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 including customer discovery, value proposition design and business model canvas
• Understand customers’ problems or “pain points” from their perspective
• Map your customer ecosystem to understand customer roles, requirements and decision processes

Benefits of the Program

• 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 for qualifying technologies and teams (only deep-tech, university-based teams who complete at least 20 customer discovery interviews).
• 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.

Course Format and Schedule

• 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

• 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

• Meet 1:1 with coaches about your specific project and goals

2026 Cohorts

• January 2026
  • 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/27
  • Class sessions 8:30am ET – 10:30am ET
  • *In-person attendance required. Location: Columbus, OH
  • Registration is closed for the January cohort.
• March 2026
  • 3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/24
  • Class sessions 9am ET – 11:30am ET
  • *In-person attendance required. Location: Columbus, OH
  • Registration for the March cohort is closed.
• May 2026
  • 5/29, 6/5, 6/12, 6/26
  • Class sessions 9am ET – 11:30am ET
  • *In-person attendance required. Location: Columbus, OH
  • Registration is closed for the May cohort.
• July 2026
  • TBD
  • Class sessions 9am ET – 11:30am ET
  • *In-person attendance required. Location: Columbus, OH
  • Registration is not currently open for the July cohort.
• September 2026
  • TBD
  • Class sessions 9am ET – 11:30am ET
  • *In-person attendance required. Location: Columbus, OH
  • Registration is not currently open for the September cohort.
• October 2026
  • TBD
  • Class sessions 9am ET – 11:30am ET
  • *In-person attendance required. Location: Columbus, OH
  • Registration is not currently open for the October cohort.

Registration for the May Cohort is closed.