I-Corps Sites: UNLV Lean Entrepreneurship Advancement Program

这个来自拉斯维加斯内华达大学（UNLV）的项目创建了一个创新团队站点（I-Corps Site）。I-Corps站点是nsf资助的实体，建立在大学里，其目的是培养和支持多个本地团队，将他们的技术概念转化为市场。网站提供基础设施、建议、资源、网络机会、培训和适度的资金，使团体能够将他们的工作转化为市场或成为I-Corps团队的申请人。I-Corps站点还加强地方和区域创新，并为由导师、研究人员、企业家和投资者组成的国家创新网络做出贡献。UNLV建立了精益创业推进计划（LEAP），以扩大教师、学生和社区创新的商业化。利用UNLV创业中心（CFE）、研究与经济发展部、门登霍尔创新计划（MIP）和内华达州小企业发展中心（NSBDC）的现有资源和专业知识，这项NSF I-Corps网站资助有助于确定适合过渡到市场的教师和学生创新。LEAP通过识别和支持与整个大学的学院和研究所（例如，科学、牙科学院、护理、酒店、个性化医学研究所等）相关的教师和学生，增加了创新渠道。它还为参加最近实施的拉斯维加斯精益创业项目的学生提供商业化机会。该项目部分由VentureWell项目资助，旨在帮助基于软件的企业发展，使其成为支持原型改进和/或客户开发的理想候选人。拉斯维加斯内华达大学I-Corps Site项目的实施提供了一种创新模式，可供其他拥有类似、高度多样化人口的机构采用。LEAP使酒店管理学院、理学院、牙科学院、护理学院、个性化医学研究所等学院能够参与进来，分享创业经验，这可能会导致影响该机构地理生态系统的创业公司。

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. 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.