Institute for Entrepreneurship: Programs

Stage 1: Venture Validator 1.0

The Venture Validator is the starting blocks for your entrepreneurial venture. This cohort-based program takes you through all the steps to get your venture off the ground and figure out if there’s a real opportunity there. The Validator is a 2-week 4 session program where you will:

1. Understand who your customer is and what drives their decision making.
2. Clarify your value proposition and know exactly what problem you’re solving and how.
3. Build out the first half of your Business Model Canvas, identifying all the components needed to have a sustainable business.
4. Learn from successful entrepreneurs and mentors as they guide you on your journey.

Learn More About Venture Validator Programs

Stage 2: Venture Validator 2.0

The Venture Validator 2.0 is a continuation of your customer discovery journey from the Venture Validator 1.0. This cohort-based explored the second half of the BMC to dive deep on if there’s a real opportunity to turn your idea into a business. The Validator 2.0 is a 2-week 4 session program where you will:

1. Develop your competitive landscape and see how you differentiate. 
2. Explore your supply chain and prospective partnerships. 
3. Build out the second half of your Business Model Canvas, identifying all the components needed to run a sustainable business.
4. Learn how to build your Minimum Viable Product/Prototype.
5. Learn from successful entrepreneurs and mentors as they guide you on your journey.

Learn More About Venture Validator Programs

Stage 3: Venture Accelerator

New for 2023, the Venture Accelerator is built to move your idea form from the design stages to a ready-for-market product in just three months. This immersive summer program helps you develop your venture for sustainable growth, even beyond the program. Selected venture teams have the chance to receive up to $5,000 in funding to support the initial startup of their operations and their marketing efforts.

The Venture Accelerator is open to all current CSU undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent alumni. 

Learn more about the Venture Accelerator

I-Corps

NSF I-Corps is an experiential training program offered to CSU faculty, graduate students, and post-docs interested in translating scientific research into startups. By participating in a handful of virtual workshops, developing an initial business hypothesis, and conducting a few dozen customer discovery interviews, scientists and engineers learn to develop, test, and fine-tune their startup idea. The program is funded by the National Science Foundation and CSU is one of several universities participating in the I-Corps Hub West.

Learn more about I-Corps

Venture Rams Business Showcase

The Venture Rams Business Showcase is the Institute for Entrepreneurship's premier event. Teams of entrepreneurs hone their business ideas, sharpen their pitches, and compete to win cash prizes that can be used to start their business.

The showcase was designed to help student build their confidence, develop their presentation and pitch skills and get real-time feedback in a constructive environment. After competing in the showcase, students will be ready to take their venture out of the CSU environment and into the dynamic world of business.