Spring 2024 Cohort CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications Open Until April 8th, 2024

Do you have an innovative idea that can help shape the Inland Empire, or even better - change the world? Bring your solutions to life with INNOVAR and get the chance to receive up to $10,000 for proof of concept and customer discovery!

Funded by the University of California's Office of the President and powered by The Office of Technology Partnerships, INNOVAR is no-cost program designed to help UCR faculty and students shape entrepreneurial ideas across various tech industries such as sustainable farming, transportation, medical devices, robotics, & much more. Learn to innovate solutions that can create positive change in the world & have the revenue potential for marketplace commercialization.

This quarterly 7-week program introduces the Lean Launchpad methodology and focuses on identifying and understanding the “customer” and their needs. Direct, face-to-face customer interviews provide insightful data to confirm product-market fit. In simple terms, customer interviews confirm that the entrepreneur is building something that somebody in the market wants, which significantly increases their chances of success. The program is focused on the market (customer's needs) and not the technology. It also introduces business concepts such as competition, market size, go-to-market, intellectual property protection and funding.

APPLY FOR THE 2024 SPRING INNOVAR COHORT

Program Commitment: Participation requires approximately 8 hours/week of effort by team members including class time, customer interviewing, mentor meetings and assignment completion.

• Program Dates: April 16th - May 28th, 2024 (Tuesdays at 5-7PM)
• Application Deadline: April 8th (Apply below)

Click here to learn more about INNOVAR.

What’s in it for you?

• Dedicated Mentorship 
• Transferable Business Skills 
• Expanded Network of Professional Assistance
• Potential Funding Opportunities
• Access to ExCITE Incubator 
• Access to UCR Life Science Incubator
• Up to $10,000 for proof of concept or customer discovery to fine-tune your idea/project

 Apply now to secure your spot and be part of the solution!

Program Benefits

Dedicated Mentorship

Transferable Business Skills

Expanded Network of Professional Support

Potential Funding Opportunities

Receive up to $10,000 from the Office of Technology Partnerships for proof of concept or customer discovery to fine-tune your idea or project

Access to UCR Facilities

Gain access to either UCR's Life Science Incubator or ExCITE Incubator to further develop your business

APPLY FOR THE 2024 SPRING INNOVAR COHORT