Purdue I-Corps: Discovery
Purdue I-Corps: Discovery
June 2 - August 1
Free
Course Description
Purdue I-Corps: Discovery will help you explore the commercial viability of your deep tech innovation idea/IP. We teach the Lean LaunchPad approach, a process to help you systematically test key assumptions about your technology and the customer problems it might be able to solve better than current alternatives. This assessment of “technology-problem fit” is the critical first step toward commercial success for any technology venture. These courses are for researchers and students with deep tech IP and a strong interest in commercializing their technology. Researchers from other Midwest universities are welcome to apply.
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
Course 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)
- Increase chances of commercialization grants such as SBIR/STTR, PFI-TT, etc. ($250K-$2M)
- Gain valuable market insight to inform the next steps for your idea
- Develop network connections and receive mentoring from experienced industry experts and entrepreneurs
- Develop an entrepreneurial mindset and toolset needed for conducting use-inspired research and roles in industry, startups, or government
Course Format
The Discovery Program will be conducted in two phases: Asynchronous program and Synchronous Virtual workshops. Successful completion of the asynchronous course is mandatory to advance to the Synchronous Virtual Workshops.
- Asynchronous Program:
- Flexible Learning: Complete the course in approximately 4 hours, with 30 days from registration to finish.
- Self-Paced Modules: Access resources anytime, anywhere.
- Preparation for Success: Get ready for a Local I-Corps Program by learning the fundamentals of I-Corps, Customer Discovery, and Business Model Generation.
- Synchronous Virtual Workshops:
- July 11 & July 18: Customer Discovery
- July 25: Customer Discovery, Market Sizing
- August 1: Customer Discovery, Commercialization Pathway
- During the synchronous workshop phase, you will conduct 30-40 customer discovery interviews, provide weekly summaries about customer discovery findings, estimate your market size, determine a commercialization pathway, and receive feedback and coaching from experienced
instructors/mentors.
- During the synchronous workshop phase, you will conduct 30-40 customer discovery interviews, provide weekly summaries about customer discovery findings, estimate your market size, determine a commercialization pathway, and receive feedback and coaching from experienced
Course Schedule
- Asynchronous Program
- Start Date: June 2, 2025
- Deadline: Complete by June 30, 2025
- Synchronous Virtual Workshops: All course events occur on Fridays from 12:00 PM—2:00 PM ET
- July 11 & July 18: Customer Discovery
- July 25: Customer Discovery, Market Sizing
- August 1: Customer Discovery, Commercialization Pathways
Register using the form below. Questions can be directed to Matthew Lynall, mlynall@purdue.edu
