Innovation Bootcamp — A Flexible Framework Matching Cohort Needs with Targeted Training for Improved Representation in Entrepreneurial Programs

Abstract

The University of Georgia's (UGA) Innovation Bootcamp is an intensive entrepreneurship training program designed to increase participation by under-represented groups in an already established innovation ecosystem. Ultimately, the goal is to diversify the innovation ecosystem. The eight-week Innovation Bootcamp program, piloted in the fall of 2019 with female faculty, staff, and graduate students, was developed as a focused program with a flexible, three-pronged approach that can be tailored to any target cohort. The foundational element of basic commercialization training is consistent for all groups, while the elements of skill building and community building are tailored to the specific needs of the target cohort. The program does not aim to build an alternate ecosystem for under-represented groups but, instead, provides a customized bridge of training and support to increase their participation and ultimate success in existing entrepreneurship programs, such as the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps. Based on the success of the initial pilot cohorts and the experience with women innovators, the Innovation Bootcamp has become a cornerstone program of UGA's Innovation District initiative. It is now offered twice per year and engages and supports a variety of cohorts. This tailored and cohort-specific approach is viewed as critical to building an innovation ecosystem that truly represents the diversity of the campus and the community. This manuscript details the bootcamp framework and the progress of the initial three cohorts, a total of fifty-six women. The outcomes have informed further innovation programming and led to an appreciation of the need for nuanced program delivery.