As startup culture grows, it offers an increasing number of young, innovative entrepreneurs a chance to merge creativity and technology to turn a profit. But discussions of vision, the future, and “the Uber of ____” often leave out the thousands of hours that go into laying a stable foundation underneath world-changing ideas.

The Idea TestLab is returning to Happy Valley LaunchBox this fall to help local entrepreneurs turn these ideas into feasible businesses.

Applications to join the TestLab are due September 15. Teams accepted will meet weekly for four two-hour sessions from 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday in October. Participating teams will also have 24-hour access to the LaunchBox during the program, one-on-one mentoring, and up to $3,000 for customer discovery.

“All businesses start with an idea. The trick is finding out how to turn one into a viable business. This is what we focus on in the Idea TestLab,” Lee Erickson, chief amplifier at Happy Valley LaunchBox, said in a release.
“We work to give people the tools they need and to demystify the process of starting a business.”