A Global Leader in Entrepreneurship Training
The George Washington University's office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (GW OIE) has served in the National Science Foundation's I-Corps program since its inception, and was one of only a handful of institutions selected to be initial I-Corps grant awardees in 2013. In January 2022, GW again became a partner institution in the new NSF I-Corps Hub, advancing innovation in the U.S.'s Mid Atlantic region, and expanding the societal impact of commercialization.
By breaking down entrepreneurship into concrete and specific milestones, the I-Corps curricula promotes techniques which identify customer segments, validate value propositions, and build successful go-to-market strategies.
Powerful Results
GW OIE has conducted 45+ international programs with teams from Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, China, Georgia, India, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Sudan.
GW's curricula is tailored to audiences interested in either entering the U.S. market, or in applying commercialization methods in their home markets. For several years, GW has worked with the National Research Foundation of Korea to build the Korean national equivalent of the I-Corps program among South Korean universities.
Metrics
1,500+ startup teams trained (2010-2022)
Global Reach
19 countries served
Investment
$1.4 billion in follow-on financing
Capacity Building
200+ instructors & mentors trained internationally
U.S. Access
300+ teams introduced to the U.S. market
Ecosystem Building
3 regional startup ecosystems built (VA, DC, South Korea)
U.S. Market Entry Study
Korea Innovation Center, Tech Frontier Program
- Since 2016, 60-85 teams trained each year in Washington, DC
- 8 South Korean research universities represented
- Exposes teams to the U.S. market and its unique characteristics
- Helps teams establish connections to U.S. entities and customers
- Includes training of South Korean instructors and mentors
Mentoring Philosophy & Culture
At GW OIE, our mentors never judge a startup idea itself. Ideas will morph and pivot as founders learn to be attuned to market signals. Over time, this produces more agile, better prepared startup teams.
GW OIE doesn't pick unicorns on behalf of the program - we train entrepreneurs to build unicorns.
Milestone-Based Help
Our milestone-based tracking structure both rewards continued perseverance by a startup team, allowing them to proceed at their own pace, and places value on a mentor's time.
Long-Term Support
Successful startups are developed over years, not weeks. GW's commitment to venture development reflects that. We provide consistent mentorship support throughout the years-long process.
Early-Stage Networks
GW OIE and our partners host monthly community Meetups, which bring together hundreds of founders, mentors, and investors for information sharing, networking, and skills training.
Global Entrepreneurship Network
Ecosystem Development
Lean Startup Trainings
Instructor & Mentor Training
Custom trainings in Lean Startup methodology and GW's structured mentoring with ongoing support and integration into GW's international community of mentors.
"Soft Landing" Support
Access to GW-Linked facilities and services; Guidance and support for navigating the FDA or other regulatory hurdles; Exposure to top venture capital resources in the U.S.; Assistance with creating legal entities and partnerships; And assistance with visas.
Support Summarized
Working with our international partners, GW OIE offers the below support:
Mentorship
Our mentors can be deputized to help build Lean Startup mentorship networks abroad.
Training
Our U.S. certified I-Corps instructors can provide commercialization training to scientists, researchers, and startups.
Community
All our program alumni are given access to our Lean Startup/I-Corps network of instructors, mentors, investors, and partners.
Sector Expertise
We offer specialized Industry Advisory Panels (IAPs) for more advanced teams seeking sector specific expertise.
U.S. Discovery
We can provide assistance regarding the American consumer & customer discovery, U.S. operations, U.S. regulatory systems, and U.S. law.
Visas
The Global EIR program places startup founders at universities, where they become eligible for an H-1B visa.