University of Michigan I-Corps
University of Michigan I-Corps
July 11 - August 22
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.
- Learn skills that can help you secure future innovation funding (SBIR/STTR).
Course Benefits
- Receive a digital certificate upon course completion.
- 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 reimburse customer discovery interview travel expenses.
- 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 and $50,000 grant. (Eligibility requirements apply. Contact us if you are interested in applying for the NSF I-Corps National Teams program)
Course Schedule
All course sessions occur virtually via Zoom from 9:00-11:00AM ET on Fridays: July 11, July 25, August 8, & August 22.
Please note: This workshop has an approximate workload of 5-8 hours per week.