Tag: innovation

Develop an Actionable Plan to Grow Your Business in One Day 

Posted on November 27, 2024 by - Innovation Studio, News

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. 

Register Here 

What You’ll Walk Away With 

  • Clarity & Focus: A clear, step-by-step plan to tackle your biggest challenges. 
  • Customer Insights: A deeper understanding of what your customers value most. 
  • Momentum: Renewed energy and direction to kick off the new year with confidence. 

Don’t let another winter pass without taking steps to grow your business. Let’s make your next year your best one yet. 

Spots are limited—secure your place today! 

How UAS could help ‘revolutionize rural living’

Posted on September 6, 2022 by - RuralReach

Drone

Federal grant will help UND, North Dakota put uncrewed aerial systems to best use

Tau Drones fly missions to study heat loss on UND campus steam pipes and to monitor pipelines for the oil and gas industry.

In August, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $1 million grant to UND to conduct an economic impact study and commercialization strategy for the state’s uncrewed aerial systems network.

To accomplish this work, the project will leverage several University of North Dakota departments: The UND Center for Innovation (CFI), the UND School of Aerospace Sciences, the UND Research Institute for Autonomous Systems (RIAS), and the UND Institute for Policy and Business Analytics.

In addition to the University of North Dakota, the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, Thales Group and the state of North Dakota will help implement demonstration projects, strengthen connections between state agencies and collaborate on developing the statewide commercialization and economic studies.

The UND Center for Innovation will lead the effort and coordinate grant partners. The award is funded by the American Rescue Plan and EDA’s $300 million Coal Communities Commitment. North Dakota is prepared to grow this emerging industry sector so its coal-impacted communities, tribal nations and rural communities can increase economic resilience, identify entrepreneurial opportunities, increase efficiencies, enhance safety and bring new capabilities to businesses and people.

“This is an exciting opportunity to think strategically about North Dakota’s fast-growing autonomous industry sector with our partners across the state,” said Amy Whitney, director of the UND Center for Innovation (CFI), “The intended strategy will help us to further position North Dakota as a national leader while enabling us to know how to revolutionize rural living through the use of uncrewed aerial systems.”

The project will examine economic development opportunities and applications of uncrewed aerial systems across North Dakota. This two-year project capitalizes on ND’s reputation as the Silicon Valley for drones with goals focused on showcasing the state as a destination for UAS operations. Featured outcomes of this project include:

(1) A statewide economic impact study and commercialization strategy with a specific focus on rural community connectivity, tribal nations and coal-impacted communities.

(2) Three demonstration projects with industry partners to validate technology, identify opportunities and recognize barriers to commercialization and implementation such as policy, regulation, infrastructure, etc. to inform current and future investments.

“The Institute of Policy and Business Analytics is pleased to contribute economic and policy analysis to the interdisciplinary and diverse project team. The project will serve as an important foundation for the UAS ecosystem in North Dakota, which will continue to evolve as an important economic engine in the state,” said Jason Jensen, executive director of the UND Institute for Policy and Business Analytics.

Over the past decade, North Dakota has helped a fast-growing autonomous regional industry position itself as a national testing site for uncrewed aerial system innovations (both on land and in air and space). This project allows North Dakota to create a shared vision to cluster resources around this fast-growing autonomous-technology corridor.

“We’ve built a cluster of innovative organizations that are all aligned to push the future of what is possible in the UAS industry,” said Trevor Woods, executive director of the Northern Plains UAS Testing Site.

Existing capabilities of the region’s autonomous technology industry include: the Northern Plains UAS Test Site and their Vantis program, the nation’s only statewide network to operate aerial vehicles beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS); statewide technology deployment for autonomous vehicles; an autonomous farming innovation park; an EDA-funded University Center focused on autonomous system business development; a drone technology business park; a university degree program specifically developed for designing and piloting autonomous vehicles and space-related technologies; and an educational system supporting computer and cyber science from kindergarten to PhD.

“The project is designed to support transformational growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem by developing world-class startups and increasing venture capital investment,” said Anthony Maher, UND CFI Entrepreneur Lead for Startup Growth & Fundraising.

Original Article