image caption goes here Education & Development Opportunities


OISP offers education and development programs designed to help faculty and research teams explore the commercial potential of their innovations. From early-stage market discovery to mentorship and venture development, these programs support innovators at every stage of the journey.

Programs are available to faculty, researchers, and select graduate students.

Founders Elect

UT San Antonio’s flagship faculty startup formation program, offering standardized terms and two flexible pathways to take your innovation from invention disclosure to operating company.

Commercialization Workshops

Hands-on workshops that introduce faculty to market-first thinking, customer discovery, commercialization pathways, including licensing and startup options.

Entrepreneur-in-Resident (EIR) Program

One-on-one guidance from experienced entrepreneurs to help faculty assess commercial strategy, refine value propositions, and navigate next steps toward impact.

NSF I-Corps Southwest IdeaLaunch

A nationally recognized program that provides structured customer discovery training and funding, helping faculty teams validate real-world needs and de-risk their path to commercialization.

Business Development Internship Program

Hands-on experiential learning where graduate-level interns work with OISP’s Market Opportunity & Development team to evaluate technologies, conduct market analyses, and support early-stage business planning.

image caption goes here How These Programs Fit Together


These programs are designed to work together — not in isolation. Faculty and research teams may enter at different points depending on the maturity of their innovation and progress through multiple programs as their commercialization efforts evolve.

  • Early exploration: Commercialization Workshops
  • Market validation: NSF I-Corps
  • Strategic guidance: Entrepreneur-in-Resident (EIR) Program
  • Company Formation: Founders Elect

image caption goes here Not Sure Where to Begin?


OISP staff can help identify the most appropriate starting point based on your innovation, goals, and timeline.