Innovation to Market

Program Overview

What does it take to turn a scientist into a CEO, or an engineer into an entrepreneur? Has the struggling economy made you consider striking out on your own? If so, take heed: Despite passion, drive and an abundance of good ideas, half of all new businesses fail within the first few years. Often entrepreneurs lack the experience and tools required to turn an opportunity into a competitive and sustainable business.

In response, UC San Diego’s Rady Center for Executive Education and Entrepreneur Development Program are joining forces to offer Innovation to Market, an evening program designed to help you analyze your entrepreneurial vision and create a thoroughly researched and tested business plan.

This hands-on, interactive program shows you how to apply management principles, technology strategies, market opportunity assessments, value propositions, business models and financing strategies to determine your decision to create and launch your business. Throughout the process, participants receive one-on-one business coaching. At the conclusion of the course, a select panel of industry and subject matter experts provide insights on each business plan.

Innovation to Market offers an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the expertise of a world-class university and veteran entrepreneurs as you assess and develop your business venture. This program utilizes FastTrac® NewVenture™, an award-winning, comprehensive package of entrepreneurship training materials developed by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Over 300,000 entrepreneurs worldwide have already found success through the proven, practical benefits of FastTrac programs. Let the Rady School help you find that same success.

The ROI of this Course

The average cost to incorporate a new business in California is estimated to be $2,800, but incorporation is not always necessary until a certain stage of growth.  If the only thing you get out of this course is help determining the appropriate business structure, that could cover the tuition cost from the start.  In addition, startup consultants charge between $1,500 and $2,000 just to help write your business plan.  This course offers that help plus individual coaching, peer-to-peer networking and useful course materials.