WHAT WE DO

Create

The CFI staff understand that the early stages of creating a business can be overwhelming, With our staff’s expertise, we can help you define the problem or need you wish to address, generate & identify solutions, and utilize our network to deploy those solutions. 

Jump Start

 Jump Start is our online solution generator for businesses to overcome complex challenges. Generating ideas and solutions begins first with creative thinking and no one understands creative thinking quite like our Jump Start facilitators. Jump Start participants are guaranteed to walk away with up to three new solutions from the help of our facilitated program. 

The Jump Start program is offered in three different sessions to best fit you and your team’s needs. 

Half Day

Time commitment: 4 hours 
Includes: 

  • Facilitated Creative thinking exercises
  • Brainstorming three new solutions

Full Day

Time commitment: 8 hours 
Includes: 

  • A review of the CPS model
  • Facilitated practice on model with a hypothetical
  • Creative thinking exercises
  • Brainstorm session
  • Up to 3 new solutions 

Two Day

Time commitment: 14 hours 
Includes:

  • A review of the CPS model
  • Facilitated practice on model w/hypothetical
  • Creative thinking exercises
  • Dig into company probleM
  • Up to 3 new solutions
  • Plus, implementation and strategy time

Build

The Center for Innovation assists with building innovator’s businesses or ideas. While in this stage, tools such as the Business Model Generator, Value Proposition, and WKI are introduced. These tools and strategies help you take your idea to make a legitimate plan.

The Center for Innovation’s staff is committed to building your innovative idea or business by creating a personalized plan with the help of these tools.

To learn more, contact the Center for Innovation today and get started on building your innovation. 

Grow

Growing your business or idea can mean many different things. Funding opportunities, office space, marketing outreach and building a network of support are just a few examples.

After you have created and built your business, entering the growth stage is a sign that your business is valuable to others, but this is not where the Center for Innovation stops offering services and resources. During this stage, your business will continue to grow by finding new opportunities for development, additional customer segments, and pivoting your business plan.

Our expertise is here to help you through all of these adjacent steps. 

Where to now? Explore the additional resources we have to grow your business below. 

  • Business Incubator
  • Funding 
  • Grand Forks Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (GFEE) 
  • University of North Dakota Talent 
  • Student-Run Enterprises 
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