MAKE AN IMPACT WITH YOUR RESEARCH
Meeting four times over the course of several weeks, Iowa JPEC's NSF I-Corps Workshop is designed to provide University of Iowa faculty, staff, and students with an opportunity to develop marketable ideas and accelerate the startup process. If you are looking to make an impact with your research, joining our NSF I-Corps program is a great place to start. This workshop will give participants an introduction to the Lean Launchpad methodology and familiarize them with the Business Model Canvas and customer discovery. At the conclusion of the program, participants are encouraged to apply for the national level with the NSF I-Corps program where you can be eligible to be awarded up to $50,000 in funding.
2024-25 DATES
What: NSF I-Corps – virtually held over Zoom
September: Mondays from noon-2 p.m. on Zoom (CLASS IS FULL)
Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30
November: Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. (CLASS IS FULL)
Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26
February-March: Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. (CLICK TO APPLY)
Feb. 4, 11, 18, March 4
April-May: Fridays from 9-11 a.m. on Zoom (CLICK TO APPLY)
April 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2
I-Corps Impact: Great Lakes I-Corps Hub
About NSF I-CORPS
NSF I-Corps is a public-private partnership program that teaches university entrepreneurs with a targeted Lean Launchpad curriculum to identify valuable product opportunities that can emerge from academic research, and offers entrepreneurship training to participants.
The first and most important goal of I-Corps sites is to encourage technical entrepreneurship and teach faculty and students how to think about commercialization. Teams should have clearly defined goals and expectations for how the program can help develop and commercialize their idea.
The I-Corps Site will provide infrastructure, advice, resources, networking opportunities, training, and modest funding (funds of up to $2,500 per team) to enable teams to transition their innovations into the marketplace or into becoming national I-Corps Team applicants. With the support and mentorship of the I-Corps Site, the teams will learn first-hand about entrepreneurship and explore the transition of their ideas, devices, processes or other intellectual activities into the marketplace.
Awards may only be used for the following expenses and all expenses are subject to approval by I-Corps Site faculty:
- Acquisition of modest amounts of equipment, materials or outside support to fabricate prototypes
- Costs associated with external consultants to support business strategy, technology development, or regulatory assistance
- Travel expenses within North America to attend conferences, trade shows or to consult with potential clients or experts for the purpose of discovery
- Additional training or education related to entrepreneurial immersion or resources needed to directly advance the goals of transitioning a team’s project into the marketplace
Awards may NOT be used to offset UI employee salaries for the I-Corps team or for legal or administrative costs.
Upon completion of the I-Corps Site program, participants are eligible to apply for the NSF I-Corps Team program (an intensive six-week NSF training with the opportunity to be awarded a $50,000 grant) as well as many other funding opportunities.
Additional Resources
► NSF I-Corps Sites
► VentureWell and I-Corps
► NSF I-Corps Hub Great Lakes Region
Should I have disclosed the IP or have a patent filed prior to attending?
We strongly encourage participants to have a conversation with their Tech Transfer office and/or patent attorney prior to attending this program. There is the potential that IP information could be disclosed during the course of this program, although it is highly discouraged.
NEXT STEPS
Apply for the next University of Iowa NSF I-Corps Workshop at any time, we have an on-going open enrollment.