Are you an innovator looking to turn your scientific breakthrough into a viable business?
Look no further than the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program in the Great Plains Region!
NSF I-Corps Program is an initiative to help Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) researchers and aspiring entrepreneurs bring cutting-edge scientific discoveries into the market through a curriculum based on customer research. The goal is to determine if they are solving a real-world problem with a sizable market opportunity.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is excited to be a site in the new Great Plains I-Corps Hub. The goal is to provide entrepreneurial and customer discovery training to our teams, comprised of faculty and students from UNO and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), so they can effectively assess the commercial viability of their inventions. The NSF I-Corps program provides a unique opportunity to learn and explore the commercial potential of your idea.
I-Corps will train you and empower you with the knowledge needed to transform your research into a deep technology venture.
Widely recognized as an effective training program in the U.S. and internationally, I-Corps addresses three urgent national needs:
- Training an entrepreneurial workforce
- Bringing cutting-edge technologies to market and enabling positive economic impact
- Nurturing an innovation ecosystem
Apply
Regional I-Corps courses are for faculty, researchers, and students with technology-based innovation ideas or Intellectual Property and a strong interest in commercializing their technology. Upon submitting an application, teams will be contacted by the Great Plains Hub regarding program acceptance. This course is free for all participants. Select the section you wish to participate in and complete the associated form.
Questions? Contact Dr. Brent Clark (bbclark@unomaha.edu)
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who is I-Corps for?
All researchers and entrepreneurs in the region, including graduate students, postdoctoral researchers & research faculty with deep technology to bring to market. Our site is especially suited for UNO and UNMC students and faculty but is also available to community members and faculty and students from other universities.
How does it work?
Through the Great Plains I-Corps Hub, a select group of researchers will “get out of their comfort zones,” talk to customers, and identify the best product market fit.
Participants will go through virtual workshops over a five-week period alongside a cohort of fellow teams led by a group of experienced instructors. Each week, you will learn more about the customer discovery process, and your business model canvas, and integrate the findings to bring their innovation closer to market. Participants will also take part in office hours with trained coaches from various entrepreneurship resource providers, such as UNeTech Institute and Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC). Participants who complete the 5-week program are awarded $1,000 in funding to conduct customer interviews and develop their inventions.
Participate in the Great Plains I-Corps Hub! Teams of 2-3 people may APPLY. All team members will attend and participate fully in the program.
Team Composition
Team structure typically consist of:
- Technical lead: A faculty member who is the technology inventor and serves as principal investigator, OR a postdoctoral researcher who has deep expertise in the core technology area to be evaluated for market potential.
- Entrepreneurial lead: A graduate student or postdoctoral researcher who leads the team and is committed to commercialization.
- Industry mentor (optional but recommended): An industry expert with business/entrepreneurial experience who is independent from the technology development and team. We can help you find one if needed!
67 percent of all start-ups fail, primarily due to lack of customers. The I-Corps program will help teams evaluate the product-market fit. By helping teams connect with potential customers, strategic partners, and key experts, the program will de-risk the pathway from innovative ideas to impactful products.
What are the benefits of the Program?
Participants:
- Gain valuable market insight to inform the next steps in research and development
- Prepare for funding opportunities such as Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), or NSF proposals
- Each team receives $1000 in funding
- Develop connections and receive mentoring from experienced industry experts and entrepreneurs
- Develop the entrepreneurial mindset and toolset needed for a career in academia, startups, government, or beyond
- Become eligible for the NSF I-Corps National Teams program and a $50,000 grant for qualifying technologies and teams. Learn more about the national program from the National Science Foundation website below.
Regionals versus Nationals? The two ways to qualify for nationals are to go through a regional program like this one or to already have NSF funding in place for your project.
Great Plains Hub Partner Programs
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