The Kaplan Institute's
Startup Studio

Everything you need to build a successful startup at Illinois Tech and make a positive impact through entrepreneurship.



Our Core Belief ───────


Entrepreneurship is a team sport, and you only get better with practice.

Unfortunately, there is no "one size fits all" method for building a startup. The only way to really learn entrepreneurship is by rolling up your sleeves and taking action.

However, you don't have to do it alone. We've created an online community and event series to help you generate ideas and form a team. From there you will be assigned a Kaplan Institute staff member to personally coach your team throughout the Fall semester.

We can provide you with knowledge, opportunities, and resources; but it's up to you to take the first step.




OUR Curriculum ───────


7 steps to startup creation

When you're first starting out, trying to build a startup can feel like you're staring up the side of a mountain. Our curriculum is designed to break down the startup creation process into tangible, actionable steps.

The Startup Studio curriculum (the seven modules listed below) will help you define your startup idea and validate it with at least 20 customers. Doing so will prepare you to join the Startup Accelerator IPRO in the Spring, which focuses on the later stages of building a startup.


  1. Learning the Basics

  2. Forming a Team

  3. Generating Ideas

  4. Customer Discovery

  5. Rapid Prototyping

  6. Customer Validation

  7. Business Planning





OUR lunch EVENTS ───────


At the Kaplan Institute

Sep
10

VC Investor Panel

A panel of Venture Capital investors will be sharing their insight and answering your questions.

Sep
16

Find Your Startup Idea

Learn about and practice using the "seven recipes" for generating startup ideas!



Oct
8

Customer Discovery Workshop

Learn how to validate your value proposition with potential customers.


OUR doors ───────


Are always open

Whether you would like for us to personally coach your team, connect you with industry experts, or help you find Co-Founders; we're here for you. You can always email Sunny at sshah135@kaplan.iit.edu with any questions.

Maryam Saleh
Executive Director

Akshar Patel
Managing Director

Niharika Hanglem
Program Director

Sunny Shah
Engagement Manager




Our Accelerator ───────


An opportunity to compete for up to $50k

Through the Startup Studio, you'll be able to prepare your application materials for the Startup Accelerator IPRO, which is offered by the Kaplan Institute in the Spring Semester, in collaboration with the Stuart School of Business.

Students who are accepted in the program will:

  • Receive ongoing feedback and advice from a dedicated entrepreneurship coach

  • Participate in regular live sessions with faculty and mentors, who have decades of entrepreneurship, investment and venture capital experience

  • Have access to the Idea Shop, mHUB and app development experts to prototype and build their products

  • Practice and eventually present their completed pitch deck to a panel of judges at PITCH@IllinoisTech to compete for a prize pool of up to $50k




The Startup Studio ───────


Is ready for you

After signing up, you will be invited to attend a Start Studio Orientation Event where you will meet your fellow student entrepreneurs and learn everything you need to know to get started.