TRACTION WORKSHOPS
Open to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Traction Workshops are a unique opportunity to help aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups move their ideas forward. Open to any UConn student, this series of virtual workshops provides participants with hands-on guidance in developing a strong foundation of entrepreneurship knowledge. Whether you have a concept in its earliest stages—or no idea at all, these workshops aim to empower you to learn about entrepreneurship on your own terms.
Participants will benefit from expert-led sessions that cover essential startup topics, including value proposition creation, customer discovery, creating an impactful pitch deck, and business model development. Don't have all your questions answered? Set up office hours with any of our speakers!
(Traction was expanded in Fall 2023 to include additional elements. If you participated in a previous iteration, you're still welcome to join!)
VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS
Twelve workshops will be offered each academic year to support entrepreneurs at various stages of building a business idea. These workshops will be led by experienced entrepreneurs, CCEI instructors, and UConn faculty—open to all students.
MENTOR OFFICE HOURS
Office hours are hosted each week following each live workshop, and are available to only those who attended the virtual workshop(s). They are designed as an opportunity to dive deeper into a business idea on a one-on-one basis with the instructor.
SPRING 2025 WORKSHOPS
Problem Solution Fit
January 27, 2025
6:30-7:30pm
register here
In this workshop, we will be discussing the foundational principles of introducing a new product or service to market. We will analyze and discuss best practices for conducting customer discovery to hone in on actionable customer problem statements, and ultimately market insights, to maximize success potential when launching a startup business.
Led by Leland Holcomb
Leland is a Sr. Innovation Associate at CSAA Insurance Group. In his role, Leland helps AAA’s insurance arm respond to emerging threats and opportunities through new product development, core business collaboration, and partnership with startups and leading companies. Leland is also an EIR at CCEI where he helps student entrepreneurs design and conduct initial customer discovery and engage in experiential learning experiences within insurtechs.
Leland previously served as the Director of Business Development focused on technology at AdvanceCT helping technology companies grow and expand into and within Connecticut. Prior to joining AdvanceCT, Leland led Customer Success at Aureus Analytics, a venture backed insurtech company, was Head of Scouting for Startupbootcamp's Hartford InsurTech Hub accelerator, and was a Global Fellow at Patamar Capital, an impact investment venture capital fund.
The Business Model
February 12, 2025
6:30-7:30pm
register here
A business model describes the rationale of how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value. It is a foundational document for detailing a startup company and is required to access debt and equity capital. In this workshop, we'll discuss the key components of a business model (and the short form version, referred to as a Business Model Canvas) and how we can use it to highlight value creation and identify risks and assumptions in your business. All participants will leave the session having begun (or honed an existing) business model canvas.
Led by Michelle Cote
Michelle Cote is a Lead Instructor at CCEI, as well as Director of Launc[H], an innovation ecosystem in Hartford. At CCEI, Michelle teaches courses that help students and faculty build skills critical for entrepreneurship and innovation, and supports them in forming and bringing new ventures to market.
Through Launc[H], Michelle leads the design and development of initiatives that help to make Hartford a visible and vibrant hub of entrepreneurship and innovation. Working together with anchor institutions and other community partners, Michelle has helped to seed and support several key accelerator and incubator programs, including: Hartford InsurTech Hub, Digital HealthCT, and Nassau Re/Imagine. Launc[H] also provides entrepreneurs with critical connectivity to business growth resources across the Hartford region.
The Revenue Model
April 8, 2025
6:30-7:30pm
register here
An essential part of establishing product-market fit for your business is creating a sustainable revenue model. Come to this workshop to learn not only why pricing matters, but why the revenue model is actually the single-most important element of a profitable and scalable business.
Please come prepared with as much information as possible about your early adopter customer segments, and your ideal channels. Not sure? That’s okay — come anyways to learn why these topics are important, and how to put them together to help your business grow.
Led by Michelle Cote
Michelle Cote is a Lead Instructor at CCEI, as well as Director of Launc[H], an innovation ecosystem in Hartford. At CCEI, Michelle teaches courses that help students and faculty build skills critical for entrepreneurship and innovation, and supports them in forming and bringing new ventures to market.
Through Launc[H], Michelle leads the design and development of initiatives that help to make Hartford a visible and vibrant hub of entrepreneurship and innovation. Working together with anchor institutions and other community partners, Michelle has helped to seed and support several key accelerator and incubator programs, including: Hartford InsurTech Hub, Digital HealthCT, and Nassau Re/Imagine. Launc[H] also provides entrepreneurs with critical connectivity to business growth resources across the Hartford region.
MEET THE TRACTION TEAM
Michaela Hartl
Engagement & Outreach Coordinator
michaela.hartl@uconn.edu
Alycia Chrosniak
Assistant Director of Brand & Venture Development
Rachel Ayers
Program & Financial Assistant