Accelerate Your Idea. Test Fast. Learn What Matters.
Have an early-stage idea, rough prototype, or emerging MVP? The AI Venture Discovery Pilot is a fast-track pilot program designed to help you glean potential customer insights, explore business models, and evaluate your idea’s market potential. You’ll receive structured support, mentor guidance, and feedback to help you determine whether to pivot, partner, or push forward.
We don’t wait for perfect. We help you build, test, and learn—fast.
The goal: shorten the time from idea to real market insight and identify your next steps.
Who Should Apply?
This program is for researchers, students, and campus innovators who:
- Have a testable idea: sketch, prototype, storyboard, or basic MVP
- Are ready to build lean and test quickly with real users or use cases
- Want to explore the market opportunity, business model, and potential next steps
- Are curious about AI’s application to real problems—across industries
- Want to assess whether their idea could become a fundable opportunity
Program Format & Approach
- Fast-paced, mostly virtual, and built to fit your summer schedule
- Educational sessions on rapid validation, market fit, and AI venture strategy
- Access to mentors, alumni, and industry reviewers
- Final Review Salon to share progress and get investor-style feedback
What You’ll Get
- Guidance to rapidly test your assumptions
- Help framing your idea for investor or partner conversations
- Feedback on market viability and product potential
- Insights that help you decide whether to pivot, pause, or push forward
Your Outcome
At the end of the summer, you’ll walk away with:
- A clearer sense of your idea’s real-world potential
- Validation materials you can use to attract collaborators or support
- A rapid learning experience that could take months elsewhere
Program Timeline
- Applications: Thank you for your interest! We have our summer cohort in place and will run this program again in the Fall.
- Kickoff: June 2, 2025
- Weekly Virtual Check-Ins + Learning Opportunities
- Final Review Salon: August 18, 2025 at 1403 University Ave. Details:
Venture Discovery Salon + Networking Reception
August 18 | 1403 University Avenue
Join us for a celebration of student-led innovation and real-world experimentation.From 2:00–3:30 PM, the invitation-only Venture Discovery Salon will spotlight select student teams presenting early-stage ideas to mentors and industry advisors for feedback.
At 3:30 PM, doors open for a public networking reception co-hosted with Discovery to Product (D2P)—a chance to meet the teams, explore emerging tech concepts, and connect with entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation leaders. Light refreshments provided. No RSVP needed.