GIST Innovates Ukraine FAQS

Q: How do I apply?

A: Click the APPLY HERE button and complete the Eligibility Check and the Application in English. 
 

Q: What is the application process like?

A: It is easy to apply. All application questions must be responded to in English. To see a preview of the application questions, please click here.
 

Q: Can I respond to the application questions in a language other than English?

A: No. All application questions must be responded to in English. 

 

Q: Is knowledge of English required to participate?

A: Simultaneous interpretation will be provided for the online group training sessions. At least one member of your team must be proficient enough in English to participate in the one-on-one meetings with the instructors. All instructors will be native English-speakers. 

 

Q: What is the average age of selected participants?

A: The Entrepreneurial Lead must be between 18-45 years of age. The Mentor and Technical Leads, while encouraged to be within that range, can be older. The average age of GIST participants is somewhere in the middle of that range. 

 

Q: How much of a time commitment (hrs/week) should be expected from selected participants during the entire program? 

A: You should expect to spend an average of 15-20 hours per week.

 

Q: I have an idea for an e-commerce site / smartphone app. Can I apply?

A: Only applications with a science and tech focus will be reviewed.

 

Q: Do I need a fully working prototype to apply or will a proof of concept (very rough prototype) suffice? 

A: A proof of concept will suffice.

 

Q: Do I need IP to participate?

A: No.  But if you do have IP we will not ask you about it during the program nor will we expect you to share that information. This program is not about your technology - it is about the process of exploring market potential and whether you are solving a need in the marketplace.

 

Q: What specific measures will help prevent IP theft? 

A: IP information will not be shared by anyone during this program.

 

Q: Can the same person apply with multiple teams?

A: We will only accept one application per applicant.

 

Q: Can the same team apply with multiple projects? 

A: Please pick one innovation that your team is interested in commercializing for the application.

 

Q: I don't have a business mentor - can you help me find one?

A: We encourage you to find your own business mentor that understands your innovation, however if you are having difficulty finding someone, please contact Khandle Hedrick at [email protected]

 

Q: Who will review submitted proposals? (local vs foreign or both)

A: Applications will be reviewed by a team of GIST professionals and entrepreneurs in the US.

 

Q: What are the selection criteria?

A: Applications will be reviewed based on technical and commercial merit and appropriate team composition.  A commitment to do the work necessary to complete the program will also be a consideration.

 

Q: What will I get out of this program?

A: This course will provide teams with real-world, hands-on learning experience with customer discovery and successfully transferring knowledge into products and processes that benefit society. The entire team will engage with industry. You and your team will spend your time talking to and learning from customers, partners and competitors, and learning how to deal with the chaos and uncertainty of commercializing innovations and creating ventures. 

 

Q: What are the rules of engagement for selected participants? 

A: This course is about getting out of the building. You will be spending a significant amount of time outside your lab environment, talking to customers and testing your hypotheses about what they want in products and services. We will spend our limited class time discussing what you learned from talking to customers, not what you already knew coming into the course. Teams should be striving for 15 interviews per week, for a total of 100 interviews by the end of the course.

We have limited time and we push, challenge, and question you in the hope you will quickly learn.  We will be direct, open, and tough – just like the real world. We hope you can recognize that these comments aren’t personal, but part of the process.  We also expect you to question us, challenge our point of view if you disagree, and engage in a real dialog with the teaching team.

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