Penn State’s NSF I-Corps Short Course is accepting applications for its virtual March cohort. The no-cost program helps researchers test a startup idea through customer interviews and educational programming on the lean startup methodology. Participants must apply and complete a self-guided I-Corps prep mini-course by Wednesday, Feb. 21.
The cohort begins on Friday, March 1, and runs through Friday, March 15. The cohort will meet virtually every Friday for a total of three meetings during the course. Teams must commit to conducting a significant number of customer interviews during the three weeks, and to completing asynchronous assignments. Participants should plan on spending 5 to 10 hours per week of their time on I-Corps during the short course duration. This course is offered as a collaboration between multiple universities in the Mid-Atlantic region, including Penn State.
The NSF I-Corps program uses experiential education to help researchers gain valuable insight into entrepreneurship, starting a business or industry requirements and challenges. Participants learn valuable skills in connecting with customers, asking the right questions and how to find partners to help get startup ideas off the ground. Through I-Corps training, researchers can reduce the time it takes to translate a promising idea from the laboratory to the marketplace.
The short course will expose participants to key stakeholders and funding resources in the entrepreneurship community, increase chances of receiving an SBIR/STTR award and put participants in an excellent position to apply for the National I-Corps Program that provides $50,000 in funding to assist awardees with customer discovery.
Penn State teams are also welcome to apply to other regional short course offerings from the broader Mid-Atlantic region. Contact the Penn State NSF I-Corps Program Manager, Derek Gross, to find the best solution for your team.
Learn more about NSF I-Corps at Penn State.
About NSF I-Corps
Penn State University is part of the NSF I-Corps Mid-Atlantic Hub, a network of universities, U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded researchers, established entrepreneurs, local and regional entrepreneurial communities, and other federal agencies. Hubs work collaboratively to build and sustain a diverse and inclusive innovation ecosystem throughout the United States.