Why an incubator at uarts? We formed the Corzo Center Creative Incubator/ Wells Fargo Fellowship Programto help UArts students and alumni develop new ideas, launch creative businesses, and establish social enterprises.

• Our purpose? To offer support, advice, funding, and the opportunity to collaborate with others.
• Our goal? To give students the chance to control their ideas and make connections between what they create and how they want to work.
• Our audience? Students and alumni who wish to innovate, test the yet-to-be-tested, and develop ideas.

What we provide FUNDING: Each year, the Corzo Center Creative Incubator / Wells Fargo Fellowship Program provides funding to UArts seniors, graduate students, and alumni through grants of up to $10,000. SUPPORT: The CorzoCenterprovides support to both those funded and those not yet ready to apply for funding.  In addition to funding, students and alumni who wish support can receive:

• Help developing proposals;
• Advice on strategies, marketing, social media, business organization, finances, accounting, and legal questions;
• Business critiques;
• Connections to business, legal, and marketing advisors for help shaping an idea or a plan;
• Workshops and special programs on topics related to entrepreneurship and business development – idea generation, law, marketing, business planning, and finance.

What to think about before applying You probably will not have all the answers, but before you apply for a grant through the Creative Incubator, you should consider some of the following questions:

• What is your idea? What service, product, or application do you want to develop? You should be able to define your idea in one or two sentences.
• What is its benefit? If you can bring your idea to life, how or what will it improve?  For example, it might make the way we communicate, collaborate, or create better. Or it might improve the way we live and work by making us more efficient, playful, satisfied, healthier, and/or happier.

Ask yourself...

• What is your idea's connection to art/, design or media and the creative process?
• Does what you have in mind put your art/design or media into a new context? Develop a new application? Suggest a new way to attract an audience?
• What makes your idea innovative? Or what need does it satisfy?
• Who is your audience/market? Who do you think will be most interested in your idea or product?
• Who is your competition? Is the idea you have in mind similar to others? If so, how do you stand out?
• What are the steps you will need to complete? What is your timetable?
• What help will you need to make your idea “real”? Think about the kind of support you will need to complete your first stage: time, money, help from others, space, equipment, and so on.
• How do you plan to use the funding? What is your budget? Do you have other sources of money to help? When will you need the money?
• Do you have a mentor or business partner? Do you know of any businesses that you could use to help build your idea?
• What are your business strengths?  What areas do you think you need the most help; sales, finance, law, business strategy, marketing?
• How is your idea sustainable over the long-term?

The Corzo Center presents workshops and panels intended to help you think through these questions and sharpen your proposal.

The application process

1. Let us know that you intend to apply by sending an email to corzocenter@uarts.edu using the subject “Intention to Apply for Creative Incubator Grant.”  In the body of the email, give your name, phone number, and the amount you hope to receive.  We will keep you informed about deadlines and any changes in procedure.
2. You must attend an orientation session to learn more about the details of the Wells Fargo Fellows Program.
3. To apply formally, complete an application and budget form online at http://corzocenter.uarts.edu/incubator-application and http://corzocenter.uarts.edu/incubator-budget-form.
4. We will interview finalists and may request additional information.
5. Once selected, grantees must sign an agreement, which outlines their responsibilities and the conditions of the grant.

Deadline: To be announced.

Funding: eligibility, payments and responsibilities

UArts seniors, graduate students, and alumni (who have graduated in the last ten years) are eligible to apply for funding.  Each year, we award a limited number of grants of up to $10,000.  Although we may make exceptions, normally an applicant should be able to complete a proposed Creative Incubator project within six months.

Proposals should reflect a clear sense of purpose, benefit, and audience, and demonstrate that the applicant has an ability to complete the proposed project.  A panel of entrepreneurs will review all proposals. Awards will be highly competitive and given to applicants whose ideas are likely to grow into businesses. 

Deadlines will be announced on the Corzo Center website at corzocenter.uarts.edu.  If you are interested in receiving information by email, write corzocenter@uarts.edu.

Criteria: A panel will review proposals with the following criteria in mind:

• The project has the potential to develop new applications of technology or media, proposes a novel way of communicating with new audiences, connects new content to traditional audiences, and/or promises social change.
• The idea demonstrates creativity and/or innovation.
• The idea is marketable, has the potential to be licensed, or is a part of a larger idea for a business.
• The proposal presents a realistic set of measurable milestones.
• The proposal reflects an understanding of previous work in the area.
• The proposal reflects a good sense of the primary market for the idea.
• The proposal presents a strategy that shows how the project might be self-sustaining or has entrepreneurial potential.
• The applicant’s experience (or that of the team) demonstrates an ability to complete the project.
• The most important criteria:  The applicant should make it clear that she or he has a passion for the idea and a commitment to it that can last over time despite difficulties.

Grant Payments: Typically, grants will be paid in three equal sums: within one month of signing the agreement, mid-way after presenting a mid-cycle report summarizing work completed, and within one month of delivering all promised work. Exceptions will be made if money is required for out-of-pocket expenses.

Grant Responsibilities: If a proposal is funded, a grantee will be required to:

• Sign an agreement prior to beginning in which s/he outlines the work promised, the timetable for completing it, and the expressed consent to credit the Corzo Center and the University of the Arts in any public use of the work that results during and from the grant.
• Allow the CorzoCenterand the University of the Arts a non-exclusive right to present or exhibit the work funded through the Incubator as part of UArts educational missions or marketing campaigns.
• Submit a short written and video description along with documentation of the work that explains what you achieved, problems and/or challenges faced, and any next steps envisioned.
• Provide receipts for all expenses paid through the Incubator grant.
• Present the work to other UArts students and members of the community both at the University and outside of it.
• Agree to the University’s Intellectual Property Policy.

Deadline: To be announced.

Note:  The University’s Intellectual Property Policy confirms that ownership of work rests with the creator[s].  It does allow the University to arrange for some return of monies if there has been a substantial investment of University resources.  In some cases, grantees may be asked to agree to re-invest a modest percentage of net profits in the Creative Incubator in order to fund future student and alumni grants and projects. These terms will be defined prior to beginning the grant.