The BobCatalyst Innovation Accelerator Program (BIAP) helps TXST researchers turn breakthrough ideas into market-ready innovations. Inspired by NSF I-Corps, BIAP uses customer discovery to validate demand, reduce risk, and guide smarter product development.
Upcoming Programs
BIAP Phase I
Sessions: January 30 (9–11am), February 20 (10–11am), March 13 (9–11am)
Apply by January 28
BIAP Phase II
Sessions: June 9 (9–10am), June 16 (9–11am), June 30 (9–11am), July 7 (9–11am), July 14 (9–11am)
Apply by April 30
Teams accepted on a rolling basis
As a first-time inventor at Texas State, BIAP was a valuable experience that taught me the importance of identifying customers, value propositions, and conducting discovery interviews to refine my innovation. I also appreciated learning alongside innovators from diverse disciplines across campus.
NyNika T. McFadden PhD
Asst. Professor of Public Health; Facutly Fellow - THRC
Build a Team:
- Technical Lead. TXST faculty or staff member involved in creating the technology or idea that forms the basis of the team's business concept. Their role is overall team/project management and technical guidance. Motivated faculty and staff can serve as both the Technical and Entrepreneurial Lead if they can commit to completing all requirements.
- Entrepreneurial Lead. TXST faculty, postdoc, graduate student, undergraduate student, or staff member with relevant knowledge of the technology or market and a commitment to investigate the potential opportunity for commercialization. Their role is to drive the customer discovery process and support the transition of the technology into the marketplace if it demonstrates commercial viability.
- Mentor. Ideally, this is an experienced entrepreneur, corporate innovator, or industry/business professional who serves as a third-party resource. Their role is to challenge assumptions, make connections, and overall guide the team forward.
- Optional for Phase I, required for Phase II
BIAP Phase I: Explore and Validate
Phase I introduces TXST researchers to customer discovery and the Business Model Canvas, helping teams explore the commercial potential of their research and innovative ideas. The program is delivered through three virtual sessions and is open to TXST faculty, postdocs, staff, and students.
Time Commitment:
Teams must complete at least 20 customer discovery interviews, and at least one team member is required to attend all three sessions.
Benefits:
Participants gain hands-on training in customer discovery, early validation of market demand, and one-on-one mentoring and program support. Phase I teams are eligible to compete for up to $15,000 in BIAP Awards and up to $30,000 in BobCatalyst Proof of Concept Grants, while connecting with innovators from across campus.
BIAP Phase II: Prepare to Launch
BIAP Phase II is designed for teams to continue customer discovery toward commercialization and prepare the teams to submit an SBIR/STTR proposal. The program consists of five virtual sessions and is open to TXST faculty, postdocs, staff, and students with prior customer discovery experience for the same idea or technology through BIAP, Faculty Innovation Accelerator Program (FIAP), or NSF I-Corps.
Time Commitment:
Teams are expected to complete at least 40 new customer discovery interviews, ensure participation across all sessions, present at a Fall 2026 showcase event, and submit an SBIR, STTR, or similar commercialization-focused funding proposal within 12 months.
Benefits:
Accepted participants receive $5,000 to support customer discovery efforts and individualized SBIR/STTR proposal support. Teams will receive advanced training in business modeling and customer discovery. Eligible teams are prepared to apply for up to $30,000 in BobCatalyst Proof of Concept Grants.
This program was a great experience because it showed us how to turn research into real products through customer discovery and developing a clear value proposition. As a graduate student at Texas State, it helped me understand that process.
Adedayo A. Alaga
Graduate Student. Ingram School of Engineering, Texas State University