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Powering Technology that Impact Marginalized Communities

Join an entrepreneurial community committed to inclusive innovation.

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Rebalancing Opportunity & Access at the Earliest Stages

mPOWER programs are designed to rebalance opportunity and access for startups building physical products that impact marginalized communities. Harnessing the existing resources of the nation’s leading independent innovation center for physical product companies, each participant receives hands-on support to turn ideas into hardtech businesses.

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mPOWER Program Eligibility & Benefits

There is no fee to participate in the program as membership is sponsored by the program partners.

If accepted into the program, you will receive:

  • Sponsored 6-month membership at mHUB with Shared Workspace membership benefits
  • Structured, hands-on programming for building a business and product at its earliest stages
  • Access to $6M worth of prototyping equipment
  • Dedicated support from a network of industry-leading mentors, mHUB staff, and founders
  • Networking opportunities
  • Speaker Series to hear from Entrepreneurs building technology for marginalized communities
  • Exclusive access to mHUB's Catalyze Experts in Residence

What Does the 6-month Program Look Like?

Workshops will take place on Wednesdays.

Month 1

  • Orientation and Welcome
  • Product and Strategy 101: The Who is the Why - Problem Spaces & Desirability in Discovery
  • Product and Strategy 102: The What - Viability & Prioritization in Discovery
  • Interactive Case Study Review and Implications for Your Product
  • 1:1 Meetings with Dedicated Expert in Residence

Month 2

  • Product and Strategy 103: The How - Feasibility in Discovery
  • Conquering with EQ: Enhancing Your Emotional Intelligence with the Enneagram
  • Legal Series: IP Q&A 
  • Ask Me Anything: Intellectual Property
  • Speaker Series 
  • 1:1 Meetings with Dedicated Expert in Residence
  • Cohort Offsite
  • Speaker Series

Month 3

  • Business Model Canvas & Value Proposition Canvas 
  •  Market Sizing and Competitor Assessment  
  • The Power of YOU: Defining Your Personal Leadership Brand and Expanding Social Capital
  • Introductory Pitch Workshop
  • 1:1 Meetings with Dedicated Expert in Residence

Month 4

  • Entity Formation 
  • Next Level Efficiency: Prioritization and Delegation in Complex Work Environments
  • Speaker Series 
  • Group Sessions with Dedicated Speech & Pitch Coach
  • 1:1 Meetings with Dedicated Expert in Residence
  • Speaker Series

Month 5

  • Marketing Plan and Go to Market Strategy 
  • Group Sessions with Dedicated Speech & Pitch Coach
  • 1:1 Pitch Feedback Sessions
  • 1:1 Meetings with Dedicated Expert in Residence

 

Month 6

  • Speaker Series
  • Group Sessions with Dedicated Speech & Pitch Coach
  • 1:1 Pitch Feedback Sessions 
  • 1:1 Meetings with Dedicated Expert in Residence

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this program open to?
mPOWER is organized into three cohorts a year. To qualify, participants must have a clear problem that you are trying to solve through a physical product and be able to dedicate 7-10 hours per week for the entirety of the 6-month program.

 

Where does this program take place?
Sessions take place at mHUB's innovation center at 1623 W. Fulton St, Chicago, IL, 60612. There will be some virtual accommodation for hybrid sessions, but the majority of programming will take place in person.

When do applications open and close?
Applications for the 2025 mPOWER cohorts open on Wednesday, February 12th 2024 and close on Friday, April 4th 2025 at 11:59 PM CT.

How much does the program cost?

There is no cost to participate. mHUB membership fee is sponsored by program partners.

Does mHUB provide any funding as part of this program?

Shared workspace membership is covered by program partners, so there is no fee to participate in the program. Participants may also receive a one-time $5,000 microgrant. 

 

Will participants be able to produce a full prototype during the program?

Every product is different. Momentum in product development is dependent on the current stage of the participant, how much time they have available to contribute, complexity of product, and how much the participant has done in the areas of customer discovery/prototyping. That being said, all participants will have full access to mHUB resources and talent to make progress.  

During the interview process, the mHUB team can provide further insight to this question.

 

When will the next mPOWER program begin?
The 2025 mPOWER cohorts will be selected in late April, with workshops to begin in May 2025.
 

mPOWER Program Supported by

Join an mPOWER cohort

If you’re an aspiring innovator, and have a clear product idea or solution, mHUB will help you make it a reality.

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