Welcome back to another edition of Park Points, a quick recap of news, information, and events relevant to KU Innovation Park’s mission and vision.
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Discovering your ideal customers
Listening to your customers is how you’ll ultimately create value for them. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, customer discovery is vital to a startup’s success. That’s why the Park’s next lunch and learn is focused on customer-centric strategies.
- Join the Park on August 28 at 11:30 a.m. to hear best practices for customer discovery to learn and iterate quickly.
- Customer discovery is vital to a startup’s ability to provide value, and not just for the early problem-validation stage.
- Serial entrepreneur, two-time startup founder, and startup consultant Jaime Gassmann will share tangible tools and approaches, like the art of asking questions and lean experimentation in pursuit of problem and business model validation.
- This event is free, but registration is required as lunch will be provided. You can register here.
Get prepped for the August lunch and learn by checking out this starter’s guide to customer discovery from Harvard Business School.
Find funding fast
Funding challenges are often a fundamental hurdle for entrepreneurs. The Park is here to help. Here’s a list of upcoming funding opportunities to boost your startup.
- SBIR Ignite is a pilot initiative for high-growth, product-oriented entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses to use NASA as a stepping stone toward commercial success. A Phase I investment can be up to $150,000. Deadline: July 30
- The EPA opened its SBIR solicitation to develop novel environmental technologies. Topics include clean water, air quality, homeland security, circular economy and safer chemicals. Deadline: August 21
- The Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) Open Voucher Call through the Department of Energy provides opportunities to receive technical assistance from researchers at DOE National Laboratory facilities. Up to 21 teams will receive up to $10,000 to work with one of eight national labs. Deadline: October 3
- The Department of Energy released the Phase I SBIR/STTR topics for FY 2025. The list includes advanced scientific computing, biology, environmental research and more.
- The Pure Pitch Rally in KC is accepting applications from early-stage founders across tech industries. Click here to apply to pitch.
Resource of the week: business model
If you need to create or refine your business model, check out the Business Model Canvas from Strategyzer. This free resource can help you describe, design, challenge, invent, and pivot your business model. Need more personalized support? Let our business services team know.
What we’re reading
- TechCrunch: Valuations of startups have quietly rebounded to all-time highs. Some investors say the slump is over.
- World Economic Forum: Three technologists on AI and scientific discovery
- Life Science Leader: Burn out or busting out – harnessing organizational energy
Have news and notes to share? Let Lindsey Slater, vice president of strategic communications, know by clicking here.