The mission of the Venture Lab is to support the Economic and Business Development of the Region by cultivating a multidisciplinary community that develops state-of-the-art practices, tools, and processes to convert intellectual property into sustainable businesses. The lab will accomplish this through educational program, research, and community outreach focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and new venture development.

A team of faculty and CVIP staff has been developing an initiative to introduce a new interdisciplinary graduate level hands-on learning experience focused on designing commercially viable and sustainable new ventures. At the core of the program, faculty and students collaborate to “add value” to proposed new businesses based on campus technology while developing the technology, product and preliminary corporate positioning.  Success is measured, in part, by the creation of new companies, worthy of outside investment, on the basis of the work accomplished. Students gain hands-on experience in multiple arenas as co-founders in the creation of new companies. A key measure of success of the Lab is the positive decision by the University and/or new venture investors to support the continuance of the business. 

The lab is open to graduate students who can participate in the following ways:

-         New Venture Creation Graduate Certificate Program The certificate program consists of four courses: New Venture Foundations; Product Development Processes; Practicum Experience; and an Elective. These courses may be applied to graduate degrees at the University.

-         MBA Program Students in the MBA Program have participated in technology commercialization projects as participants in their Strategic Management course, or in electives.

-         Masters and Doctoral Science and Engineering Students may elect to take the New Venture Foundations course as part of, or in addition to, their regular degree programs. 

In addition to formal courses and hands-on practicum, the lab hosts conferences for entrepreneurs, brings in thought leaders for seminars and workshops, sponsors business plan competitions, and supports faculty research in the area of sustainable business development. The lab serves the needs of students, faculty, staff and regional companies to teach new concepts for product development, technology commercialization and business creation, with an emphasis on delivering tangible accomplishments in the form of sustainable new companies and divisions.

For more information, contact: