Every innovation begins with a question:

What if?

Innovation Foundry (IF) is the venture and product development program of the 71 North Partnership Studio. It is where students, faculty, staff, researchers, entrepreneurs, and community partners transform promising ideas into validated solutions, impactful products, and sustainable ventures.

Like a traditional foundry transforms raw materials into something strong and useful, Innovation Foundry provides the environment, community, and practices that transform ideas into meaningful impact. Through discovery, experimentation, customer engagement, rapid prototyping, and continuous learning, you develop the confidence and capabilities to build something that matters.

Whether your goal is launching a startup, commercializing research, creating an educational product, improving a campus service, or solving a community challenge, Innovation Foundry gives you a structured pathway to move from possibility to reality.

The Innovation Journey

Innovation Foundry organizes venture development into a progressive pathway that supports you from your first idea through launch and growth — SPARK to discover opportunities, FUEL to validate solutions, and FiRe to build, launch, and grow.

Start Your Journey

Whether you’re asking your first “What if” or preparing to launch your next venture, Innovation Foundry provides the people, practices, and pathways to help transform ideas into impact.

Start your journey from “What if” to “What’s next.”