Build a startup from scratch with CS NEST in Madison, WI.

 

Program Overview

CS NEST is a free, ten-week venture-creation workshop designed to help entrepreneurially minded students and technologists create high-growth startups. Get product ideas, mentorship and one-on-one coaching to develop a high-growth startup company. CS NEST is a program of a nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor.

 
 

CS NEST program looks like:

  • Product Development: Ideate, validate and build minimum viable products (MVPs).

  • Culture: Experience first-hand the challenges, but also tremendous benefit, of iterating quickly with minimal resources in solving business problems.

  • Methodology: Come away with a roadmap for testing new ideas through the design of an MVP.

  • Next Steps: Understand what you need to do to continue growing your company, and access other resources within gener8tor's network to help.

Eligibility Criteria for CS NEST:

 

Location

CS NEST is venture-creation workshop for University of Wisconsin students and technologists in Madison, Wisconsin.

 

You’re Committed

CS NEST provides product ideas, mentorship and coaching, then works with each team one-on-one for 10 weeks to help develop ideas.

 

Entrepreneurial Mindset

We’re seeking entrepreneurially-minded individuals or teams who are ready to dive in and learn more about startups.

 

Upcoming gALPHA programs for CS NEST

We are not currently accepting applications for this program.

Stay tuned. While there aren't any upcoming programs for this location at the moment, there are plenty of other available opportunities at gener8tor!

Explore Other Programming

Ten weeks of growth, fun and success.

The CS NEST program schedule can look different per season or cohort – we try to stay as flexible as possible to accommodate for the needs of each individual program and participant. Generally, the ten weeks consists of a weekly team meeting and a weekly group meeting, two workshops per program, and a showcase to celebrate the program completion.

Come prepared to learn about building a startup, collaborate on innovative ideas, meet other participants, and join a team. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in interactive workshops, master your pitch and gain exposure to a number of mentors in the gener8tor network. At the end of the program, you’ll be considered an official CS NEST graduate! To celebrate, we’ll host a showcase to wrap it all up.

Ten weeks is short, and we know it! CS NEST graduates get access to additional resources and support across gener8tor's network, including the opportunity to move their company forward through our gBETA program. gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator to continue working on building your company, gaining customer traction, meeting mentors and pitching investors.

gALPHA Program FAQs

 

  • gALPHA is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs that don’t necessarily have a company yet. gBETA is for early-stage companies looking to grow and scale.

  • Every program is different. It’s best to ask the director of the program you’re interested in during office hours.

  • We won’t sugar-coat it; running a startup and bringing it through an accelerator is a commitment, but participation in gALPHA is meant to fit alongside other commitments you have, like school and work. We usually require two to four hours per week of in-person or on-screen meetings, plus follow-ups and other outside time that founders will need to spend working on their businesses.

    That said, our intention is always to work on projects and goals that will move your company forward significantly, so it’s time well spent. And, we do realize founders are busy while balancing their personal lives and their work lives. Directors will work with each founder to ensure the program works with their schedule. That said, we expect founders will make every effort to get the most out of their experience.

  • Aspiring entrepreneurs will work one-on-one with their program director to identify a problem to solve, develop product ideas, test ideas through development of a minimum viable product (MVP), and connect with potential mentors, team members and partners to grow your idea into a business.

  • Through one-on-one interaction with their program director and mentors, program participants gain valuable personalized insights that can be applied to their business strategy. Program focus areas include identifying high-growth business opportunities, validating the idea, developing a minimum viable product, and getting started in building a company.

    Benefits include:

    • Access to gener8tor’s robust national network of thousands of fellow entrepreneurs, mentors and investors, and warm introductions to those most relevant to your business

    • Membership in gener8tor’s startup community of thousands of startup founders, with access to gener8tor’s network, events and resources for the lifetime of your business

  • Once founders complete the program, they become alumni. Directors keep in close contact and continue to support their alumni, and alumni are part of the gener8tor network for the life of their business. We make every effort to ensure they are considered for future opportunities such as the gBETA program, which tends to be a great next step for alumni, gener8tor’s investment accelerators, inclusion in our OnRamp conferences, or introductions to new mentors and investors. We have your back from start to finish.

  • Usually, yes, but every program is different. It’s best to ask the director of the program you’re interested in.

Questions? Find a time for CS NEST Office Hours or email the Program Manager.

Grant Watkins
Program Manager
grant.watkins@gener8tor.com

CS NEST
StartingBlock Madison
821 E Washington Avenue
Madison, WI 53703

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