Educate: WHIN Academy
Dates: March 27 - May 15, 2025
The WHIN Academy is an 8-week experiential entrepreneurial training program designed to provide participants with an introduction to the processes required to take an idea from concept to product or service in the market. Each week participants hear presentations from experts and experienced entrepreneurs on various aspects of transforming ideas into a startup company. Participants will work in teams facilitated by an experienced mentor who will guide them through customer discovery and the development of a Go -to-Market strategy for a new product concept.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own team and product ideas that they are interested in advancing, but this is not a requirement. Those who do not have an idea will have the opportunity to join a team with a concept and will experience the same experiential learning opportunity. This provides an opportunity for startups to find additional team members and individuals to identify startups they may want to explore joining.
There are no exams or grades. During the last session of the program, each team will present their business concept to a group of real-world investors. Presentations are judged by a panel of investors with recognition and awards presented to the winning teams.
WHIN Academy
Dates: March 27 - May 15, 2025
The WHIN Academy is modeled after several nationally recognized programs that have empowered thousands of individuals to advance their knowledge and skills helping them to advance in their personal and professional life. Join us for an amazing journey.
- WHIN Academy Program Learning Objectives:
- Gain a basic understanding of how to start a company, and the landscape of the entrepreneurial ecosystem
- Expand awareness of opportunities, resources, and networks available for startup companies
- Gain new perspectives from discussions with entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, and experts across a broad range of technical and business fields
- Experience the technology commercialization process in a safe and supportive environment while working with a team to develop a plan to transform an innovative technology into a commercially-viable product or service
- Gain confidence to pursue leadership roles in technology-based companies
- Develop skills in working effectively in a team, creating Go-to-Market strategy, and delivering an investor pitch
- WHIN Academy Program Expectations of Participant:
- Attend a minimum of 7 out of 8 sessions (attendance will be taken at each session) in order to be eligible for program rewards and recognition
- Willingness to devote time and effort outside of the program sessions to conduct research, share findings, discuss strategies, and meet with the team as needed
- Commitment to complete all assigned work, both during and outside of the eight scheduled program sessions
- Maintain a positive, professional attitude
- Demonstrate courtesy, respect, and helpfulness toward the team mentor, other team members, training facilitators and all others participating in the program
- WHIN Academy Program Expectations of Teams:
- Conduct customer discovery to gain an understanding of the requirements to transform team’s concept into a commercially viable product or service
- Develop and submit a Go-to-Market strategy that, at a minimum:
- Identifies the most promising target market(s) applications for the product or service
- Describes the superiority or competitive advantage of the product or service over existing and competing products already in the marketplace
- Outlines the sales and marketing strategy
- Defines the major milestones (e.g., product testing, regulatory approvals) that must be met for product development and commercialization and associated timelines
- Estimates the costs of development and commercialization, as well as the potential profitability of the product and the time it will take to reach profitability
- Describes the type of management team, human resources, and company structure that the startup venture will need in order to develop and commercialize the technology
- Create an investor presentation based on the Go-to-Market strategy developed by the team and select one team member to deliver the presentation on behalf of the team