Innovation Open Mic

Practice your pitch. The NSF Mid-South I-Corps Hub hosts a monthly Innovation Open Mic event, inviting aspiring innovators from across the mid-south to present their ideas and projects to a panel of entrepreneurial experts and mentors. Whether it’s a business, non-profit, technology, or invention, all ideas are welcome. Presenters receive valuable feedback from the mentor panel to refine and enhance their projects.

Virtual and Open

Currently held virtually via Zoom, Innovation Open Mic is open to all students, faculty, and staff from schools and universities throughout the mid-south region of the United States.

Zoom Background: Feel free to use the zoom background below during your pitches!

  • We will soon be accepting applications for 2025-2026. Presenters will have five minutes to talk about their idea, followed by ten minutes of Q&A with the headlining mentors. We want presenters to receive as many perspectives, thoughts, questions, and connections as possible. Presenters are encouraged to have a slideshow ready.

    Click here to apply.

  • Sign up to 'headline’ during an upcoming Innovation Open Mic session. Each month, 4 mentors will be featured from universities across the Southeast U.S. In order to sign up as a headliner, you must be an official mentor with a university in the Southeast.

    Click here to apply.

  • To learn more about the Innovation Open Mic, please contact Shannon Ware at shannon.ware@vanderbilt.edu.

Innovation Open Mic Bakground

FAQs

  • To be eligible for the Builder program, you must 1. complete a Regional NSF I-Corps Program, such as the Sullivan Family Ideator Program, 2. perform, document, and submit a log of 30 customer discovery interviews with insights gathered, and 3. have a well defined initial customer segment and value proposition.

     Participants are required to attend all sessions of Builder if they want a chance to pitch for microgrant funding. Further expectations include:

    • Attend all live sessions

    • At least 30 customer discovery interviews during the program

    • Weekly mentor meetings

    • At least 2 office hour

    • All content and discussions

    • Pitch at the end of the program.

  • At the end of the program, a pitch day will be held and participants will have the opportunity to pitch their idea to a group of high caliber judges composed of business leaders, investors, and accomplished entrepreneurs.

    Microgrants will be provided for a number of teams that excel in the Builder Program.

  • A limited number of microgrants are awarded to participants displaying a high level of commitment to pursuing their idea and having sufficient, supportive evidence of its merit.

  • Support for the creation of this program was provided via a Faculty Grant from VentureWell.