NSF I-Corps at ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ

NSF I-CORPS

Program Overview
If you’re a academic researcher, a tech inventor, or a startup founder, National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) is for you.  

The program empowers startup founders to transform their novel products into real-world impacts through experiential learning in technology commercialization. The NSF I-Corps courses help participants gain insights into industry needs and challenges, as well as accelerate the translation of research discoveries to products and services that benefit society.

As part of the , the ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ partner program offers multiple Regional I-Corps Customer Discovery Courses per year. 

Benefits of Participation
Participants in the NSF I-Corps program will:

  • Explore pathways to transition their innovations to real-world applications.
  • Learn valuable customer discovery skills and connect with key industry stakeholders.
  • Eligibility to apply for up to $3000 in micro-grant funding for customer and industry outreach, conference travel, and prototyping. 
  • Gain a better understanding of technology commercialization.
  • Explore essential considerations for launching a successful tech startup. 
  • Participate in innovation and entrepreneurship career development. 
  • Potentially qualify for the national-level ($50,000 grant) 

Program Structure
The month-long Regional I-Corps Courses include: 

  • Online curriculum modules and assignments in Canvas LMS;
  • 1-2 weekly online lecture sessions with instructors experienced in technology commercialization and startup entrepreneurship; 
  • 2 office hours sections with instructors; 
  • Experiential learning customer discovery interview assignments.  

Eligibility Criteria

I-Corps is designed for academic researchers and early-stage startup founders who are interested in exploring the market potential of their work and acquiring entrepreneurial skills. To qualify, the applicant team should: 

  • Have 1-3 members (faculty, staff, students, postdocs), who can commit to participating in all class sessions
  • Have a tech innovation or startup beyond the ideation stage with some
  • Be interested in learning about tech commercialization and entrepreneurship
  • While startups and community teams will be accepted, preference will be given to academic teams

Upcoming Courses:

Spring Virtual Course

Course Dates: April 14–May 14, 2025

Format: Virtual Course, co-hosted by ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ and Rochester Institute of Technology

Description:

Researchers, students, and entrepreneurs at ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ and RIT have the opportunity to receive grant funding to progress their research or innovation. The National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps Program gives researchers funding and training to explore the commercial path forward for their research, inventions, and products.

The four-week Regional I-Corps Course comprises virtual sessions, mentoring, and the opportunity to interact with key customers and industry stakeholders, while opening up access to $3,000 in funding.

Successful teams have the opportunity to progress to the national-level NSF I-Corps Teams Program, providing $50,000 in grant funding.

Application Details:

Apply by March 19, 2025

SUNY S4 Virtual Course

Course Dates: June 30–July 30, 2025

Format: Virtual Course

Description: The I-Corps Regional Course provides researchers and innovators across disciplines experiential training in customer discovery, product-market fit, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization. 

Application Details: Coming Soon

Battery Show Hybrid Course

Course Dates: September 15–October, 2025

Format: Hybrid Course

Description: This I-Corps Hybrid Course provides researchers and innovators across disciplines experiential training in customer discovery, product-market fit, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization. The program includes an in-person customer discovery and market assessment experience at , October 6–9, 2025 in Detroit, M.I. 

Application Details: Check back soon

Fall (Oct.) Virtual Course

Course Dates: October 13–November, 2025

Format: Virtual Course

Description: This I-Corps Virtual Course provides researchers and innovators across disciplines experiential training in customer discovery, product-market fit, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization.

Application Details: Check back soon

Program Team: