Taking the road less travelled with Sprout Lab

In an effort to increase the exploration of innovative ideas, Grand Valley State University's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) is sponsoring Sprout Lab and is hitting the road.

Sprout Lab is designed to help participants explore the commercial potential of a solution to a problem in agriculture or natural resources, or any marketable idea suited to Michigan's Great Lakes economy. Residents from all backgrounds are encouraged to participate; no formal training in business is required.

With its focus in agriculture and natural resources, industries that aren't always considered "cutting edge," Sprout Lab is purposefully taking the road less traveled. Julie Cowie, program manager for Sprout Lab, says the the concept is designed to get outside the urban and university communities and into the natural settings for individuals working in those industries. "We are taking the program on the road to rural settings," she says.

Sprout Lab features two-day boot camps that are focused on scalable ideas and high-value concepts in the agriculture, natural resource, renewable energy or tourism industries. The camps are facilitated by faculty in the CEI program at GVSU.

Boot Camps will be held:

• March 19 and 20 in Traverse City
• March 26 and 27 in Escanaba
• April 1 and 2 in Newaygo

Cowie says ideas that are being developed from earlier pilot programs (in conjunction with Saginaw Valley State College) include the exploration into solving mobility issues for farmers on their tractors, creating synthetic seeds in a lab, a cheese shop, and worm composting.

The registration fee is $149 per person or $300 for teams of three. Students pay $25. Register online for any Boot Camp location at www.sproutlab.org. For more information, contact Julie Cowie at [email protected].

After these boot camps, Cowie says the program will be evaluated and she anticipates more sessions will be offered. She also says Sprout Lab has other resources available for entrepreneurs that can be viewed here.

Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor