UEDA Annual Summit 2016: Lessons Learned from Building a Statewide Innovation Training Program

LESSONS LEARNED FROM BUILDING A STATEWIDE INNOVATION TRAINING PROGRAM

Lynn AllendorfDirector, John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, University of Iowa

Elizabeth HallgrenLecturer, Entrepreneurship and Marketing, Iowa Western Community College

Julie Forsythe Vice President, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce

Scott SwensonRegional Director, Kirkwood Small Business Development Center, Kirkwood Community College

Introduction (5 minutes)Overview of Venture School program (20 minutes)Learn about participants programs (15 minutes)

Magazine coverStatewide Rollout: Plan, Successes, Challenges (15 minutes)Successes and Challenges from participants (15 minutes)

Bumper Sticker (brag)Post-It Notes (epic fail / never do again)

SESSION OUTLINE

Get to know each otherWhat is the biggest thing you are hoping to get out of this session?• Write it on a Post-It• Share with your table• Combine / rewrite• Share with group

WHAT DO YOU WANTTO LEARN?

University of Iowa Venture SchoolHelping innovators succeed

Why did we do this?• Economic development mission of our Center• Establish Center as a leader in entrepreneurial support across the state• University outreach beyond our campus and community

• University FOR Iowa• Belief in the I-Corps approach and desire to take it outside of the university

OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM

Statewide entrepreneurial trainingBased on NSF I-Corps curriculumHeavy reliance on a partner network

OUR REACH OVER 3 YEARS

174Teams

130Mentors

534Participants

Venture School• 59 teams / 170 participants• 7 locations:• Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Council

Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Iowa City, Sioux City

NSF I-Corps• 27 teams in first year of 3 year grant

IMPACT FY 2016

• Manufacturing• Healthcare• Education• AgTech• Small

Business/Intrapreneurship• Food/Restaurant

Note: We required only 2 people per team.

• Government/Entrepreneurial Support

• Software• Fashion/Design• Gaming

TYPES OF TEAMS

EXAMPLE BUSINESS

Venture School Strategic Initiatives

Main Street• Mini programs as statewide outreach; feed into main program

Sustainability• Develop long-term, sustainable model(s)

• Sponsorships, reduce costs, program income

Modify Strategy• Reach more Iowans - hybrid / online / other

Continued Engagement to graduates• Surge Summits – twice per year• Live Webinars• Assistance from UI students - Consulting and Interns

Impact• Data collection

VENTURE SCHOOL FUTURE STRATEGY

Learn about programs and schoolsHear about best practicesNetworkMagazine game

Work alone (or in teams if you have colleagues with you)

LEARN ABOUT OTHER PROGRAMS

Strategic IssuesChallengesLessons learned from 20 cohorts

Note: We are providing a detailed checklist to the participants.

VENTURE SCHOOL STATEWIDE ROLL-OUT

HOW WE DO IT

• Grant: State Funding• Sponsors:

Early Stage Biz Plan Accelerator Funding Biz. Model Execution Idea Validation

Venture School SBDC ISA/Straight Shot IEDA/Angel EDC

THE SOLUTION - ECOSYSTEM

• Small Business Development Centers• Chambers of Commerce• Community Colleges• Economic Development Organizations• Government Organizations• Accelerators• Startup Weekend

PARTNERSHIPS

• Recruit teams• Recruit mentors• Provide local resources• Build entrepreneurial buzz/ecosystem• Receive Lean LaunchPad training

• Stakeholder challenges – panel

WHAT OUR PARTNERS &STAKEHOLDERS DO

• Taught by real world entrepreneurs• Wide variety of expertise• A mix of serial entrepreneurs & faculty• Receive Lean LaunchPad Training• Facilitator role is key!• Ability to be a generalist• Geographically diverse team

BUILDING A TEACHING TEAM

OUR TEACHING TEAM

• Buy in from teams• Pre-work• Goals & Metrics• Tone of Presentation Feedback• Teaching Style• Workshops• Online

CHALLENGES & PIVOTS

Brag about the coolest thing, biggest success you have done with outreach training

Bumper sticker

Share the biggest challenge you’ve hadWrite on a Post-It NoteIn 3 minutes, sort Post-It Notes intocategories / themeShare with group

SUCCESSES & CHALLENGES

Lynn Allendorf - Director, John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, University of Iowalynn-allendorf@uiowa.edu

Julie Forsythe - Vice President, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Quad Cities Chamber of Commercejforsythe@quadcitieschamber.com

Scott Swenson - Regional Director, Kirkwood Small Business Development Center, Kirkwood Community College scott.swenson@kirkwood.edu

Elizabeth Hallgren - Lecturer, Entrepreneurship and Marketing, Iowa Western Community Collegeelizabeth-hallgren@uiowa.edu

THANK YOU!