A five-week, part-time virtual course designed for Portugal’s research community, taught by UT Austin educator and serial entrepreneur Mellie Price, opens registration on September 23.
The UT Austin Portugal Program is launching Entrepreneurial Foundations, a focused, five-week virtual course for PhD candidates, postdocs, faculty, engineers and R&D professionals who want to apply entrepreneurial thinking to research and innovation. The inaugural cohort begins on November 5, 2025; registration runs September 23–October 15. There are no tuition fees. A UT Austin certificate will be issued to participants who complete 100% of the sessions.
Learn the real journey of entrepreneurship – from those who’ve lived it.
This is not a startup “bootcamp.” This is entrepreneurship taught straight from the source. Under Price’s unique guidance, participants learn the mindset, language, and frameworks that help researchers evaluate opportunities, frame value from science and technology, and collaborate effectively with industry, all in a pragmatic, real-world format.
Why this course
- Instructor-led differentiation: The course is led by Mellie Price, Executive Director for Texas Entrepreneurship at UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business and an eight-time entrepreneur. She is known for founding Front Gate Tickets and co-founding Capital Factory, a major Texas startup hub.
- Built for researchers and entrepreneurial-driven minds: Short, interactive sessions (3 hours/week) that respect lab and teaching schedules.
- Coordinated delivery: Sessions are administered via Texas Executive Education on Zoom to ensure a professional learning experience.
- Office Hours: The course will offer 2 hours of office hours each week, in flexible 15–30 minute time slots.
- Support: Each class will start 15–20 minutes early for open questions, and additional time will be reserved for Q&A at the end of each session.
Who should apply
This course is designed for PhD candidates, postdocs, faculty, engineers, and R&D professionals across STEM and innovation-driven fields who want to apply entrepreneurial thinking to their work. It’s equally relevant for scientists and technologists in companies, labs, or research centers exploring collaboration with industry or the practical translation of research. No prior business experience or startup idea is required, just curiosity and a willingness to engage.
Eligibility requirement: Participants must be affiliated with an institution in Portugal at the time of registration and throughout the course.
Schedule (Cohort 1 · Fall 2025)
All sessions are virtual (3 hours each; total 15 hours). Sessions run from 14h to 17h (Portugal time).
- Nov 5 – Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinking
- Nov 19 – Understanding Needs & Market Contexts
- Nov 26 – Creating Value from Science & Technology
- Dec 3 – Translating Ideas: IP, Impact & Options
- Dec 10 – Communicating Ideas & Imagining Next Steps
What you’ll learn
Across five interactive sessions, participants will:
- Identify real-world opportunities from research
- Understand user needs and market gaps
- Frame value from science and technology
- Explore pathways from ideas to action (partnerships, licensing, ventures)
- Connect with peers, guests, and mentors working at the frontier of innovation
Seats & certification
- Capacity: 20–40 participants (minimum cohort size 20)
- Certification: UT Austin certificate issued upon 100% attendance
- Fees: None
Register
Registration window: Sept 23–Oct 15 (or earlier if full)
Form: here
About the instructor
Melinda (“Mellie”) Price is Executive Director for Texas Entrepreneurship at UT Austin (McCombs School of Business). A veteran educator and investor, she has founded or co-founded multiple companies and serves as a prominent leader in the Austin innovation ecosystem.
