Hosted by the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, The Ohio State University local NSF I-Corps program is an engaging, four-week training program for OSU faculty, staff, and students interested in exploring the market opportunity of their research. The Lean Launchpad approach is a proven process to help systematically test key assumptions about your technology/product/service and the customer problems it may solve.

Learning Objectives

• Develop familiarity with Lean LaunchPad concepts including customer discovery, value proposition design and business model canvas
• Understand customers’ problems or “pain points” from THEIR perspective
• Map your customer ecosystem to understand customer roles, requirements and decision processes

Course Benefits

• 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 for qualifying technologies and teams (only deep-tech, university-based teams who complete at least 20 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.

Course Schedule

Asynchronous Component: Complete BEFORE August 29

• Self-Paced Modules: Introduction to the fundamentals of I-Corps and Customer Discovery
• Estimated completion: 4 hours

In-person Workshops:

• Practice and refine customer discovery techniques
• Goal: conduct 20-30 customer discovery interviews

All in-person sessions will take place at The Ohio State University, Student Entrepreneurs’ Center, 1636 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43201.

• September 5, 9:00-11:30AM ET
• September 12, 9:00-11:00AM ET
• September 19, 9:00-11:30AM ET
• September 26, 9:00-11:30AM ET