National I-Corps Program

I-Corps team members work through the I-Corps Curriculum together, learning what it takes to successfully transfer knowledge into products and processes that benefit society.
National Science Foundation Innovation Corps Logo

Top researchers from across the US apply to I-Corps Teams, an intensive seven-week innovation and entrepreneurship training course with mentoring and up to $50,000 in NSF funding. Selected teams complete over 100 customer discovery interviews to collect first-hand evidence for or against product-market fit.

I-Corps Teams by the numbers

From 2012-2020, I-Corps has had:

100+ Cohort Trainings:

1,908 teams

5,800 individuals trained

1,280 universities, colleges, institutions, & organizations

Resulting in:

1,036 startup companies

$761M follow-on funding raised

9 startups merged or acquired

I-Corps participant benefits

  • Learn to identify valuable product opportunities that can emerge from academic research​​
  • Gain entrepreneurship skills through training in customer discovery and guidance from established entrepreneurs​
  • Up to $50,000 in funding to do customer discovery research​
  • Stronger application for SBIR/STTR grants (up to $1.5 million)
Upcoming National Cohort Dates

2022 cohorts will be held virtually. NSF will update participants with more information.

In I-Corps, researchers learn how to get out of their comfort zone and talk with customers to learn how to evaluate a market opportunity.

The UNY I-Corps Node

Since launching in 2017, our Node has continued to grow and expand — reaching more researchers and startups at more universities and cities, and helping them prepare for, and participate in the national I-Corps Teams program.

90

teams sent to the National program

51

mentors matched with teams

18

universities represented

I-Corps Team requirements

  • Deep tech innovation with commercialization potential
  • Relevant NSF award (current or expired <5 years)​
  • Full I-Corps™ team in place at initial contact​
  • Ability to make serious time commitment ​
  • Entire team must be available for workshops (kick off and closing) and weekly online calls
Frequently Asked Questions

Program overview

Kick off

3 days

7 weeks: Customer discovery interviews

1x/week: Online check-in & lesson

View Upcoming Dates

2022 I-Corps cohorts will be held virtually. 

Lessons Learned

2 days

If you’re interested in applying to be part of the NSF I-Corps program, reach out and we will follow up with you.