Venture Devils
Who are Venture Devils?
All ASU-affiliated founders who are committed to commercializing an impactful new product or service by launching or growing a for-profit, more-than-profit, or non-profit enterprise are welcomed into the ASU Venture Devils family.
Student Founders
The Venture Devils program is available to new or existing startup teams that have at least one current ASU student as a key founder enrolled in at least one credit hour during the academic A and/or B term(s). This key founder may be an undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, or part-time student enrolled in any ASU in-person or online program or course(s).
Faculty Founders
Venture Devils helps our faculty founders stay connected and inspired via dedicated Venture Mentors and timely ASU E+I updates and information.
Community-based Founders
Venture Devils also supports community-based entrepreneurs who are formally affiliated with an approved ASU venture development program. Learn more here.
How it Works
The Venture Devils Program aims to engage, mentor, and guide founders toward problem-solution and product-market fit.
We formally engage and educate founders at all developmental levels and we track the go-to-market progress of their affiliated ventures.
We pair participant founders with a dedicated Venture Mentor who will educate and challenge the iterative advancement of the founder(s) and their affiliated venture(s).
We provide a formal process for participating founders and their affiliated ventures to be continuously evaluated and potentially pre-qualified for ASU funding opportunities and additional support services, including dedicated workspace and other University resources.
Learning Outcomes
Throughout the rolling Venture Devils program, each founder is expected to demonstrate that they are able to:
Learn, synthesize, and share current methods, tactics, and strategies for launching and developing a new venture, which may include, but will not be limited to: customer discovery, development, and acquisition, product/service development, intellectual property development and protection, entity formation, capitalization, evidence-based pitching, and early-stage growth drivers.
Iteratively develop and present an evidence-based pitch deck that incorporates “fact-based” and “data-driven” proof that is now required to ensure transparency, authenticity, and traction for today’s entrepreneurs.
Develop professional skills and habits as it relates to working with mentors, partners, and other key members of a venture development network.
Ready to Launch?
In order to become an ASU Venture Devil, you must apply. As one of the select ASU-affiliated startups within the Venture Devils program, you will be matched with a dedicated Venture Mentor and receive exclusive access to opportunities that will assist you in growing your new venture concept. Moreover, inclusion within the Venture Devils program will allow your startup to be continuously evaluated for potential funding opportunities and additional support services throughout the rolling program period.
After acceptance into Venture Devils, you will be encouraged to enroll in the Venture Devils online course. Enrollment is not required, but the class is designed to augment the dedicated mentorship that you will receive within the program. Additionally, since the course is totally online and asynchronous, it should not impact your current or planned class schedule. The coursework is based on proven startup methods and the class deliverables will help the Venture Mentors qualify your startup for additional funding and support. You may preview the Venture Devils Syllabus here.
Apply to join ASU Venture Devils
Are you a community-based entrepreneur?
Please apply to Venture Devils via the ASU Startup Accelerator, Prepped, or Sparxx programs, which are detailed here.
When can we start?
Venture Devils applications are accepted and processed four times per year, coinciding with the Fall and Spring term A and B session start dates.
Applications must be submitted by 12 noon exactly one week before classes begin for any given A or B session in which you aim to participate. This application deadline cycle is essential to ensure we are able to review your application information and match you with an appropriate Venture Mentor prior to the start of the A or B session. See the ASU Academic Calendar for future A and B session start dates and be sure to apply at least one week prior.
All founders accepted into Venture Devils will be invited to attend a cohort Orientation during the first week of the Fall/ Spring A or B session.