The Moxie Program
Educate, engage, and execute your idea
Moxie is a 15-month program designed for research faculty and postdoctoral scholars who are ready to expand the impact of their work beyond academia.
If you have research with the potential for commercial, social, or community impact, Moxie provides the structure, mentorship, and resources to help you navigate the innovation journey — even if innovation feels outside your comfort zone.
Divided into three distinct phases—Educate, Engage, and Execute—this program supports participants through mentorship, structured sessions, and milestone-driven planning. Moxie helps you develop the mindset, tools, and strategy to move forward with confidence.
Participants receive 1:1 mentorship, access to networking events hosted by the OSU Advantage Accelerator, and sense of community from weekly structured meetings. This program runs bi-annually and is specifically designed to support OSU faculty researchers and postdoctoral scholars looking to drive innovation and turn ideas into real-world solutions.
Fall 2025 Cohort
APPLICATIONS OPEN: [TBD]
DATES: Educate Phase begins Fall 2025
TIME: Fridays, morning sessions (In-Person, OSU Campus)
Milestone-Based Progress
- Define and pursue a unique innovation or entrepreneurial goal.
- Clarify the commercial potential of your research or idea.
- Complete a customized 9-month action plan with your mentor.
- Apply innovation and entrepreneurship concepts to real-world challenges.
- Gain confidence as an innovator through hands-on experience and mentorship.
- Build a support network of mentors, peers, and professionals.
What You’ll Learn
Educate
Week 1: Kickoff and Overview
Week 2: Barriers + Mindset
Week 3: Solving Problems + Value Propositions
Week 4: Innovation in Academia
Week 5: Federal Funding Opportunities
Week 6: Demystifying Intellectual Property
Week 7: Faculty Innovator Panel
Week 8: Next Steps + Mentor Match
Engage
(9-month, 1:1 mentor meetings)
- Collaborate with a dedicated mentor to create a 9-month action plan.
- Define a milestone tied to commercializing your innovation.
- Map out a strategy for customer engagement, prototyping, or research impact.
Execute
(Monthly meetings with Moxie staff)
- Work toward your milestone with monthly check-ins from Moxie staff.
- Leverage resources and networking to accelerate progress.
- Gain real-world experience applying innovation principles to your research.
Eligibility Requirements
- Open to OSU research faculty and postdoctoral scholars across disciplines.
- Must have an early-stage innovation or entrepreneurial concept.
- Must be committed to completing all three program phases.
- Willingness to engage with a mentor and Moxie program staff.
How to Apply
Applications for the next Moxie cohort will open soon. Contact us if you have questions or would like to be notified when applications open.