Venture College, a program within the College of Innovation and Design, is excited to announce the return of its incubator program—an intensive, 10-week course designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs test their business ideas, gather real-world feedback and launch their ventures. The Venture College Incubator is offered fall and spring semesters.
The Fall 2025 cohort will take place Sept. 2 to Nov. 4, 2025, with sessions held Tuesdays and Thursdays on campus. In-person attendance is encouraged, though a Zoom option is available for those who need it. The program is free and open to students from any academic discipline. Community members from all industries are also encouraged to apply.
Participants will dive into topics like:
- Business Model Canvas development
- Customer discovery and product-market fit
- Pre-seed pitch preparation
- Funding options
New this year, participants will also have the opportunity to explore GLIDR AI, an innovative platform that helps entrepreneurs validate and refine their ideas using structured, AI-generated canvases. GLIDR AI condenses months of strategic planning into minutes—clarifying concepts, identifying market gaps, and accelerating value creation. This tool provides a powerful layer of insight and structure to help turn good ideas into great, market-ready solutions.
“We are excited to see our signature incubator program evolve with the support of new tools and a talented team of industry experts and seasoned entrepreneurs,” said Cara Van Sant, director of Venture College. “Together, we’re committed to lowering the barrier to entry for anyone with a business idea who doesn’t know where to begin. Whether you’re a student, a faculty or staff member, or community member with a business idea, our instructors are here to provide the guidance, mentorship, and resources to help you take that crucial next step.”
Each cohort benefits from meaningful mentorship and ongoing feedback, with instructors working closely alongside participants throughout the program. The program is led by:
- Manny Kostas – Co-Founder of PreCode Labs and former CMO at HP Printing and Symantec
- George Mulhern – Former CEO of Cradlepoint and Head of Ericsson’s Enterprise Wireless Solutions unit
- Sarah Dolen – Former Investment Strategy & Operations at Google’s Area 120 and Advisor to Early-stage Investors
Their insights and guidance are enriched by a network of dynamic guest speakers, providing participants with access to real-world perspectives and opportunities.
“What makes this Incubator special is the level of access participants get to both mentors in Boise’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and tools like GLIDR,” said Manny Kostas. “It’s a low-risk, high-support environment where experimentation is encouraged, and failure is part of the learning. We’re here to guide, challenge, and help founders build something meaningful—step by step.”
Learn more or apply now through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 25. Limited seats are available.