In-Person Federal Funding Workshop Opportunity at Emerging Praire in The Study
February 12th, 9:45 am – 10:45 am
Event Description
Explore the fundamentals of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, with a special focus on fostering university collaborations. Learn how partnering with academic institutions can enhance your project’s innovation potential and increase your chances of securing federal funding. This session is ideal for small businesses and university researchers aiming to leverage combined resources for successful research and development initiatives.
Details
Date & Time: February 12th, 2025 | 9:45 am – 10:45 am after the UND Takeover StartUp Brew
Start your Friday off right at the UND Center for Innovation!
Join us for Coffee and Connections on the first Friday of every month from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM at the UND Center for Innovation! This informal gathering is the perfect opportunity for CFI members & partners to enjoy a cup of coffee, donuts, connect with fellow innovators, and start their day inspired!
Event Details
Date & Time: Every first Friday of the month | 8:00 am – 9:00 am
Location: UND Center for Innovation Lobby, 4200 James Ray Dr Grand Forks, ND 58202
Amanda Voigt, Sona Lesmeister, and Becca Crueger presenting at the GCEC Conference (2024).
Last week, two members of our CFI staff attended the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) Conference in Boston. This year, the GCEC community, which includes representatives from approximately 300 schools, gathered at Babson College to share innovative ideas, expand their networks, and engage in sessions aligned with the conference theme: Simplify, Scale, Sustain
Amanda Voight and Sona Lesmeister had the privilege of presenting our InternGF program during the conference, along with Becca Cruger from the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation (EDC). InternGF, a partnership between the UND Center for Innovation and the Grand Forks EDC, introduces UND students to high-wage, in-demand careers in the Grand Forks area. This initiative is key to supporting local recruitment and retention efforts by showcasing the region’s dynamic companies, career opportunities, and community assets. “Our session, titled Avoid the Brain Drain. Retain Talent. Increase Local Economic Impact for Startups., was very well received,” Sona said. “We got the opportunity to present on the success of InternGF, which has made a significant impact since its inception in 2018. The feedback was fantastic, and we had many engaging conversations afterwards with attendees asking for more details and offering compliments.”
In addition to presenting, Voigt and Lesmeister were able to attend a range of sessions, including “Cultivating Resilient Mindset in Entrepreneurs”, “How to Gamify Business Model Canvas”, “Going Slow to Scale Fast”, and “Space Activation”. These sessions offered them new perspectives and actionable ideas to bring back to the Center for Innovation.
Lesmeister reflected on some of her major takeaways from the conference, “I attended a session on cultivating a resilient mindset in entrepreneurs, which was both insightful and inspirational. It got me thinking about how we can incorporate these concepts into our own programs.” Another session that stood out to the team was a workshop on gamifying the business model canvas. “It was super fun and interactive!” she continued. “I think it will serve us well to make it a part of our initial session for the Runway Accelerator program.”
Both were impressed by Babson College’s commitment to sustainability during the conference. “What a fantastic way to expand one’s horizons!” Lesmeister noted. “I wish I could have attended multiple sessions that were offered at the same time, but one thing I truly appreciated was Babson’s emphasis on sustainability. It wasn’t just talked about – it was lived out. The event was powered entirely by solar energy, the food came from local sources, and there was a plan to donate all uneaten food.”
In addition to the educational sessions, the conference provided numerous opportunities for networking. One event included a fun evening event at Fenway Park, where they enjoyed appetizers while making valuable connections.
Both are excited to apply everything they learned to further strengthen the work we do at CFI. Voigt concluded, “We’re really lucky to have the ability to support students, faculty/staff, and the community with the services we provide.”
Travis serves as our Technology Director at CFI. Whether he’s leading facility tours, connecting with entrepreneurs, troubleshooting tech problems, or brainstorming with the team, he’s always on the go. His contributions are vital to the smooth operation of CFI, and we’re incredibly grateful to have him on board! Read on to learn more about Travis!
What college did you attend and what was your major?
I attended the University of North Dakota and majored in Information Systems.
What is your favorite book or movie?
This is a tough question, but I think I would go with “Back to the Future”
If you could drop everything and go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I have Norwegian heritage and if I could go tomorrow, I would be in Norway.
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
Spend time with family and friends
Challenge myself with hobbies that allow me to work with my hands and brain
Volunteer at local organizations
What is your favorite part of living in Grand Forks?
This answer is broader for me. It is North Dakota more than Grand Forks. I like living in North Dakota because of the unique opportunities that exist, the culture of the people, and the speed connections can be created.
What is your favorite part about working at CFI?
My favorite part is the unique experiences. Working at CFI we meet individuals starting companies in bio medical, UAS, to space industries and local entrepreneurs, representatives with the federal and state government, high school and UND students, and more.
Amanda is CFI’s Assistant Director. She helps oversee innovation and commercialization training for faculty, students, and community members. She also leads efforts to implement strategic initiatives, fosters campus and community collaborations, and ensures program effectiveness.
What do you typically do during a day at work?
Lots of meetings! It’s my job to make sure our department runs smoothly so I spend a lot of time connecting with our staff.
What college did you attend and what was your major?
I attended UND and majored in Political Science, which is when I realized that Public Administration is more for me and got my MPA from UND as well.
What is your favorite book or movie?
Dirty Dancing is my all time favorite movie. I’m always happy to carry a watermelon.
If you could drop everything and go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
My favorite city in the world Chiang Mai, Thailand, but maybe Paris, or New York? I could really go anywhere at anytime.
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
I love to read and have family dance parties with my 3-year old daughter.
What is your favorite part of living in Grand Forks?
My favorite part about Grand Forks is the commute. JK, but Grand Forks really offers a lot for families and ways to keep busy all year round.
What is your favorite part about working at CFI?
I love the people. The people who work here, both staff and interns, are amazing and get me excited to come to work every day.
Kevin is CFI’s Commercialization Specialist. His focus is on autonomous systems commercialization through various sectors such as UAS, transportation, healthcare, biotech, etc. He is a coach for North Dakota start up programs such as InnovateND and LIFT and coordinates with the University, community and statewide stakeholders.
What do you typically do during a day at work?
I work as the community facing coach helping to guide startups and businesses through their commercialization journey. Specifically, I focus on companies in the autonomous industry and connecting those companies to North Dakota resources and talent. In addition, I am a coach for InnovateND, a startup program funded through the ND Department of Commerce.
What college did you attend and what was your major?
I received a BBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of North Dakota
What is your favorite book or movie?
My favorite movie is The Dark Knight.
If you could drop everything and go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A dream vacation would be playing golf at Augusta National or St. Andrews in Scotland.
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
I love to golf and enjoy going to the lake with friends.
What is your favorite part of living in Grand Forks?
I grew up in Thief River Falls so Grand Forks is a big city to me. However, it still has a small town feel to it with a great community of like-minded people. UND hockey games are always fun too!
What is your favorite part about working at CFI?
I enjoy being able work with creative people between the CFI team and the entrepreneurs we support. I learn something new every day and it is exciting to see all the innovations taking place across various sectors.
Running a small business in Grand Forks is no small feat. From juggling daily operations to planning for growth, it’s easy to feel stretched thin. Winter months bring their own set of challenges—slumps in sales, staffing shortages, and questions about how to expand into new markets.
What if you could tackle these challenges head-on and leave with a plan you’re excited to put into action?
The Solution Sprint Workshop on December 7th is your opportunity to step away from the daily grind, focus on your business, and walk out with a concrete, actionable plan.
Why You Should Attend
If you’re a small business owner looking to:
Attract more customers and boost sales.
Overcome the winter sales slump.
Find and retain reliable staff.
Explore and plan for expansion into new markets.
Then this workshop is for you.
This is a high-impact, hands-on workshop tailored to business owners who want results. Together, we’ll dig into your biggest challenges and work step-by-step to create a strategy that works for you.
Photo captured doing strategy planning
What to Expect
Here’s how the day unfolds:
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Clarify
We’ll start by exploring your vision, gathering insights, and clearly defining your most pressing challenges.
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Ideate
Using creative thinking techniques, you’ll brainstorm potential solutions, identifying ideas with the most potential to move forward.
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Lunch
Take a break and enjoy a delicious lunch on us while connecting with fellow business owners.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Develop
Refine, evaluate, and strengthen your top ideas to turn them into actionable solutions.
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Implement
You’ll finish the day by creating a practical, step-by-step plan that you can execute immediately to grow your business.
Solution Sprint Agenda
Why This Workshop Works
Practical, Hands-On Approach
Forget boring PowerPoints. You’ll roll up your sleeves, work through your real business scenarios, and leave with tools you can use right away.
Collaborative Energy
Connect with other Grand Forks business owners who share your challenges and aspirations. Share insights, learn from their experiences, and leave with fresh perspectives.
Expert Guidance
You’ll be guided by an experienced facilitator who knows how to help you clarify your vision, prioritize what matters, and take action.
Workshop Details
📅 Date: Thursday, December 7th
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Lunch included!)
📍 Location: Center for Innovation, 4200 James Ray Drive, Grand Forks
💡 Cost: $250 per participant
👉 Sign up now and save $50 with the early bird discount! Use code EARLYBIRD at checkout.
There are two types of thinking to solve any problem: divergent and convergent.
Generally speaking, divergent thinking is all about brainstorming and generating many ideas, while convergent thinking narrows down ideas to come to a final solution.
Most brainstorming sessions do not produce the results you hope for because they blend idea generation and critique in the same conversation. This stifles creativity and leaves valuable ideas unspoken. In fact, 38% of employees hesitate to take initiative because they fear their ideas won’t be fully explored.
Here’s a simple yet effective strategy to boost creativity and morale:
Educate Your Team: Help them understand the difference between convergent and divergent thinking.
Idea-Generation Meetings: Dedicate specific sessions solely to brainstorming big ideas, without any immediate critique.
Evaluation Meetings: Reconvene or hold critique until later so you can assess ideas against your project goals and constraints.
This approach allows for uninhibited creativity followed by focused analysis, ensuring all ideas get the consideration they deserve.
Finding out what your goals really are, the reasons behind them, and what’s stopping you from achieving them is crucial. This exercise brings together teams and stakeholders to gain a shared understanding of their goals, drivers, and barriers. You can discover what is slowing you down or if the purpose or goals are not quite right. Here’s how you can do it:
The Sailboat Exercise
1. Prepare Your Whiteboard:
On a whiteboard, draw a boat out at sea. This boat represents your team or project. Next, draw an island in the distance, which represents your goal.
2. Identify Goals:
Ask the group to write down what they believe the team or project’s goals are on sticky notes. Each person should contribute their thoughts.
3. Share and Organize:
Have each team member share what they have written. Sort the sticky notes around themes near the island. This helps in clustering similar goals and identifying common themes.
4. Identify Drivers:
Draw a sail on your boat. This sail represents what is driving you towards your goal. Ask the group to write down the drivers (factors that are helping achieve the goal) on sticky notes. Share and discuss these drivers, and place them on the sail.
5. Identify Barriers:
Draw an anchor on the boat. This anchor represents the barriers to the goals. Ask the group to write down what’s slowing or stopping you from achieving these goals on sticky notes. Share these barriers and place them around the anchor.
6. Prioritize Goals and Problems:
Finally, give each team member two dot stickers. Ask them to put a vote on the board for the goal they believe is most important to work towards and another dot for the problem they believe is most important to solve. This helps in prioritizing the goals and identifying the most critical barriers to address.
Benefits of the Sailboat Exercise
Shared Understanding: Aligns the team on common goals and barriers.
Clear Drivers: Highlights what is propelling the team forward.
Identified Barriers: Clearly identifies obstacles that need to be addressed.
Prioritization: Helps in focusing on the most important goals and problems.
This exercise can be a powerful tool in both business and personal settings to ensure that everyone is aligned and working towards the same objectives with a clear understanding of the factors influencing their success.
