Entrepreneurship: Prototyping & Testing (Q3)

Prototyping & Testing is a members-only, mentoring-style Entrepreneurship cohort focused on turning ideas into practical models, experiments, and testable solutions. Participants work on their own projects while collaborating with mentors and peers to explore concepts, evaluate capabilities, and learn through hands-on testing.

This cohort is designed for a variety of prototyping needs. Participants may create a mockup or early version of a potential product, develop a proof of concept, or build a test platform to evaluate whether a particular component, process, technology, or capability will work as intended.

Rather than following a fixed curriculum, learning is driven by participants’ projects, questions, and shared problem-solving across the group.

What to expect:

• Defining what a prototype or test needs to demonstrate
• Creating physical or digital mockups and proof-of-concept models
• Developing test platforms, fixtures, or experiments
• Identifying assumptions, risks, and technical questions
• Testing functionality, usability, materials, or processes
• Gathering feedback and documenting results
• Revising designs based on what is learned
• Mentoring support and peer feedback throughout the process

Participants should expect to cover the cost of materials used for their individual projects. Projects may involve laser cutting, 3D printing, CNC, electronics, robotics, software, assembly, or a combination of tools and techniques.

This kickoff will bring interested members together to discuss their projects, identify shared interests and resources, and determine how often and when the cohort will meet during the quarter.

This cohort is a great fit for makers, entrepreneurs, inventors, and technology builders who want to move an idea beyond discussion and begin learning through building, testing, and refinement.

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