Programs for Columbia’s Tech Founders At All Stages
ECOSYSTEM ENGAGEMENT
Tech on Tap
Tech on Tap is a monthly community gathering to connect with Columbia’s tech scene and learn from pros who have built, scaled, and exited successful companies .
Every third Thursday evening we bring in an expert to share insights on the challenges that can make or break your tech startup—from incorporation decisions to scaling strategies.graph that would be used to further explain a program offered at the BIC.
MONTHLY
Tech Beans
Coffee and conversation centered around building scalable, high-growth startups in Columbia. Whether you're in the early stages of an idea, a growth-stage founder, or just curious to be around people who are building things, come on out.
Bring a friend, make a new connection, and see where things go. We hope to see you there!
WEEKLY
SPARK
Startup Sprint
Startup Sprint is a fast-paced, 24-hour event where aspiring entrepreneurs, developers, designers, and innovators come together to experience what it takes to build a startup.
Day 1: Kick things off with dinner, networking, and team formation. Share your ideas and join a team that inspires you!
Day 2: Get ready for an action packed day. You’ll dive into intensive sprint blocks, led by industry experts, where your team will take your idea through the entire startup journey.
2x/YEAR
IDEATION
Deep Dive Workshops
We host a regular workshop series diving deep into specific tech founder topics, including finance, legal, fundraising, and more.
They are modular in nature but flow together and build on one another. Come to the one you need right now, or collect them all!
MONTHLY
LAUNCH
Customer Discovery Lab
The most successful startups don’t begin with the product — they begin with the customer. Customer Discovery Lab is a 6-week cohort program that helps early-stage founders validate their ideas, test assumptions, and build a business model rooted in real customer needs. This program is made possible by a grant from the NC IDEA Foundation.
2X/YEAR
Product Jam
Product Jam brings together founders, designers, and product leaders to go from concept to working prototype using AI-powered development tools. You will use platforms like Claude and Lovable to move at a pace that was not possible two years ago, turning business ideas into testable prototypes before the day is over.
TRACTION
2X/YEAR
Growth Jam
Growth Jam puts AI tools in your hands to tackle customer acquisition head-on. Working alongside growth marketers, sales leaders, and AI practitioners, you will use Claude and purpose-built AI skills packs to research markets, generate campaigns, build landing pages, and validate strategies, all in a single day.
2X/YEAR
Founder Institute Accelerator
The Founder Institute runs a 4 month part-time accelerator cohort designed for early stage and aspiring founders, with a mission to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide.
2X/YEAR
Recurring Programs
MEMBERS ONLY
Advisor Fridays
When you're building a startup, the right conversation at the right time can change everything. Advisor Fridays brings a rotating group of experienced founders, operators, and domain experts into the BIC so our members can get direct access for informal conversation, advice, and mentorship.
Stage Based Peer Groups
Groups meet weekly to connect, share honestly about what's working and what isn't, and grow alongside people who genuinely understand what they're going through. Because every member is at a comparable stage, conversations stay relevant and practical: the questions you're wrestling with this week are likely the same ones the founder sitting across from you faced last month.
Interested in upcoming programs at the BIC?
