Innovator's Academy
Innovator's Academy
The Innovator’s Academy (IA) is an extra-curricular, multi-level program designed to equip students, faculty, and researchers with the skills, mindset, and confidence to navigate each stage of the Innovator’s Journey.
Whether you attend in person, join virtually, or watch recordings, Innovator’s Academy is built to fit into a busy schedule. This program empowers anyone from all disciplines to bring ideas to life and apply innovative thinking to their careers, research, and everyday problem-solving.

Why Participate?

Learn & Practice
Gain practical tools and hands-on experience in the Lean Startup methodology to turn ideas into real ventures

Build Skills & Mindset
Develop the entrepreneurial skills and growth mindset to tackle challenges with confidence in any field or career

Connect & Access
Expand your network and unlock exclusive opportunities within the GW innovation community
Learn and Earn
Structured in two progressive levels, IA offers a hands-on experience where participants earn points by attending hybrid workshops and mentor meetings. As you progress through each level, you unlock exclusive resources, opportunities, and deeper engagement within GW’s innovation ecosystem.
- Point System
The Innovator’s Academy (IA) is structured across two levels:
IA 101 takes place during the Fall semester
IA 102 takes place during the Spring semester
Each level requires a minimum of 6.0 points, broken down as follows:
Required:
- 3 Core Sessions – 1.0 point each (3.0 points total)
- 2 Mentor-in-Residence Meetings – 0.5 points each (1.0 point total)
- 1 Elective Session – 0.5 points total
- + ANY combination of Core Sessions, Electives, or Mentor Meetings to reach the 6.0-point minimum
Important: You must meet all of the individual requirements above in order to count toward the 6.0 point total level completion. Extra points do not carry over between levels.
How to Earn Points:
Live Attendance: Stay for the majority of the in-person or virtual session.
Recording Option: Visit the IA recordings page to view past IA sessions and earn points through completing a short survey.After each session, you’ll receive a personalized progress email so you can easily track how many points you've earned and how close you are to completing your current level.
- Perks Unlocked
Thanks to OIE’s partnerships with campus collaborators and external organizations, participants who complete each level of the Innovator’s Academy gain early access to programs, resources and advancement opportunities across GW’s innovation ecosystem.
Complete One Level
Unlock the following benefits:
- 0.5-point bonus applied to one round of the New Venture Competition (NVC)
- Access to first-tier in-kind prizes (non-cash, OIE-sourced)
Complete Both Levels
All of the above, plus:
- Priority referrals to National I-Corps and the Technology Commercialization Office (TCO) (for qualifying technologies)
- Full access to all in-kind prizes with priority selection
- Opportunities to represent GW and OIE at speaking engagements and external conferences
- Recognition in OIE media, including press releases, social media, and marketing spotlights
Topics Covered
Explore the topics covered in each level and sign up for our upcoming sessions.
Innovator's Academy 101
- Value Proposition
- Customer Discovery
- Pitching & Storytelling
- Team Building & Leadership
- Personal branding & LinkedIn hacks
- Mindset & Founder Resilience / Risk Assessment
- Customer Segments
- Job Process Mapping Fundamentals
Innovator's Academy 102
- Lean Marketing and Market Testing
- Advanced Pitching & Storytelling
- Startup Finances
- Go-to-Market Strategy and Product Roadmap
- Financial Analysis and Unit Economics
- Prototyping
- Patenting/Licensing (IP)
- Legal & Formation/ Incorporation
Upcoming Innovator Academy Sessions

October 10, 2025 - 12:30 PM
Highlighting Your Unique Edge: Effective Value Proposition

October 14, 2025 - 12:30 PM
Path to the Pitch: A Panel Discussion with NVC Alumni

October 17, 2025 - 12:00 PM
Introduction to Lean Innovation - October 2025