 Written By: Elyse Ball The first few weeks of 2022 have been invigorating for some and agonizing for others. 2022 promises to be the kind of year that yet again reminds us that there isn’t and probably never has been a “new normal,” that there are innumerable parts of the status quo that can benefit from being shaken up, and that creative people working together can accomplish extraordinary things. It’s also the kind of year that forces us to think not just about what we do, but why we do. For UARF, our North Star has always been to generate value for creators, innovators, researchers, and problem-solvers through quality entrepreneurship programs and startup support services. In 2022, we’re putting some specific goals and numbers to that aim. Our goals are:
What does this mean for you? First, if you haven’t already participated in UARF’s Starting Line or I-Corps programs to vet your newest technology, product or service idea, we’ll look forward to welcoming you into our expanded programs. More than 300 teams have participated in Starting Line and I-Corps, leading to 100 startup companies and $13 million in funding raised. We really believe in the value of our program methodology, which is always centered on understanding your customer. One I-Corps graduate recently told us: “Overall, my experience with I-Corps has been overwhelmingly positive. [I-Corps] offers a tremendous amount of hands-on learning to equip potential start-ups with the knowledge to understand whatever market they wish to penetrate.” Remember, even if you’ve participated in UARF’s programs with a previous idea, you are always welcome back to explore new ideas.  Second, if you’re already working with UARF on a startup, we’re interested to hear what milestones you’re attacking next. Your goals for 2022 are our mission as well. We look forward to brainstorming how we can help you reach them. We’re also ready to help if you aren’t sure what to do next. Just email uaicorps@gmail.com and request a meeting with Nick or I to discuss where you are and what next steps to prioritize. Finally, we’ll be doing more than we ever have to communicate the full range of programs and support services UARF provides. We’ll be testing out new services we’re considering offering – like accounting advice and marketing assistance – by including monthly giveaways of specific support services in this email newsletter. We’ll also highlight any underutilized services we offer, so our newsletter readers can take full advantage of UARF’s support. If there are services you wish we had, feel free to reach out and let us know. As always, UARF judges our success by the value we create for the people, university and community we serve. You are our “why.” We look forward to striving to achieve more together in 2022. 
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
RSS Feed