Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program | Houston Center SBDC

This immersive program equips you to critically assess, design, and launch innovation-driven ventures. Whether you’re spinning out a deep-tech startup from a university lab, developing a new software platform, creating a breakthrough restaurant concept, patenting an invention, or placing a product on store shelves, this four-part series is for you. You’ll learn to craft a compelling value proposition, chart early-stage funding paths, safeguard intellectual property, and build a focused go-to-market strategy for sustainable growth. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays, August 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2025.

Highlights:

• Craft and validate your innovative business concept
• IP Day: interactive session with an intellectual-property attorney covering patents, trademarks, and licensing
• Frameworks for protecting and commercializing intellectual property
• Primer on navigating SBIR/STTR and additional early-stage funding resources
• Customer discovery, go-to-market planning, and securing initial traction

This series is intended for deep-tech entrepreneurs commercializing inventions, aspiring founders, small-business owners, and innovation leaders who aim to transform bold ideas—hardware, software, products or services—into viable, scalable ventures.

(SBIR/STTR Counseling Eligibility) Graduates of this program are encouraged to finish the Wendy Kennedy Design Your Business Program through its online platform and receive advisory services from SBDC Business Advisors. Graduates are eligible for a "getting started" and a "draft feedback" SBIR/STTR counseling session through Vision2Venture.

Presenter:

Robert Johnson, Director, SBDC Vision2Venture

It is imperative to add sbdctraining@uh.edu to your approved senders' list to be able to receive event confirmations for SBDC events.

Please Note:

Each person attending an event must have their own account. Multiple people may not register under one account.

The SBDC reserves the right to cancel a class for insufficient enrollment, weather emergencies, and other unforeseen circumstances. Should a cancellation occur, we will use the email you provided to contact you.

Preregistration is highly recommended. If an event is canceled or postponed and you have not preregistered, we will not be able to contact you.

If you choose to register at the door, you will need your mobile device to complete your registration otherwise you will not be allowed to attend.

Satisfactory meeting room temperatures are difficult to maintain. Always bring a sweater or jacket to ensure comfort.

No children under the age of 16 are allowed in the workshop.

Only service animals allowed - If you need to bring a service animal with you to a workshop please contact us ahead of time.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the UH SBDC at (713) 752-8488 for accommodations, or if you have questions about this class.