UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA I-CORPS
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.
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).
Benefits of the Program
- 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)
2026 Cohorts
- Spring 2026
- 2/19, 2/26, 3/12, 4/2
- Class sessions 4pm – 6:30pm CT
- Registration has closed for the spring cohort.
- AgTech Cohort – Summer 2026
- This cohort is designed specifically for those with an agricultural innovation.
- 6/10, 6/17, 7/1, 7/15, 7/29
- Class sessions 12pm – 2:00pm CT
- Registration is closed for the AgTech cohort.
- Fall 2026
- 9/3: Mandatory Orientation in-person in Lincoln, NE
- 9/10, 9/17, 10/8, 10/29: Virtual Class Sessions
- Class sessions 4pm – 6:00pm CT
- Registration is open for the fall cohort.
Registration for the Fall Cohort is open!
Registration deadline is August 20.
- Free Cohort
- September 3 – October 29, 2026
- Class sessions on Thursdays, at 4pm CT
