CoMotion All

pitch, workshop, practice, fundamentals, startups, fall, i-corps

RSS XML iCal Seattle, WA — Pacific Time
This hCalendar-compliant page is optimized for search engines. View this calendar as published at comotion.uw.edu.

IGF: Fundamentals of the Lean Canvas & Customer Discovery

The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund provides more than $1 million per year in grants of up to $75K per project team to move University of Washington innovations to the next stage of commercial development and investment. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. Basic research is not supported. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM.

Plan to Launch Workshop 7

This program aims to support teams who have already participated in other CoMotion programs and have demonstrated a clear interest in starting a company. The program consists of two in-person/hybrid sessions and five virtual workshops.  Click here to learn more about participating in our Innovation Training programs. Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Condon Hall (CDH). Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars. Workshops. Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

CoMotion Labs Social

CoMotion Labs and Plug and Play Seattle is hosting an Oktoberfest-themed happy hour. We will be sharing beer, brats, and big ideas! ​This event is by invitation only. Invitations are non-transferable. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Thursday, September 25, 2025, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.

IGF: Impactful Pitch Narrative Workshop

The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund provides more than $1 million per year in grants of up to $75K per project team to move University of Washington innovations to the next stage of commercial development and investment. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. Basic research is not supported. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM.

I-Corps Workshop 1 Fall

This NSF funded program teaches participants how to perform customer discovery, focusing on customer segments and value proposition. The program consists of four weekly, virtual sessions. In addition to attending all workshops, participants are expected to conduct a minimum of 20 customer discovery interviews. Click here to learn more about participating in our Innovation Training programs. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Thursday, October 2, 2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Virtual.

Allen School Career Fair

This exciting event allows you to meet UW Allen School students and alumni who are interested in networking and actively looking for jobs or internships. Join us for this essential component of your recruiting plan! From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. the fair is only open to UW Allen School (CSE) students; after that, students in related majors can attend. Please register to attend. Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Student Union Building (HUB). Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Information Sessions. Thursday, October 2, 2025, 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM. For more info visit www.cs.washington.edu.

Mentor Networking Event

Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Condon Hall (CDH). Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Meetings. Workshops. Thursday, October 2, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

Fundamentals for Startups: 10 Reasons You Shouldn’t Take VC Funding

CoMotion Labs Members Lecture: Is taking venture capital a “sign of success?” Dave’s answer would be absolutely not. In this session, entrepreneur, investor, and startup advisor Dave Parker challenges one of the most persistent myths in the startup world: that raising venture capital is the ultimate badge of honor. With decades of experience on both sides of the table, Dave lays out ten compelling, real-world reasons why VC funding might not be the right path for your startup– and how it can actually derail your vision, autonomy, and long-term success. Speaker: Dave Parker is a serial entrepreneur based in Seattle with global experience. With over 20 years of experience as a Managing Partner at DKParker, a consulting firm that helps companies launch their go-to-market strategies, designing business and revenue models, and pricing, Dave is an expert in scaling up to exit! He has been part of more than 20 transactions as founder, operator, board member, and advisor across various sectors and stages. He is also a published author… Event interval: Ongoing event. Campus room: Condon Hall, 2nd floor (take elevator). Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars. Friday, October 3, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Startup Hall - 1100 NE Campus Parkway, 2nd floor (take elevator).

I-Corps Workshop 2 Fall

This NSF funded program teaches participants how to perform customer discovery, focusing on customer segments and value proposition. The program consists of four weekly, virtual sessions. In addition to attending all workshops, participants are expected to conduct a minimum of 20 customer discovery interviews. Click here to learn more about participating in our Innovation Training programs. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Thursday, October 9, 2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Virtual.

Fundamentals for Startups: A Startup’s Guide to the Washington State Department of Commerce

CoMotion Labs Members Lecture: ​Are you a startup founder or entrepreneur looking to navigate Washington State’s business landscape? Join us for an informative session covering the resources, programs, and support available through the Washington State Department of Commerce. This event will provide a practical roadmap to accessing funding opportunities, export assistance, innovation programs, and more. Hear directly from Commerce representatives on how to best leverage state support and grow your business right here in Washington State. ​What You’ll Learn: ​How to tap into grants, loans, and technical assistance , ​Programs tailored for startups, small businesses, and innovators , ​How to connect with regional economic development partners, Speaker: Speaker information coming soon! About Fundamentals for Startups: Fundamentals for Startups is a weekly one-hour lecture series featuring notable experts who share startup-related information, experience, and insights with our entrepreneurial community. From raising capital to… Event interval: Ongoing event. Campus room: Condon Hall, 2nd floor (take elevator). Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars. Friday, October 10, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Startup Hall - 1100 NE Campus Parkway, 2nd floor (take elevator).

Covergence

COVERGENCE is the premier gathering for research institutions, investors, and industry leaders focused on accelerating university technologies and startups through gap funding and accelerator programs (GAP). ​This event is by invitation only. Invitations are non-transferable. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Thursday, October 16, 2025 – Friday, October 17, 2025. For more info visit www.innovosource.com.

I-Corps Workshop 3 Fall

This NSF funded program teaches participants how to perform customer discovery, focusing on customer segments and value proposition. The program consists of four weekly, virtual sessions. In addition to attending all workshops, participants are expected to conduct a minimum of 20 customer discovery interviews. Click here to learn more about participating in our Innovation Training programs. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Thursday, October 16, 2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Virtual.

Fundamentals for Startups: Panel- So You Want to Join an Accelerator…

CoMotion Labs Members Lecture: ​Thinking about joining a startup accelerator? Wondering if it’s the right move for your company—or how to even get in? Join us for a candid and informative panel discussion featuring leaders from some of the region’s top accelerator programs. Panelists will share their perspectives on what accelerators look for in applicants, how to evaluate whether an accelerator aligns with your goals, and common misconceptions and mistakes founders make. Whether you’re actively applying or just exploring your options, this session will help you understand the landscape, ask the right questions, and make informed decisions about your startup’s next steps.  Speaker: ​Emer Dooley, Site Lead, Creative Destruction Lab Seattle ​Olly Downs, Chief Technology & AI Officer, Curinos ​Momo Nakamura, Partnerships Manager, Plug and Play Seattle, About Fundamentals for Startups: Fundamentals for Startups is a weekly one-hour lecture series featuring notable experts who share startup-related information, experience, and… Event interval: Ongoing event. Campus room: Condon Hall, 2nd floor (take elevator). Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars. Friday, October 17, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Startup Hall - 1100 NE Campus Parkway, 2nd floor (take elevator).

Start Something with Rich Barton

Start Something is a dynamic conversation series that brings together trailblazers from Seattle’s innovation ecosystem to share their entrepreneurial journeys and lessons learned with a vibrant community of UW students, founders, and innovators—as well as members of the broader startup community. ​We’re thrilled to welcome Rich Barton, legendary entrepreneur and founder of Expedia and Zillow, for our next installment. Rich’s bold vision and disruptive approach have reshaped entire industries, and his story promises to be both fascinating and deeply inspiring for anyone interested in innovation, risk-taking, and building something that lasts. ​Join us for an engaging conversation as Rich reflects on his journey—from launching Expedia within Microsoft to founding Zillow and serving as its CEO—and shares insights on navigating uncertainty, scaling ideas, and staying curious. Advanced registration required. Please register here or at the link below. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars. Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. For more info visit luma.com.

Boeing Training

Click here to learn more about participating in our Innovation Training programs. This event is by invite-only. Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Condon Hall (CDH). Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Information Sessions. Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

Fundamentals for Startups: Who Owns What? Navigating Startup Equity and Cap Tables

CoMotion Labs Members Lecture: ​Join us for an essential deep-dive into cap tables - one of the most critical yet misunderstood aspects of startup finance. This session will equip you with the knowledge to confidently navigate equity structures from company formation through multiple funding rounds. We’ll cover cap table basics like structure, terminology and key metrics, how to set up your initial equity distribution to avoid common mistakes, and real-world dilution scenarios that show founder ownership evolution through multiple fundraising rounds. Whether you're splitting equity with co-founders or preparing for your first investor meeting, this session provides the foundation you need to make informed decisions about your company's most valuable asset - its ownership structure. Speaker: Brooke Borseth is an Associate at FUSE, focusing on early-stage investments in vertical software and applied AI. Brooke joined FUSE after spending four years with Moneta Ventures, an early-stage venture firm based in California. She holds a… Event interval: Ongoing event. Campus room: Condon Hall, 2nd floor (take elevator). Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars. Friday, October 24, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Startup Hall - 1100 NE Campus Parkway, 2nd floor (take elevator).

Investor Speed Dating

This event is by invitation only. Invitations are non-transferable. Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Condon Hall (CDH). Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Information Sessions. Meetings. Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM.

I-Corps Workshop 4 Fall

This NSF funded program teaches participants how to perform customer discovery, focusing on customer segments and value proposition. The program consists of four weekly, virtual sessions. In addition to attending all workshops, participants are expected to conduct a minimum of 20 customer discovery interviews. Click here to learn more about participating in our Innovation Training programs. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Thursday, October 30, 2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Virtual.

IGF: Pitch Practice 1

The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund provides more than $1 million per year in grants of up to $75K per project team to move University of Washington innovations to the next stage of commercial development and investment. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. Basic research is not supported. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Thursday, October 30, 2025, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM.

IGF: Pitch Practice 1

The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund provides more than $1 million per year in grants of up to $75K per project team to move University of Washington innovations to the next stage of commercial development and investment. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. Basic research is not supported. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Thursday, October 30, 2025, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM.

Fundamentals for Startups: Panel- AI: What Could Go Wrong?

CoMotion Labs Members Lecture: ​Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries, unlocking new possibilities—and raising serious questions. In this panel discussion led by the team at Wilson Sonsini, we’ll explore the risks, legal challenges, and ethical dilemmas that startups and technologists must consider when building and deploying AI. Join legal experts alongside startup founders and AI industry leaders, for a candid discussion on emerging legal framework and regulatory risks; IP and data privacy concerns; and bias, fairness, and unintended consequences. Whether you’re developing AI tools or integrating them into your business, this session will help you understand the potential pitfalls and what founders really need to know before launching AI-powered products. Speaker: Information coming soon! About Fundamentals for Startups: Fundamentals for Startups is a weekly one-hour lecture series featuring notable experts who share startup-related information, experience, and insights with our entrepreneurial community. From… Event interval: Ongoing event. Campus room: Condon Hall, 2nd floor (take elevator). Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars. Friday, October 31, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Startup Hall - 1100 NE Campus Parkway, 2nd floor (take elevator).

IGF: Pitch Practice 2 (AM)

The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund provides more than $1 million per year in grants of up to $75K per project team to move University of Washington innovations to the next stage of commercial development and investment. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. Basic research is not supported. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM.

IGF: Pitch Practice 2 (PM)

The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund provides more than $1 million per year in grants of up to $75K per project team to move University of Washington innovations to the next stage of commercial development and investment. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. Basic research is not supported. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

IGF: Pitch Practice 3 (AM)

The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund provides more than $1 million per year in grants of up to $75K per project team to move University of Washington innovations to the next stage of commercial development and investment. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. Basic research is not supported. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Thursday, November 13, 2025, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM.

IGF: Pitch Practice 3 (PM)

The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund provides more than $1 million per year in grants of up to $75K per project team to move University of Washington innovations to the next stage of commercial development and investment. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. Basic research is not supported. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Thursday, November 13, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

IGF: Pitch Practice 4 (AM)

The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund provides more than $1 million per year in grants of up to $75K per project team to move University of Washington innovations to the next stage of commercial development and investment. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. Basic research is not supported. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM.

Idea to Plan- Fall

This program introduces participants to CoMotion's innovation services, commercialization pathways, and the beginnings of customer discovery. The program is a one-day, in-person workshop. Click here to learn more about participating in our Innovation Training programs. Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Condon Hall (CDH). Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM.

IGF: Art and Science of Visual Design Workshop

The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund provides more than $1 million per year in grants of up to $75K per project team to move University of Washington innovations to the next stage of commercial development and investment. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. Basic research is not supported. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Thursday, November 20, 2025, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM.

IGF Final Pitches: Day 1

The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund provides more than $1 million per year in grants of up to $75K per project team to move University of Washington innovations to the next stage of commercial development and investment. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. Basic research is not supported. Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Condon Hall (CDH). Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

IGF Final Pitches: Day 2

The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund provides more than $1 million per year in grants of up to $75K per project team to move University of Washington innovations to the next stage of commercial development and investment. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. Basic research is not supported. Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Condon Hall (CDH). Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Workshops. Thursday, December 4, 2025, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Innovation Gap Fund Celebration

The CoMotion Innovation Gap Fund provides more than $1 million per year in grants of up to $75K per project team to move University of Washington innovations to the next stage of commercial development and investment. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities to advance promising innovations that have the potential to enable new products and services. Successful projects have used funds to research customer demand, research and validate markets, create prototypes, and initiate beta testing. Basic research is not supported. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: dso@uw.edu. Event Types: Information Sessions. Meetings. Thursday, December 11, 2025, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM. TBD.