Office of Technology Partnerships

Building Early Clarity

Not every venture begins with a fully defined business model, product, or market strategy. In many cases, the earliest phase is about learning - understanding the customer, clarifying the problem, and evaluating whether an idea has real potential.

EPIC’s Concept Stage resources help bring structure to that early exploration through entrepreneurial training, customer discovery, ecosystem exposure, and foundational support that can help founders move forward with greater confidence.

Common Needs at This Stage

Companies in this phase are often:

• Exploring a new idea or opportunity
• Testing whether a real customer problem exists
• Looking for entrepreneurial training or structured discovery
• Unsure which program or resource is the right next step
• Beginning to evaluate whether an idea has real commercial potential

Foundational Programs and Early Support

At this stage, support often centers on entrepreneurial training, customer discovery, early mentorship, and practical tools that help founders explore opportunities with more clarity.

• INNOVAR Entrepreneurial Training

  INNOVAR is one of UCR’s core entrepreneurial training programs for founders who are ready to explore product-market fit through a more structured process.

  Grounded in the Lean Launchpad methodology, INNOVAR helps participants better understand their customers through direct interviews and real-world feedback. The program supports founders in testing assumptions, identifying market opportunities, evaluating competition, and beginning to shape stronger go-to-market thinking.

  For many entrepreneurs, this is where an idea begins to shift from concept to something more grounded in evidence.

  To learn more about INNOVAR, please click here.

• Seed to Scale

  Seed to Scale helps entrepreneurs strengthen business fundamentals, evaluate opportunities, and better understand how innovation, customer needs, and market realities intersect.

  This program is especially valuable for founders exploring applied innovation in agriculture and related sectors, but the broader value is the same: helping participants build stronger strategic thinking before moving too quickly into execution.

  To learn more about Seed to Scale, please click here.

• BizTech Connect

  BizTech Connect helps founders build exposure to the entrepreneurial ecosystem through events, learning opportunities, and community connections.

  For entrepreneurs in the earliest phase, this can be especially valuable. It creates opportunities to hear from experienced founders, connect with advisors and peers, and gain visibility into the broader resources available across UCR and the Inland Southern California innovation network.

  To learn more about BizTech Connect, please click here.

• NSF I-Corps

  NSF I-Corps is an evidence-based customer discovery program that helps researchers and founders assess commercial potential before investing heavily in development.

  Through structured interviews and guided exploration, participants learn how to test assumptions, understand customer pain points, and evaluate whether there is a real market need for their innovation. For research-driven ventures in particular, this can be a critical step in moving from invention to opportunity.

  To learn more about the NSF I-Corps program, please click here.

• Blackstone LaunchPad

  Blackstone LaunchPad provides UCR students and emerging founders with accessible entry points into entrepreneurship through mentoring, workshops, events, and venture-building support.

  For founders who are still early in the journey - or simply looking for a place to begin - LaunchPad offers a valuable ecosystem for exploring ideas, building confidence, and taking the first practical steps forward.