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The VAI program delivers services to support campus start-up ventures in 3 key areas: - Entrepreneurial Consulting – The on-campus VAI consulting team works closely with campus entrepreneurs to develop the business potential around promising technologies by assisting with initial feasibility analysis, market assessment and segmentation, business plan development and general business consulting. The core team is complemented by industry experts from the business community as well as business students to provide an increased capacity to deliver these services.
- Business Networking – TheVAI team engages in a systematic and ongoing cultivation of relationships with a broad spectrum of stakeholders that are relevant to various stages of the start-up process. By building relationships with investors, service providers, technical and management personnel, potential corporate customers, mentors and others VAI can provide entrepreneurs with timely access to resources and the leverage of a wider network.
- Seed Funding – A dual strategy is in place to ensure adequate seed funding for start-up ventures – (1) increasing access to funding by developing relationships with a broad spectrum of capital providers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors (2) exploring the potential for a university fund to complement existing capital sources.
The VAI program also contributes to the educational goals of the university by providing entrepreneurial students with access to experiential learning opportunities via projects and internships with start-up ventures within the portfolio of ventures it supports.
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