PROGRAMS AT THE BIC
Programs for Columbia tech founders at all stages.
STAGE 01
Ecosystem Engagement
Big things start with showing up.
STAGE 02
Ideation
Pressure-test your idea before the market does.
STAGE 03
Launch
Take the leap from prototype to paying customer.
STAGE 04
Traction
Scale your startup here in Columbia.
Ecosystem Engagement
Whether you’re a founder, a developer, a student, or just curious about the startup ecosystem, our events and community are the best way to plug into Columbia’s tech scene.
WEEKLY
Tech Beans
Join us every Tuesday morning at 8 am for 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.
TUESDAY MORNINGS AT 8AM
MONTHLY
Tech on Tap
Tech on Tap is a monthly community gathering to connect with Columbia’s tech scene and learn from people who have built, scaled, and exited successful companies. Each month, a featured speaker or panel shares honest lessons from the founder journey, from the hard-won challenges to the wins and advice that kept them going.
THIRD THURSDAYS AT 5PM
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.
ECOSYSTEM ENGAGEMENT
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
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.
IDEATION
2x/YEAR
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
Customer Discovery
The most successful startups don’t begin with the product — they begin with the customer. Customer Discovery 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.
LAUNCH
FALL 2026
Product Seminar
We’ll bring 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.
FALL 2026
Growth Seminar
Put 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.
TRACTION
COMING SOON
Traction Stage Accelerator Cohort
Join a part-time accelerator cohort designed for early stage founders in the launch and early traction stage, with mentorship and a structured curriculum to get you from MVP to capital ready.
FALL 2026
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?
