The I-Corps program is all about customer discovery! The I-Corps Program supports teams through an intensive 7-meeting critical evaluation. Our goal is to help faculty, students, and the community answer important questions about their business, product, or technology idea through coaching and direct customer interactions.

I-Corps course provides a set of skills and entrepreneurial knowledge that can be applied to any career path. It uses the Lean LaunchPad method to give participants a working knowledge of how to think about their innovation ideas from a business and customer perspective, as well as how to conduct customer discovery interviews, the first step in any commercialization process.

The University of Toledo I-Corps program is a collaboration with the University of Akron Research Foundation.

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

• 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)

• Spring 2026
  • Applications Due: Sunday, February 1
  • Teams Selected: Friday, February 6
    • Week 1: Friday, Feb 27 Group Meeting
    • Week 2: Friday, March 6 Individual Meeting
    • Week 3: Friday, March 13 Group Meeting
    • Week 4: Friday, March 20 Individual Meeting
    • Week 5: Friday, April 3 Group Meeting
    • Week 6: Friday, April 10 I-Corps Finale
  • All I-Corps meeting sessions will be held virtually.
    ​​Group Meetings will be held 12pm – 2:30pm ET.
  • Individual Meetings will be scheduled for 30-minute time slots between 9am and 3pm ET on the dates listed
  • Registration is closed for the spring cohort.
• Summer 2026
  • Applications Due: Sunday, May 10
  • Teams Selected: Friday, May 15
    • Week 1: Friday, June 5 Group Meeting
    • Week 2: Friday, June 12 Individual Meeting
    • Week 3: Friday, June 19 Group Meeting
    • Week 4: Friday, June 26 Individual Meeting
    • Week 5: Friday, July 10 Group Meeting
    • Week 6: Friday, July 17 I-Corps Finale
  • All I-Corps meeting sessions will be held virtually.
    ​​Group Meetings will be held 12pm – 2:30pm ET.
  • Individual Meetings will be scheduled for 30-minute time slots between 9am and 3pm ET on the dates listed
  • Registration is not open for the summer cohort.
• Fall 2026
  • Dates TBD

Registration for the Spring Cohort is closed