Our pre-ideation program is designed to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in students who are eager to start their own ventures, but are unsure where to begin.
The primary cause of startup failure is a lack of market need, where products or services fail to address genuine customer problems. Kindling addresses this fundamental issue by anchoring its approach in the Lean Startup methodology. It emphasizes deeply understanding customers, key stakeholders, and profitability before any solution is developed.
Kindling equips student entrepreneurs with the guidance and structure necessary to transform ideas into viable ventures. By fostering a holistic and accurate perspective on essential people, problems, and profit pathways, the program ensures that when development begins, it is grounded in validated insights and strategic clarity.
Program Structure and Pace
Offered in-person, participants are divided into teams based on their industry interests including energy/sustainability, software, education, or life sciences/health tech. Over the course of the semester, students will refine their understanding of a problem space through targeted customer discovery, validate the needs they uncover, and gain a strong foundation in the essential aspects of building a successful business. The Kindling Accelerator is not just about starting a company; it’s about discovering the right path and learning how to navigate it effectively.
Funding and Pathways
At the end of the accelerator, the top teams win grant prizes and all completing teams are given preferential treatment in applying to Spark the following semester.
Kindling FAQ
This pre-accelerator is designed to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in students who are eager to start their own ventures but are unsure where to begin. This program targets those in the earliest stages of venture development, providing them with the guidance and structure needed to turn their ideas into reality.
90% of startups fail. Startups fail mainly due to a lack of market need. Kindling anchors the Lean Startup approach by deeply understanding customers, stakeholders, and profitability before building, so when you develop a solution you have a holistic, clear view of the people, the problem, and how to monetize it.
Offered in-person, participants are divided into teams based on their industry interests including energy/sustainability, software, education, or life sciences/health tech. Over the course of the semester, students will refine their understanding of a problem space through targeted customer discovery, validate the needs they uncover, and gain a strong foundation in the essential aspects of building a successful business. The Kindling Accelerator is not just about starting a company; it’s about discovering the right path and learning how to navigate it effectively.
Aspiring entrepreneurs are guided to identify initial steps and hone distinctive skills that set them apart from peers.
Entrepreneurially curious individuals who are unsure what entrepreneurship entails can safely explore the field before taking the plunge.
Aspiring contributors without a “big idea” but with subject-matter expertise gain clarity on what founders seek in a co-founder or CXO and are prepared to fulfill that role.
Emerging connectors, skilled at networking, gain access to premier deals, actionable insights, and compelling stories.
