When we bring different kinds of people in, they see different problems. And they see different kinds of solutions.
About the Mid-South Hub
Overview
The Mid-South Hub is an entrepreneurial institution that supports academic commercialization, economic growth, and shared prosperity across the entire Mid-South region. Funded by the US National Science Foundation, The Mid-South Hub is one of 10 Regional NSF Hubs across the country. Lead by Vanderbilt University, the Mid-South Hub spans four states and includes University of Virginia, Jackson State University, George Mason University, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University, University of Louisville, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Kentucky, and Vanderbilt University. With an intentional emphasis on inclusive innovation, the Hub’s mission is to accelerate the translation of groundbreaking university research outcomes into commercialized ventures that seed emergent, prosperous innovation ecosystems across the region.
Inclusive Innovation Ecosystem
The Mid-South Hub is the culmination of years of innovation effort, community development, and entrepreneurial progress, where the once disparate innovation ecosystems across the Mid-South are assembling together under one unified inclusive innovation ecosystem. The Mid-South Hub aims to ignite sustainable collaboration across the region, bringing resources, training, and support to all who seek to create positive value change.
The hub spans four states and includes Vanderbilt University, University of Virginia, Jackson State University, George Mason University, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University, University of Louisville, University of Tennessee, Knoxville and University of Kentucky.
Goal:
We wanted to create a place where no matter a person's background, no matter where they're from, no matter what they look like, they can come to the Mid-South and create positive value change, and then bring it to the whole world.
Regional Programs
Regional Entrepreneurial Training Programs are held at each partner institution and are open to students, faculty, and staff at partner institutions or other institutions of higher education in the region, as well as adults within the community at large. These programs are designed to help you test your start-up idea and find potential customers all while exploring valid models you could use to broaden the impact of your work.
Regional Program Benefits
Immersive short programs designed to provide innovators with the tools and resources they need to evaluate an idea
Interactive sessions
Required instructor office hours
Access to mentors
Access to Research Libraries on campus
20 customer discovery interviews
Opportunity for non-dilutive microgrant funding
A pathway for further mentorship and guidance through the National I-Corps program where teams receive an additional $50,000 funding. Moreover, this program enables you to receive NSF lineage and greatly improve your chances to receive future SBIR and STTR grant funding.
It has been universally demonstrated that diversity and inclusion of thoughts, experience, and culture enhances the capacity for innovation in any team or community. The Wond’ry is intentionally seeking inclusive cohorts composed of a diverse mix of potential participants including those from minority or disadvantaged backgrounds. We strongly encourage applicants and participants from those groups.
About the NSF’s I-Corps National Program
The National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Program was introduced in 2011 to accelerate the economic and societal benefits of academic research. At its core, the I-Corps Program teaches how to apply the scientific method to the development of business models that can support the translation of new technologies to commercial markets. The I-Corps Program is defined by a national network of 10 Regional Hubs. Participation in regional programs can provide your project with modest funding to support customer discovery efforts and provide NSF lineage that allow you the opportunity to participate in the National I-Corps program if you meet eligibility criteria.
The National I-Corps program is an intensive 7-week program based on Steve Blank’s award winning Lean Launch curriculum. Participants do not need any background in business or company startup. In fact, that’s the heart of the program.
National Program Benefits:
Earn $50,000 in grant funding to further your research as well as increase the number of grants brought to your university (some of this funding can go towards paying a Student or Post-doc)
Bring large financial and reputational returns to both yourself and the university
Learn an evidence-based approach to user-inspired research and maximize the direct impact of your work
Not to mention, it looks great on a CV as both funding agencies and research institutions are following new initiatives towards Innovation.
Eligibility Criteria:
Have a STEM idea with intellectual property
Work on university research and or work with a faculty member
Have participated in a regional program
Participate in weekly, 3-hr virtual meetings. These begin after the kickoff workshop and are composed of an hour lesson from the National Teaching Team on an aspect of the Business Model Canvas followed by time for each team to present on the progress they’ve made that week.
Team Composition:
Each team participating in the National I-Corps Program must have at least 3 members. If you do not have a team, the Wond’ry can help you find one if needed.
Principal Investigator/Technical Lead – Principal Investigator and/or Someone with a Technical Background in the area of the technology or idea. A TL can substitute for the PI if the PI is unable to travel to the kickoff and closing events.
Entrepreneurial Lead – This person will do most of the ‘boots on the ground’ work during the program. The EL will conduct customer interviews and be the primary presenter during the WebEx meetings.
Industry Mentor – Someone with a background in business formation, startup, technology transfer, etc. The Wond’ry has a pool of business mentors and can help locate someone to participate on your I-Corps team if needed.
Not sure if you qualify? Haven’t participated in a Regional Program yet, but are interested in the National Program?