Entrepreneurship

From early-stage startups to fully-fledged technologies, the Entrepreneurship practice area at the Wond’ry offers resources for all faculty, students, staff, and alums from Nashville-area colleges and universities, who are interested in learning how to grow a venture from the ground up.

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Get Involved

Exploring the realm of entrepreneurship and uncertain about where to begin? Begin by viewing the ongoing initiatives listed below. Each program page includes a main point of contact for additional inquiries. Should you have any questions, feel free to schedule a meeting with one of our staff below.


Sullivan Family Ideator 

Noticed a problem or challenge you think you could solve? Have an idea for a new product, service, technology, research tool, or process that’s been keeping you up at night? Think you have an idea that has the potential to lead to a new business, nonprofit, or licensing deal? Unsure how your idea or research could deliver value in the market, but want to take steps to find out? The Wond’ry’s Sullivan Family Ideator Program is for you!


Builder

Already completed the Wond’ry’s Ideator Program? Found a problem-solution fit for your idea (there is an identified value proposition for a defined customer segment supported by evidence from customer discovery)? Are you ready to learn what it takes to launch a new venture or pursue licensing? Builder is for you!


Founder

Already completed the Wond’ry’s Ideator & Builder Programs? Found a product-market fit for your idea and started a new venture? The Wond’ry team is here to help as you navigate next steps with our Founder program.


Lightning Accelerator

Our Lightning Accelerator program is a comprehensive program that focuses on helping ventures understand the following areas: building a team, payment models, ins and outs of regulatory, business as a biomedical company, and how to pitch and raise money.

Innovation Open Mic 

The Wond’ry hosts a monthly Innovation Open Mic event, where aspiring innovators are invited to practice presenting their ideas and projects to a panel of entrepreneurial experts and mentors. Whether a business, non-profit, technology, or invention, all ideas are welcome. At the end of each event, presenters receive feedback from the mentor panel to help them improve their projects.


Mid-South I-Corps Hub

Led by Vanderbilt University with a deliberate focus on promoting inclusive innovation, this hub aims to expedite the transformation of pioneering university research results into commercial ventures. These ventures will foster the growth of flourishing innovation ecosystems across the Mid-South, emphasizing inclusive innovation, and driving the translation of university research into commercial ventures that catalyze prosperous innovation ecosystems across four states.