The transfer of technology and knowledge between academia and the market is one of the priorities of the UT Austin Portugal Program. Actively participating in forming an innovative ecosystem in Portugal is, therefore, a mission that the initiative takes very seriously. With the aim of materializing these intentions, TechLaunch has been created, a groundbreaking, hands-on online advanced training program inspired by the successful NSF I-CorpsTM program. Applications are open until November 18.
Through this course, participants are expected to carry out deep customer discovery that will allow them to explore the commercial viability of the two deep technology solutions and spur innovation in the marketplace. As such, a bootcamp context – which is intentionally geared towards simulating the time- and cash-constrained environments typical of start-up operations – is open to all entrepreneurs affiliated with organizations in Portugal.
“The world of startups is incredibly competitive. In a digital environment where competition for the best ideas is lived by the second, it is essential to adjust products and services to market needs – for example, through real-word insight into customer bases. Through TechLaunch, participants will, among other things, learn how to adjust their proposed business model based on market needs,” explains Marco Bravo, Co-Principal Investigator and Executive Director of the Program at UT.
Throughout this experience, participants will be organized into teams (their constitution can be consulted here). They will take part in initiatives that invite them to solve problems and turn their ideas into potential businesses. The teams will also conduct customer discovery interviews to gain real-world insight into their customer bases and learn how to adjust their proposed business models based on market needs.
TechLaunch: From invention to impact will happen between December 10, 2024, and February 21, 2025 comprising a pre-launch event, workshops, webinars, and a closing event. You may find more details about the program here.
