Award Abstract # 1547526
I-Corps Sites: UNLV Lean Entrepreneurship Advancement Program
| NSF Org: | TI Translational Impacts |
| Recipient: | |
| Initial Amendment Date: | January 13, 2016 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | March 12, 2018 |
| Award Number: | 1547526 |
| Award Instrument: | Continuing Grant |
| Program Manager: | Behrooz Shirazi bshirazi@nsf.gov (703)292-8343 TI Translational Impacts TIP Dir for Tech, Innovation, & Partnerships |
| Start Date: | January 15, 2016 |
| End Date: | December 31, 2019(Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $255,680.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $255,680.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: | FY 2017 = $94,240.00 FY 2018 = $94,240.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: | 4505 S MARYLAND PKWY LAS VEGAS NV US 89154-9900 (702)895-1357 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: | |
| Primary Place of Performance: | 4505 S. Maryland Parkway Las Vegas NV US 89154-1055 |
| Primary Place of Performance Congressional District: | |
| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): | |
| Parent UEI: | |
| NSF Program(s): | I-Corps-Sites |
| Primary Program Source: | 01001718DBNSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01001819DBNSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
| Program Reference Code(s): | |
| Program Element Code(s): | |
| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.041 |
ABSTRACT I-Corps Sites also strengthen innovation locally and regionally and contribute to the National Innovation Network of mentors, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors. UNLV establishes the Lean Entrepreneurship Advancement Program (LEAP) to broaden commercialization of faculty, student and community innovations. Utilizing the existing resources and expertise of the UNLV Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE), the Division of Research and Economic Development, the Mendenhall Innovation Program (MIP) and the Nevada Small Business Development center (NSBDC), this NSF I-Corps Site grant helps identify faculty and student innovations suitable for transition into the marketplace. The LEAP increases the pipeline of innovations by identifying and supporting faculty and students associated with colleges and Institutes across the university (e.g., Sciences, Dental School, Nursing, Hospitality, the Institute of Personalized Medicine, and others). It also provides commercialization opportunities for students participating in the recently implemented Lean Startup Las Vegas program. This program, partially funded by a VentureWell Programs Grant, is designed to aid the development of software based businesses, making them ideal candidates for funding that supports prototype refinement and/or customer development. The implementation of an I-Corps Site program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas provides a model of innovation that can be adopted by other institutions that enjoy similar, highly diverse populations. The LEAP enables the participation of colleges such as the College of Hotel Administration, the College of Sciences, the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the Institute of Personalized Medicine, and others, in a shared entrepreneurial experience that may lead to startups that impact this institution's geographic ecosystem.
This project, from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), creates an Innovation Corps Site (I-Corps Site). I-Corps Sites are NSF-funded entities established at universities whose purpose is to nurture and support multiple, local teams to transition their technology concepts into the marketplace. Sites provide infrastructure, advice, resources, networking opportunities, training and modest funding to enable groups to transition their work into the marketplace or into becoming I-Corps Team applicants.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
We established the UNLV Lean Entrepreneurship Advancement Program (LEAP) in 2016 with four primary goals. Our first goal was to both enhance the highly successful collaboration between the Lee Business School and the Howard Hughes College of Engineering, and to launch new collaborations with other colleges, centers, and institutes to increase the number of projects in the UNLV technology commercialization pipeline. Our second goal was to promote the use of Lean Launchpad (LLP) principles through for credit classes, workshops, and programs to increase commercialization activities among faculty and students. Our third goal was to leverage the unique Las Vegas entrepreneurial ecosystem, and commercialize technologies that could help diversify the economic base of southern Nevada. Finally, our fourth goal was to increase the number of underrepresented participants contributing to UNLV entrepreneurial activities.
The I-Corps Site award was instrumental in helping the LEAP accomplish its important goals. The LEAP team members now collaborate with over 15 different organizations across campus. These organizations include academic centers, research institutes and student groups. In cooperation with the UNLV Office of Economic Development, the Troesh Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Mendenhall Innovation Program play crucial roles in furthering these collaborative efforts. Over 50 I-Corps Site teams have participated in UNLV commercialization activities. More than 20 Lean Launchpad trained instructors teach these principles to over 500 business, engineering and hospitality students. Some courses taught by these instructors include the commercialization of existing UNLV intellectual property, and some I-Corps Site teams have gone on to license these technologies. The LEAP instructors have developed new classes that involve engineering and business students working collaboratively to commercialize senior design class projects. Community mentors from diverse industries now work with I-Corps teams to increase UNLV commercialization efforts. The newly opened UNLV Harry Reid Research Park provides continued support for the I-Corps Site teams by providing a bridge between local industry and academia to support commercialization. UNLV's Rebel Forge now provides continued financial support for I-Corps Site Teams. The student run UNLV Rebel Venture Fund provides another source of funding for companies created by the I-Corps Site teams. UNLV is a minority serving institution ranked as one of the most diverse campuses in the United States. As a result, well over 50% of our I-Corps Site participants come from underrepresented groups.
Last Modified: 04/13/2020
Modified by: AndrewHardin
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