Incubator
De-risking innovations and startups
Boilermakers are never alone in their persistent pursuit. We’re here to help you turn small steps into giant leaps. Do you have an idea for the next game changing/life changing/market disrupting technology?
You’re in the right place. Incubator is here to de-risk and prepare your startups and ideas for scale.
Programs

Firestarter
A cohort-based program for founders looking to start a company in the next 3 -9 months. We teach founders processes to clarify the problem they’re solving and the value they are delivering – from the customer’s perspective. Working within a cohort to define problem-market fit, each founder or team will develop elements of their business model in each workshop and present to the cohort for feedback and pressure testing of both their ideas and presentation skills. Firestarter is the first step in derisking your startup.

Market Validation
You have a clearly defined problem and you have developed a set of hypotheses to test regarding your customer. In this program, you will learn to conduct customer discovery interviews, perform the interviews, and share the results with the cohort. The point of this is to validate that the customer you think you will be serving has the problem that you think you are solving for them. In addition, you will learn about the Business Model Canvas, technology development roadmaps, and building your team.

Business Model Development
Get down to the details of your startup plan. Who is on the team, and who do you still need? What’s the revenue model look like? Will the customer buy the product? At a price that makes for a sustainable business? What’s the regulatory pathway? How will you get to manufacturing? What legal structure will the business entity have? What do the initial financial models for the business look like? If you have determined through Firestarter and Market Validation that it makes sense to start a company, this is your next step (or set of steps)!
Monthly Events
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- June 13, 2023
The Mix – Monthly Networking Event
June 13, 2023 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Nine Irish Brothers, West Lafayette, 119 Howard Ave, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USAMix with industry partners, park tenants, startups, and mentors all in one place.
Appetizers are on us. Drinks are on you.
- June 14, 2023
Elevate Ventures Roadshow Stop at Purdue University
June 14, 2023 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration, 101 Foundry Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USAReconnect with Elevate Ventures contacts and meet new ones eager to chat and find ways to add value to entrepreneurs and the startup ecosystem. If you’re currently operating an innovation-driven company, considering starting one, or are a supporter of startups, join us for lunch and networking. We hope to see you there!
Joining from Elevate Ventures:
- Kristin Eilenberg, Life Science and Healthcare Entrepreneur-in-Residence
- Mark Gramelspacher, Hardtech Entrepreneur-in-Residence
- Cy Megnin, Software Entrepreneur-in-Residence
- Titi Obasanya, Minorities (Elevate Me) and Software Entrepreneur-in-Residence
- Jacob Schpok, Partner
- Erica Schweyer, COO
- Matt Tyner, Partner
- and others
Contact Our Team!
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