Free Workshops to Teach Startups to Go "Lean"

Entrepreneurs looking to develop their startup businesses are invited to a free Lean Startup Jumpstart Seminar. The introductory training workshop will be held April 10 at Seton Hall, April 17 at Stevens Institute of Technology, May 1 at NJIT and May 8 at New Jersey City University.

“The Lean Startup provides a scientific approach to creating and managing startups and [getting] a desired product to customers’ hands faster,” notes the event’s website. “The Lean Startup method teaches entrepreneurs how to drive a startup, how to steer, when to turn, and when to persevere ― and grow a business with maximum acceleration. It is a principled approach to new product development.”

Workshop participants will learn Lean Startup principles, connect with New Jersey-based technology leaders and take home practical, applicable and actionable tools to help build their business ventures.

Created by the New Jersey Innovation Acceleration Center (NJIAC) housed at NJIT, the Lean Startup program is provided with support from Synchrony Bank and in partnership with other area educational institutions. NJIT is a regional leader in enabling new technology businesses through its business incubator VentureLink, and educational programs based at the university’s Martin Tuchman School of Management (MTSM).

MTSM Associate Professor of Finance Michael Ehrlich, founder of NJIAC, offered insight into Lean Startup.

What distinguishes the Lean Startup methodology?

The Lean Startup methodology has been proven to help startups search for and discover product-market fit for sustainable and scalable business models while requiring minimal resources. 

How has it been received?

The Lean Startup has been adopted by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense and other government agencies to help the researchers they fund to discover paths to commercialization of their technology. 

Who is best suited to attend the free workshops? 

We encourage New Jersey entrepreneurs who have promising ideas to attend to efficiently explore potential paths to develop those ideas into successful new businesses. 

To register for one of the workshops, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/58595154685/.

For more information, visit http://centers.njit.edu/njiac/entrepreneurs/training.php.