The NSF has just migrated their program to include their I-corps™ program for all Phase I awardees. Why? And can a similar program help you?
I’ve now led two cohorts of our VentureWrench Launch!™ live coaching program. All of those teams came out the other side with a deep understanding of their customers, partners and markets. Each team developed a strong beachhead and they know how to enter their markets.
SBIR and STTR program directors and TPOCs must show that the companies which receive funding are not just “SBIR mills” – living off of SBIR. Instead they have to show recipients actually have a plan to get into the market and build a business.
At the same time, angels and venture investors want to know entrepreneurs have really talked with and deeply understand their markets. The Business Model Canvas is a way to capture the product-market fit of your company and that you have a plan to get to success. This is as effective for investors as it is for SBIR/STTR.
VentureWrench Launch!™ for SBIR/STTR applicants and awardees is based on the well known Lean Launchpad curriculum pioneered by Steve Blank and his colleagues at Stanford University.
What can you expect from a strong Lean Launchpad inspired program?
- Learning how customer discovery differs from marketing and sale, and learning HOW to conduct customer discovery interviews effectively
- Working through course content that includes all of the key elements of a Business Model Canvas
- Completing 75-100 customer and partner interviews yields deep understanding of your market, customers and partners.
- Successful completion of a valid Business Model Canvas and Deep insights into customer needs and how best to deliver their innovation successfully to market – This is critical for a strong commercialization plan for both Phase I and Phase II and Investors!
- One on One coaching to help you overcome challenges and apply what you are learning from customers and partners.
If you haven’t gone through our SBIR course, Develop a Winning SBIR Strategy – Insights From The Review Process, I invite you to do so. Remember that my perspective as a reviewer of many, many proposals gives you an advantage as you prepare your Phase I and/or your Phase II proposal.
If you want more in depth help, either a proposal review or help developing your proposal, you can apply for a spot in our one-on-one VentureWrench SBIR Coaching after you’ve gone through the course.
If you are interested in participating in an upcoming VentureWrench Launch! cohort, email us at venturewrenchcommunity [at] gmail.com with questions.
And if you need help with any part of your SBIR process – proposal (Phase I or II), TABA, proposal management, or contract finalization, just email us at venturewrenchcommunity [at] gmail.com!
Don’t forget, if you need more help, check out our online course, Develop a Winning SBIR Strategy, and don’t forget your free guide below!
Interested in creating an SBIR proposal?
Click to Get our free guide “40 Ways to Improve your SBIR/STTR proposal!
