UNCW CIE Idea Test Lab –

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The Idea Test Lab is a cohort based, 4-week program designed to create an inclusive pipeline of high-growth entrepreneurs and startups in Southeastern North Carolina and to build resilience in founders. These two cohorts in early 2025 will include a Women in Tech/Female Founders cohort, as well as a BlueTech/ClimateTech focused cohort. 

Idea Test Lab is an early-stage entrepreneurship course to enable founders to determine if there is business value in an idea. Each of the four sessions will focus on different entrepreneurial design topics such as value proposition, identifying the customer's problem, competition, and market analysis. 

This course outline provides a structured approach to guiding participants through the crucial stages of startup ideation, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of market dynamics, customer needs, and competition. The cohort will wrap up with a Demo Day where cohort members will have an opportunity to pitch to win up to $5k, with $10k in total prizes. 

Qualifications 

• Early-stage (ideation stage) company  
• High impact technology  
• Relevant to cohort technology sector 
• Able to attend the 4 sessions and the Demo Day  

Time Commitment 

Four weeks - One 3-hour session per week for four weeks, followed by a Demo Day. If you cannot make the sessions in person, there will be a hybrid option, but Demo Day is in person. 

What’s in it for YOU? 

• Connections to a network of UNCW community and ecosystem partners  
• CIE coworking membership for the duration of 2025
• Mentorship and guidance; access to CIE mentors 
• Validation of ideas  
• Identify value proposition 
• Cohort experience – joining a cohort allows you to learn from experiences of other entrepreneurs and share challenges 
• Post-program support 

WOMEN IN TECH applications accepted until February 28, 2025

BLUETECH/CLIMATETECH applications accepted until April 25, 2025

If you have any questions, please contact CIE Program Manager, Lydia Thomas, at bjorklundl@uncw.edu.

Apply with the form below!