Ohio State University February 2027 – Applications Opening Soon

I-Corps taught by the Ohio State University. Class sessions on Fridays, 9am-11:30am ET.
Applications opening soon
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
- 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
- Self-Paced Modules. Estimated completion time is ~2 hours
- 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
- February 12, 19, 26, March 12
- Cohort sessions 9AM ET-11:30AM ET
- In-person attendance required. Location: Columbus OH