University of Illinois Chicago I-Corps - Fall 2026
2026-09-04 - 2026-10-09 | Virtual Event
I-Corps taught by the University of Illinois Chicago. Class sessions on Fridays, 9:30am-11:30am CT. Virtual and open to all Midwest innovators and researchers.

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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.

University of Nebraska I-Corps - Fall 2026
2026-09-10 - 2026-10-29 | Virtual Event
I-Corps taught by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Class sessions on Thursday, 4pm-6:30pm CT. Virtual and open to all Midwest innovators and researchers.

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Ready to take your research to the next level? Nebraska I-Corps (a National Science Foundation program) empowers innovators to understand the potential value of their research or business ideas by teaching them how to view their research through the eyes of their customers. Our experienced team of instructors, mentors, and ecosystem partners offer support throughout your innovation journey. Whether or not you’re pursuing entrepreneurship, this program offers an invaluable professional development opportunity.

Based on the Lean LaunchPad approach (also called Lean Startup), we help you systematically test key assumptions about your innovation and the customer problems it might be able to solve better than current alternatives. This free, online course is open to UNL and UNK faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdocs. In addition, non-University, community-based teams may be accepted at the discretion of course instructors.

University of Iowa I-Corps - September 2026
2026-09-14 - 2026-10-12 | Virtual Event
I-Corps taught by the University of Iowa. Class sessions on Mondays, 4pm-6pm CT. Virtual and open to all Midwest innovators and researchers.

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The NSF I-Corps program at the University of Iowa, led by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC), helps researchers, innovators, and early-stage startups explore the commercial potential of their work and make a real impact in the world. Through hands-on customer discovery and the Lean Startup approach, participants learn how to test assumptions, refine their value propositions, and better understand the people they aim to serve. This four-week program is open to faculty, graduate students, staff, and entrepreneurs developing STEM-based innovations or research-driven ideas. Participants work alongside experienced instructors and mentors to gain insights that shape smarter decisions around product development and market fit.

Michigan Technological University I-Corps - Fall 2026
2026-09-14 - 2026-10-19 | Virtual Event
I-Corps taught by Michigan Technological University. Class sessions on Mondays, 4pm-6pm ET. Virtual and open to all Midwest innovators and researchers.

Registration Deadline: September 4

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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.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign I-Corps - Fall 2026
2026-09-16 - 2026-11-04 | Virtual Event
I-Corps taught by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Class sessions on Wednesday, 1pm-3pm CT. Virtual and open to all Midwest innovators and researchers.

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Illinois I-Corps is hosted by the Technology Entrepreneur Center, in the College of Grainger Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The I-Corps curriculum is built on a special, accelerated version of Stanford University’s Lean LaunchPad course, created by Professor Steve Blank. Professors in the course focus on evidence-based entrepreneurship and encourage in-depth customer discovery. Throughout the program, attendees will learn to use the Business Model Canvas, Agile Development, and Customer Development to advance their business ideas.

The Ohio State University I-Corps - September 2026
2026-09-18 - 2026-10-09 | The Ohio State University, 1636 North High Street, Columbus, OH, 43201, United States
I-Corps taught by The Ohio State University. In-person attendance required. Location: Columbus, OH. Class sessions on Fridays, 9am-11:30am ET.

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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.

Purdue University I-Corps - Fall 2026
2026-09-21 - 2026-11-13 | Virtual Event
I-Corps taught by Purdue University. Class sessions on Fridays, 9am-11am ET. Virtual and open to all Midwest innovators and researchers.

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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 “technology-problem fit” assessment 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.

Asynchronous Program

Start Date: September 21, 2026
Deadline: Complete by October 2, 2026

Synchronous Virtual Workshops: All course events occur on Fridays from 9:00 am – 11:00 am ET

10/9, 10/16, 10/30, 11/13
