University of Michigan I-Corps
University of Michigan I-Corps
February 28, 2025 - April 11, 2025
Free
This I-Corps course provides a set of skills and entrepreneurial knowledge that can be applied to any career path. It uses the Lean LaunchPad method to give participants a working knowledge of how to think about their innovation ideas from a business and customer perspective, as well as how to conduct customer discovery interviews; the first step in any commercialization process. This free, online course is for faculty, researchers, postdocs, and students interested in practicing and honing their innovation skills. It is open to non-university participants as well.
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).
- Upon completion of the workshop and the customer discovery interviews, you and/or your team may be eligible for a mini-grant of up to $500. Funds may reimbursed customer discovery interview travel expenses.
- 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
Course Schedule
All course sessions occur virtually via Zoom from 9:00-11:00AM ET on Fridays: Feb 28, Mar 14, Mar 28, Apr 11
Please note: This workshop has an approximate workload of 5-8 hours per week.
Please fill out one of the following registration forms. Questions can be directed to info@greatlakesicorps.org.
