The ISU I-Corps program is a training ground for faculty, postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate students to learn how to increase the impact of their research by exploring the commercial potential of their research and technology. The five-week experiential learning program focuses on customer discovery to support the transition of ideas, devices, processes, or intellectual activities into the marketplace or for broader societal impact. This can be realized through the formation of new start-up businesses, licensing agreements, or identifying funding sources to support additional research.

In addition to offering industry exposure and entrepreneurial training for participating teams, the ISU I-Corps program will provide advice, resources, networking opportunities, and infrastructure for exploring commercialization opportunities, as well as connections to resources and programming available through the regional Great Lakes I-Corps Hub and the local innovation ecosystem. Teams that complete the I-Corps program are eligible to receive travel reimbursement to support continued customer discovery efforts to advance their innovations towards commercialization.

Learning Objectives

• Develop familiarity with Lean LaunchPad concepts and tools such as customer discovery, ecosystem mapping, and the Value Proposition Canvas
• Understand customers’ problems (“pain points”) from THEIR perspective.
• Map your customer ecosystem to understand customer roles, requirements, and decision processes.
• Build connections to the commercial ecosystem (i.e. customers, suppliers, funders) for your innovation.
• Learn skills that can help you secure future innovation funding (SBIR/STTR).

Benefits of the Program

• Receive a digital certificate upon course completion.
• Gain valuable market insight to inform the next steps in your research and/or development.
• Develop network connections and receive mentoring from experienced industry experts and entrepreneurs.
• Develop the entrepreneurial mindset and toolset needed for a career in academia, industry, startups, or government.
• Become eligible for the NSF I-Corps National Teams program and $50,000 grant. (Eligibility requirements apply. Contact us if you are interested in applying for the NSF I-Corps National Teams program)

• Summer 2026
  • 5/22, 6/5, 6/19
  • Class sessions 8:30am CT – 10:30am CT
  • Registration is closed for the Summer cohort.
• AgTech Cohort – Summer 2026
  • This cohort is designed specifically for those with an agricultural innovation.
  • 6/10, 6/17, 7/1, 7/15, 7/29
  • Class sessions 12pm CT – 2:00pm CT
  • Registration is closed for the AgTech cohort.
• Fall 2026
  • 10/21, 11/4, 11/18
  • Class sessions 5:30pm CT – 7:30pm CT
  • Registration is not currently open for the fall cohort.

Registration is currently closed.