NSF I-Corps Teams
An intensive seven-week innovation and entrepreneurship training course for scientists and engineers.
In NSF’s I-Corps Teams national program, top researchers in science and engineering fields are immersed in a hands-on experience of customer discovery — a key step in the entrepreneurial process that involves talking to potential customers, partners, and other industry stakeholders.
Selected teams are awarded up to $50,000 to conduct 100+ customer discovery interviews during a seven-week course. Through this process, the teams learn how to evaluate the potential for translating their laboratory invention into a successful product and/or service.
I-Corps Teams is a virtual course that is offered about 12 times per year.
In I-Corps, STEM researchers learn how to get out of their comfort zone and talk with customers to learn how to evaluate a market opportunity.
Participant Benefits
- Training to identify valuable product opportunities that can emerge from academic research
- Guidance from established entrepreneurs
- NSF funding up to $50,000 for customer discovery
- Strengthen application for SBIR/STTR grants (up to $1.5 million)
Before You Apply: Complete a Regional I-Corps Course
Completing a Regional I-Corps course is an NSF requirement for anyone who intends to be the Entrepreneurial Lead on an I-Corps Teams application, and is recommended for all team members.
What is I-Corps Teams Really Like?
We interviewed several teams moments after their final presentations and asked them about their experience!
Advice for teams preparing for I-Corps
The I-Corps Teams program is a challenging, yet very rewarding experience for many researchers. Learn valuable tips from teams that have completed the program.
Why do the I-Corps Teams program?
The I-Corps Teams program helps researchers look at their innovation from a different perspective and understand what the public needs and wants. Then, they can confidently further evolve their innovation and research to solve that market demand.
I-Corps Aha Moments
Participants in the I-Corps Teams program share what they were surprised to learn about their target markets.
Questions About the NSF I-Corps Teams Program?
Reach out to us at [email protected] and we will follow up with you.