Take Your Venture from Idea to Market
Getting your startup venture up and running is a significant first step for any budding entrepreneur, but the work is far from over once you’ve got an idea and a team to help create it. Taking your startup from idea to market requires a different set of skills, and the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship has the program to help ease that transition.
We offer all students, alumni, and faculty at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ a three-phase program (Discover, Iterate, Accelerate) designed to move at your pace and on your progress. Whether you're just starting with an idea or already gaining traction, you'll unlock each phase by completing key milestones and deliverables. Along the way, you'll get access to curated resources, 1:1 coaching, and a community of founders building bold solutions to real problems.
Those that reach phase 3 will have the opportunity to pitch for $50,000 in funding at our flagship Pitch Tank Competition!
No matter what phase you're in, we're here to support you on your journey!
- Discover:
You’re in this phase if you have an idea but need help refining what job you're helping your customers accomplish. In this phase, you’ll define a clear and meaningful problem to solve and begin forming a team to pursue the idea (if needed). - Iterate:
In this phase, your goal is to gain traction by putting your idea in front of real users or customers, gathering feedback, and evolving your offering based on what you learn. You should demonstrate early signs of problem-solution fit and make tangible progress on your MVP. - Accelerate:
At this phase, you’re focused on building an investable company. At this stage, you and your team are demonstrating consistent traction and preparing to engage investors. You’ll spend time sharpening your pitch with the ultimate goal of moving from a promising startup to a fundable, scalable venture.
The Kaplan Institute will be accepting applications for the Kaplan Pitch Tank competition soon! Check back later in the semester to learn how to apply.
Eligibility Requirements
Your startup must be in phase 3 (Accelerate) in order to be considered to pitch in the competition.
Submission Process
The final deadline to submit your application for the spring 2026 competition will be announced soon.
Questions
If you have any questions, please contact the Kaplan Institute at startupstudio@illinoistech.edu. We are happy to provide guidance with any portion of the application. Good luck!
- An Opportunity for Personal Growth: This experience will help you understand what gets you excited to get up in the morning and how to rally a team to build something you care about.
- Put Your Knowledge into Practice: The skill set that you’ll gain from this experience will help you gain professional job skills, regardless of whether you choose to pursue entrepreneurship.
- You’ll gain access to a network of professionals who are aligned with your interests.