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The Ohio State University I-Corps April 2026 – Applications Opening Soon

April 2, 2027 - April 30, 2027
Free

OSU I-Corps

I-Corps taught by the Ohio State University. Class sessions on Fridays, 9am-11:30am ET.

Applications opening soon

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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 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. (Eligibility requirements apply. Contact us if you are interested in applying for the NSF I-Corps National Teams program)

Program Details and Format

The program is conducted in three components:
  • Asynchronous I-Corps Prep:
    • Self-Paced Modules. Estimated completion time is ~2 hours
      • Introduction to the fundamentals of I-Corps and customer discovery
      • Completion required before in-person session starts
  • In-person Workshop Series:
    • Focus on learning and practicing customer discovery techniques
    • Provide weekly summaries about customer discovery findings
    • Receive feedback and coaching from experienced instructors/mentors
    • Goal: conduct 20 customer discovery interviews
    • Weekly Coaching Sessions:
    • Meet 1:1 with coaches about your specific project and goals

 

Program Dates

  • April 2, 9, 16, 30
  • Cohort sessions 9AM ET-11:30AM ET
  • In-person attendance required. Location: Columbus OH

Details

Organizer

Venue