Eye opener. When I applied, I thought I was going to learn about the FDA regulatory process, and I thought there was nothing else that mattered. Well, I was wrong.

Before joining the I-RED program, we had a limited understanding of what it takes to transform an innovative idea into a successful business. We previously participated in NSF I-Corps, but the I-RED experience has been different on an entirely new level.

This program provided great insight into the specific targets to hit for establishing a medtech/biotech business in the US. So many accelerator programs focus on the standard fare: SaaS, social media, business insights, etc. There are fewer resources available for biotech programs.

This program is uniquely tailored to healthcare commercialization. As a novice innovator & first-time founder, the I-RED program provided invaluable knowledge, experience, & connections, helping me navigate the commercialization process.

Going through the I-RED program helped me mature as an innovator & transition our device from an academic setting to the early stages of commercialization. It provided me with a clear blueprint to effectively bring our device to patients while also learning how to build a sustainable & profitable venture.

Our experience with the I-RED program was excellent. The mentors bring a wealth of experience that is directly related to the commercialization of technology from academic institutions. This program was very valuable to Apex Orthopaedic Technologies as we move forward in our quest to provide better solutions for patients.

This experience enabled us to pinpoint essential resources for private sector success, gauge our market position, and understand complex pricing and determination processes. XLerateHealth gave actionable insight in the process of launching a university spinout, transforming us from 'how do I do this?' to 'I can do this.

The I-RED program provided us as first-time entrepreneurs with a comprehensive foundation of knowledge and skills to advance our commercialization efforts. Most importantly, we were able to benefit from a diverse group of experienced mentors and learn alongside a cohort of peers working through similar challenges.

This immersive experience provided a comprehensive overview of the entire product development lifecycle—from proper business structure and IP to biomedical commercialization. Each week was packed with insightful information to help steer me towards getting my product to market.

The two most important things I got done were changing the LLC to a C-Corp and figuring out the manufacturing process.

Helped me gain additional confidence in my knowledge and grew my belief that I can be a successful entrepreneur.

The program is well-developed and covers the critical aspects of launching a start-up from a discovery in an academic laboratory. I learned so much from the bricks and subsequent discussions, especially on the topics of types of securities, investor term sheets, financial models, and angel and venture capital.

An amazing journey into the process of taking a scientific idea and begin to turn it into a viable product & company. The instructors of the course are all unbelievable with knowledge that spans the gambit of early-stage start-up formation. The content and bricks were fantastic!

The I-RED Program was exceptionally beneficial and will have a lasting impact on my company. I have definitely learned an enormous amount.

One of the most valuable aspects of the program was learning how to approach investors, a topic that proved to be more insightful and practical than I had initially anticipated. Overall, the program exceeded my expectations.

This experience forced our team to learn about multiple critical aspects of converting an interesting scientific discovery into a real product and a successful company. I knew I needed to learn, but I didn’t know what I needed to learn, nor would I have probably had the motivation to do it without this program.

The most significant accomplishments that we had were the sharpening of our thinking around the components of the lean business model canvas and the investor pitch presentation. It was very important to see how the former informs the latter.