GW Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Congratulations to all of our finalists and explorer track winners in the #NewVentureCompetition! ???? OIE is incredibly proud of your dedication, and the judges were highly impressed with your virtual pitches yesterday. We can’t wait to see your progress and hear your ideas in-person for R3 and then at the award ceremony! ?? ?? All finalists and explorer track winners are listed on our NVC website - check them out via the link HERE: https://lnkd.in/gCqqfvvD

Money talks—but how do we make it work for lasting?social?change? Join us for our next workshop, Social?Innovation: The Economics of Impact, with special guest host Halimah Sadya Ouedraogo, MAS, CGHP, CEO of Ne Taba International to learn more! ?? ?? This session unpacks the?paradox of sustainability—the tension between financial survival and real impact. We’ll explore how different entities fund?social?needs, why traditional models fall short, and?practical strategies?for bridging the gap. Expect?clear, unexpected insights?and?real-world examples?that challenge the status quo. No fluff, just actionable takeaways to make budgets work for impact. Tune in virtually on Wednesday, March 26th from 3:30 - 4:30pm. ?? Sign up with the link here: https://lnkd.in/eURrJSgM

Join OIE and GW's Innovation Lab for a hands-on workshop with Erica Cusi Wortham! Discover how to quickly prototype your ideas, test assumptions, and fine-tune your product for market success in this interactive session. ?? Dr. Erica Wortham is a cultural anthropologist with an interdisciplinary practice at George Washington University that spans social science, art, design and engineering.? She supports experiential learning opportunities through the GW Innovation Center, which she also directs, with an emphasis on human- and planet-centered design, and creative problem-solving.? ??? It will take place on Monday, March 24th from 5:30 - 7pm in the Innovation Center (Tompkins Hall, M06). ?? Sign up with the link here: https://lnkd.in/eAfb4xjF

Uncover the concept of “Go-To-Market” in our next New Venture Academy workshop with host, Bob Smith!??? ?? Join the OIE to work through the components of a thoughtful strategy that includes how to select a target audience, the right channel partners, and how to market to them both! ?? It will take place next Friday, March 21st from 12:30 - 1:30pm in Duques 359. ?? Sign up with the link below!

We hope everyone is having a fantastic spring break! ?????? March is packed with a ton of great workshops at OIE - our lineup features three incredible sessions designed to help you sharpen your skills and take your ideas to the next level: ?? Go-To-Market Strategy Workshop – Learn how to craft a thoughtful strategy, identify your target audience, and choose the right channel partners. ??? Prototyping Workshop – Dive into hands-on learning with Dr. Erica Cusi Wortham and discover how to quickly prototype your ideas, test assumptions, and fine-tune your product for market success. ?? Financial Analysis & Unit Economics Workshop – Gain the skills to calculate unit costs, analyze key metrics, and refine projections for sustainable growth. ??? Check out our posts for all the details on dates, times, and locations. Don’t miss out and sign up for all on our website with the link below!

Learn the critical first steps to kickstarting your idea at our Introduction Lean Innovation workshop next week ! ???? Hosted on Friday, March 14th by Bob Smith, this short workshop teaches the necessary method that entrepreneurs use to become successful. Whether you have an innovative idea, or are curious about the fundamentals of customer discovery - join us! ?? Register with the link below!

Last Friday, our own Bob Smith held a Pitching to Win workshop for our GW entrepreneurs ?? ?? During the session, participants learned the art of storytelling and how to craft a compelling narrative that makes their business idea stand out. ?? Thank you to everyone who came - we can’t wait to see you all soon! Our next lineup of workshops will be announced shortly - stay tuned ??

Last week, OIE hosted?Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology?to take part in our U.S. Market Discovery Program!????? Throughout the week, teams gained hands-on experience conducting market research, interviewing potential partners and customers, and collaborating with experts who understand the U.S. business landscape. A special thank you to Caitlin Clouse and Anna Nagamine! Check out our photos below ??

Congratulations to all our semi-finalists for advancing to Round 2 of NVC!??? ?? ?? ?? The semi-finalist teams are now featured on our NVC website—check them out using the link here: https://lnkd.in/eWtzwMFh Our judges were impressed by your outstanding applications and innovative ideas, and we can’t wait to see your progress in Round 2! Thank you to all our amazing applicants - we're so proud of you all. ?? Please note: Round 2 applications?open Saturday, February 22nd?and close on Sunday, March 16th at 11:59 p.m.

We know you’re eagerly awaiting the R1 results tomorrow, February 21st ??, but before that, we want to take a moment to appreciate our incredible R1 judges for their time and support of our GW entrepreneurs. These are just a few of our?judges who joined us from all around the world, representing locations from Brazil to Cameroon and California. A huge thank you from OIE to our judges—we truly appreciate you ??