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A Program Designed for the Earliest Stages of Product Innovation 

Join mHUB through its pre-accelerator mPOWER programs and turn your idea into a reality

entrepreneur works in the mHUB prototyping lab

mPOWER Programs Give Founders the Opportunity to Validate

mPOWER programs are designed to fast-track early stage startups through the discovery phase. Through an application-based, 6-month program, participants receive hands-on support to turn ideas into hardtech businesses at the nation’s leading independent innovation center for physical product development.

Founders conclude the program with a clear understanding of the problem they are trying to solve, who would be willing to pay for the solution, their market, and prototyping roadmap.

Apply here!
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mPOWER Program Eligibility & Benefits

There is no fee to participate in the program as membership is sponsored by program partners, who, with mHUB, define areas of focus for each cohort, such energy, consumer products, hardtech, and more. 

If accepted into the program, you will receive:

  • Sponsored 6-month membership at mHUB with Shared Workspace membership benefits
  • Structured, hands-on programming for building a business and product at its earliest stages
  • Access to $6M worth of prototyping equipment
  • Dedicated support from a network of industry-leading mentors, mHUB staff, and founders
  • Networking opportunities
  • Speaker series to hear from entrepreneurs building technology in focus areas
  • Exclusive access to mHUB's Experts in Residence
  • The opportunity to apply for up to a $5,000 microgrant

What Does the 6-month Program Look Like?

Workshops will take place on Wednesdays. If accepted, founders should anticipate spending 4-6 hours every week in active programming. 

Month 1

  • Orientation and Welcome
  • Session 1: Problem Expertise & Customer Discovery
  • Session 2: Intro to Desirability, Feasibility, Viability (DFV): Assumptions & Risk Management
  • 1:1 Meetings with Dedicated Expert in Residence

Month 2

  • Session 3: Differentiation & Defensibility
  • Session 4: Product & Feature Prioritization
  • 1:1 Meetings with Dedicated Expert in Residence
  • Cohort Offsite
  • Speaker Series

Month 3

  • Session 5: Product Requirements & Acceptance Criteria
  • Session 6: Proof of Concept vs. Prototype
  • The Power of YOU: Defining Your Personal Leadership Brand and Expanding Social Capital
  • 1:1 Meetings with Dedicated Expert in Residence

Month 4

  • Interactive Case Study Review and Implications for Your Product
  • Business Model Canvas & Value Proposition Canvas
  • Legal Series: Intellectual Property Q&A
  • 1:1 Meetings with Dedicated Program Staff and Expert in Res
  • Introductory Pitch Workshop
  • Speaker Series

Month 5

  • Market Sizing and Competitor Assessment
  • Legal Series: Entity Formation
  • Group Sessions with Dedicated Speech & Pitch Coach
  • 1:1 Meetings with Dedicated Program Staff and Expert in Residence

 

Month 6

  • Marketing Plan and Go to Market Strategy
  • Speaker Series
  • Group Sessions with Dedicated Speech & Pitch Coach
  • 1:1 Pitch Feedback Sessions 
  • 1:1 Meetings with Dedicated Expert in Residence

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this program open to?
mPOWER is organized into two cohorts a year. To qualify, participants must have a clear problem they are trying to solve through a physical product and be able to dedicate 7-10 hours per week for the entirety of the 6-month program.

 

Where does this program take place?
Sessions take place at mHUB's innovation center at 1623 W. Fulton St, Chicago, IL, 60612. There will be some virtual accommodation for hybrid sessions, but the majority of programming will take place in person.

When do applications open and close?
Applications for the 2025 mPOWER cohorts open on Wednesday, April 16th 2025 and close on Monday, May 19th 2025 at 11:59 PM CT.

How much does the program cost?

There is no cost to participate. mHUB membership fee is sponsored by program partners.

Does mHUB provide any funding as part of this program?

Shared workspace membership is covered by program partners, so there is no fee to participate in the program. Participants may also receive a one-time $5,000 microgrant. 

 

Will participants be able to produce a full prototype during the program?

Every product is different. Momentum in product development is dependent on the current stage of the participant, how much time they have available to contribute, complexity of product, and how much the participant has done in the areas of customer discovery/prototyping. That being said, all participants will have full access to mHUB resources and talent to make progress.  

During the interview process, the mHUB team can provide further insight to this question.

 

When will the next mPOWER program begin?
The 2025 mPOWER cohorts will be selected in May, with workshops to begin in June 2025.

 

mPOWER Program Supported by

Join an mPOWER cohort

If you’re an aspiring innovator, and have a clear product idea or solution, mHUB will help you make it a reality.

Apply here!