Health and Human Science I-Corps – Hosted by Purdue University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
May 11 - July 3
Free
This I-Corps program, brought to you by Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is designed to help academic researchers, practitioners, and innovators explore the commercial viability and market potential of their health and human science innovations. This program combines cutting-edge entrepreneurial training with hands-on customer discovery to accelerate the commercialization of innovative products and services that improve health and quality of life.
Through an immersive, two-phase curriculum, participants will learn to validate their value proposition, identify primary users and customers, assess market opportunity, and develop a preliminary commercialization strategy. Whether your innovation is inspired by your work in health and kinesiology, human development and family science, psychological sciences, health sciences, nursing, public health, nutrition science, or speech, language, and hearing sciences or any other advancement in the health and human sciences, this program provides the framework and mentorship for you to evaluate its commercial potential.
Learning Objectives
- Develop familiarity with Lean LaunchPad concepts and tools such as customer discovery, value proposition design, and business model canvas
- Understand customers’ problems (“pain points”) from THEIR perspective
- Map your customer ecosystem to understand customer roles, requirements, and decision processes
- Identify modifications to your technology assumptions required to achieve product-market fit
- Build connections to the commercial ecosystem (i.e. customers, suppliers, funders) for your innovation
- Develop a commercialization roadmap identifying key milestones and required resources to move your idea forward
Benefits
- Become eligible for the NSF I-Corps National Teams program and $50,000 grant for qualifying technologies and teams (only deep-tech, university-based teams who complete at least 20-30 customer discovery interviews).
- Prepare for applying to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
- 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
Format and Schedule
Phase 1: Asynchronous Program (Self-Paced)
Duration: May 11 – May 22, 2026
Time Commitment: Approximately 4-5 hours
Phase 2: Synchronous Virtual Workshops (Instructor-Led)
Workshop Dates: May 29, June 5, June 19, July 3, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET (All sessions)