of focus and engage with our industry partners through industry-driven workshops.
Basics of Lean Canvas
Introductory sessions on the basic fundamentals of completing a lean canvas to efficiently develop a one-page business plan.
TMU Startup School Content
Curated venture development content, startup best practices, business templates, founder learnings and insights.
Program Support
Weekly open office hours with the Inspire Program Lead
$5000 in Grants for Participants:
Individuals or teams who register for the Inspire Program will be able to apply for 1 of 10 Inspire Grants. Each grant will be valued at up to $500, to be used for reimbursement of business expenses, with no strings attached - no equity or intellectual property taken in return.
Participant Criteria:
- Participants must be 21+ years of age
- This program is designed for:
- Recent grads, graduate researchers, experienced professionals, exploratory entrepreneurs, ideation stage founders, pre-incorporated companies, and those searching for a change in their careers
- Pre-existing early-stage startups ( <18 months of ideation)
- Participants must currently have or consider developing a technology solution in either of our Industry Sectors: Health and Wellness, Smart-City, Mobility and Logistics or Food Sustainability
- Able to commit to 5-week programming (5-6 hours/week)
Expected Program Outcomes:
- Identify a specific industry problem to pursue and validate
- Complete phase one of your business model canvas
- Learn the fundamentals of primary and secondary market research
- Understand how to define your target audience
- Develop data-driven market assumptions to validate
- Begin user interviews to accelerate market validation
- Build your personal founder network from a community of entrepreneurs, innovators, industry partners and startup ecosystem builders
Registration Deadline: September 19th, 2022
Program Duration: September 20th - October 25th, 2022