STEM researchers—the engines of innovation

Innovation2Market provides teams of STEM researchers with a proven set of tools, skills, processes and templates to identify and explore options for the best market for initial entry and then to build and validate a Business Case for the best market.

The outcome from Stage 2 is a Business Case with a clear go/no-go decision to pursue commercialization in the targeted markets that maximizes reward and minimizes risk for commercial success. This serves as the foundation for a Business Model, Go-to-Market Plan, Financials and a Funding Plan in Stage 3.

Lens of the Market Stage 2 ensures teams produce a competitive product market gap analysis with specs for a minimum viable product, validated value proposition and value chain-based market structure analysis, and an R&D plan aligned with market needs.

Innovation2Market

An invention is not an innovation, and an innovation is not a needed product until the market says it is!

Wanting customers in a market to use your innovative product does not mean they will. Identifying the value required by customers in each market is key.

Lens of the Market ensures that your inventions are the basis of valuable innovations, as defined by the market. And value and opportunity are created when you validate market demand for your innovation with the unique STEM-intensive process, tools, templates and guidance Lens of the Market provides.

Learn more about continuing the journey! Check out the video.

DOWNLOAD information on the Lens of the Market Program

The Details

Who participates?
1. Teams of 3-5 STEM professionals working on research together who are interested in translating their research into innovations (no business plan or skills needed!)
How many teams can participate per workshop?
1. Up to 4 teams of 5 participants per team
How long is the workshop?
1. 3-6 months, depending on the organization
Who are your instructors?
1. A team of experienced professionals with a track record of successful technology commercialization in start-ups and the Fortune 100.
What does the Stage 2 workshop cover?
1. The workshop starts with a pre-workshop analysis of the research by the facilitators and is comprised of three interwoven components over a 3-6 month period. This duration can be specified by the requesting organization.
What are the outcomes?
1. - Market gap analysis and technical validation for innovations using proven methods
  - Selection of prioritized, market focused innovations based two levels of market and technical analysis – Quickscreen and Deep Dive
  - Actionable R&D plans coupled to prioritized market requirements
  - Skill by team members on what is required for market focused successful commercialization

**Lens of the Market Stage 2 helps build a validated Business Case—the foundation for a Business Model, Go-to-Market Plan, financial and funding plan.**

Format

Lens of the Market Stage 2 is available in two effective and proven formats. Select a hybrid combination of face-to-face and remote or totally remote- you choose what is best for your organization.

Pre-work: Analysis by the Facilitators
Facilitators immerse themselves in the aims and research situation of each of the participating teams and adapt the materials to the development stage and knowledge of the host organization and the teams.
Component 1: Initial Identification of Research Applications & Markets
The program kicks-off either with a 3-day intensive, in-person workshop or a totally remote format over 5 half days. Both formats provide continuous interactive learning, synthesis and presentations by the teams supported by templates, breakout sessions and a full training process with facilitators who are STEM professionals with a track record of successful commercial products from bench to market.
Component 2: Market Prioritization and Validation
The next 5+ months is structured in a series of work shown in the Figure which includes over 12 tailored videos aligned with the work to be done and accessible under password protection only to Stage 2: Innovation2Market participants, work by the teams into collaborative provided templates, live report back with real time feedback and opportunities for presentation and questions, and interaction with mentors skilled in the market areas under investigation.
Component 2 is conducted in two parts: Stage 2A and Stage 2B.
- FIND OUT FAST the best markets to introduce your product: In Stage 2A, the teams select 2-4 potential market aligned applications of their research – a market/application pair - and perform a Lens of the Market Star Market QuickScreen Analysis to determine which opportunity has the greatest chance for higher reward with lower risk.
- DO A DEEP DIVE on the best market: Stage 2B provides the teams with skills and training to conduct a deep dive market analysis on the most promising market/application pair for the beachhead market resulting in a detailed product market gap competitive analysis with specs for a minimum viable product, a validated value proposition for the new offering, a complete market structure/value chain analysis at the market segment, sub-segment and addressable market levels and an R&D Plan to achieve the first steps in technology readiness lab level proof of concept!
  - TOGETHER outcomes from Stage 2 provide the basis for successful SBIR funding, research grants and skilled researchers able to get jobs across the spectrum of the scientific enterprise!
Component 3: Market Selection and Go-Forward Plan
Component 3 is the final report back and includes on site preparation and presentation finalization with the facilitators and presentations by all teams to an audience selected by the host organization.

Schedule a Lens of the Market Workshop

STAGE2: INNOVATION2MARKET