The National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program is designed to foster, grow and nurture innovation ecosystems regionally and nationally. I-Corps enables the transformation of invention to impact. The curriculum integrates scientific inquiry and industrial discovery in an inclusive, data-driven culture driven by rigor, relevance, and evidence. Through I-Corps training, researchers can reduce the time to translate a promising idea from the laboratory to the marketplace.
The University of Maryland (UMD) is the lead university of the Mid-Atlantic I-Corps Hub, as well as of the larger National Innovation Network. The curriculum is based on the Lean Startup framework and provides an immersive learning experience through which researchers can better understand the market potential of an innovation. Participating in an Introduction to I-Corps Course on campus or virtually is an essential component of commercializing technology at UMD.
UMD’s Introduction to I-Corps Course
This course is an intense, experiential, bootcamp-style cohort. Participants work closely with teammates, other teams, mentors and instructors to develop business models around their innovations. The course occurs over 2-3 weeks with the cohort meeting in person three or four times. Teams must commit to conducting a significant number of customer interviews and to completing assignments and readings.
Follow the UMD I-Corps program via LinkedIn.
Use I-Corps to…
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Find an entrepreneurship program
I-Corps provides entrepreneurial training to STEM researchers with inventions and innovative ideas. The I-Corps course is also open to the broader community of technology entrepreneurs. I-Corps is a short, intense, two-week boot camp-style program in which participants conduct customer discovery and build a business model following the principles of evidence-based entrepreneurship. The program positions participants for many follow-on opportunities for continued training and funding.
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Find and invest in startups
I-Corps attracts some of the most innovative and exciting tech startups coming out of UMD’s research labs, as well as startups from other universities, federal labs, and the broader ecosystem. Prospective investors may find great value in joining the program and working with impactful startups in the formative stages.
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Get business advice for my venture
UMD STEM researchers and teams with inventions and innovative ideas who are selected to participate in the I-Corps program are connected with a mentor and will receive business advice and insight throughout the two-week engagement. This program is ideal for those looking to learn how to build and validate business models.
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Identify/apply for funding & grants
The I-Corps program positions participants for many follow-on opportunities for continued training and funding, including the NSF National I-Corps, SBIR, TEDCO’s MII, MIPS, and other funding opportunities.
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Launch my venture
I-Corps is designed to be the perfect first step for those seeking to launch a venture. The program provides entrepreneurial training to STEM researchers with inventions and innovative ideas. The I-Corps course is also open to the broader community of technology entrepreneurs. I-Corps is a short, intense, two-week boot camp-style program in which participants conduct customer discovery and build a business model following the principles of evidence-based entrepreneurship.
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Learn about entrepreneurship
STEM researchers and teams with inventions and innovative ideas who are selected to participate in the UMD I-Corps program will be provided with entrepreneurial training throughout the two-week engagement. The program specifically teaches participants about evidence-based entrepreneurship, lean startup, customer discovery, and business model generation.
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License intellectual property
Prospective mentors, advisers, partners, and investors who volunteer with the I-Corps program find great value in working with impactful startups in the formative stages who are learning about and evaluating licensing opportunities.
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Mentor entrepreneurs
The I-Corps program relies heavily on industry mentors and engagement with the community. Prospective mentors, advisers, and investors find great value in joining the program and working with impactful startups in the formative stages.