Jumpstarting Quantum Technology Commercialization: Test the Market Potential of Your Innovation

Teams from across the US are invited to apply for the Jumpstart workshop to test the commercial viability of their quantum technology. (Image credit: iStock.com/agsandrew)

Offered by the Midwest I-Corps Node, in partnership with the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Duality, the Jumpstart workshop will help teams explore the commercial viability of quantum technologies, including hardware and software solutions as well as quantum-enabling technologies.

Based on the Lean LaunchPad approach, the workshop is specifically designed to empower innovators to test the potential of their ideas and envision how they could play out in the real world. All accepted teams will receive a micro-grant from the National Science Foundation and personalized support from experienced instructors.

>> Applications are due Friday, October 22. Apply, here.

“By participating in this intensive customer discovery program with other quantum focused, faculty, researchers, graduate students, and innovators, teams will discover how to translate their quantum technology into applications that solve real-world problems that someone is willing to pay for. Armed with this knowledge, teams will significantly increase the likelihood of being accepted into the next Duality Accelerator cohort and be enabled to achieve the maximum company growth, acceleration, and follow on funding,” said John Thode, a lead instructor from the Midwest Node of the NSF National I-Corps program and clinical professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Past Jumpstart teams have successfully gone on to participate in the NSF’s National I-Corps program and secure SBIR/STTR funding.

Other benefits of participating:

• Gain valuable insight to inform the next steps in your research and/or development
• Develop network connections and receive mentoring from industry experts and entrepreneurs
• Develop the entrepreneurial mindset and toolset needed to pursue additional opportunities

“The Jumpstart workshop will provide an incredibly valuable experience for early-stage quantum technologies to engage directly with industry stakeholders. We are excited to leverage the resources of the Midwest I-Corps Node so that researchers can more effectively validate their fit in the ever-expanding quantum ecosystem,” added Ellen Zatkowski, who manages the Polsky I-Corps program. “We hope that this will be the first step for teams interested in participating in other commercialization and venture support resources, including Duality.”

Questions? Contact Ellen Zatkowski.