Behind every successful I-Corps team is a network of experienced professionals helping founders validate assumptions, navigate uncertainty, and move research closer to practical application. Industry mentors play a critical role in bridging the gap between new technologies and commercialization by bringing practical insight, market knowledge, and valuable connections to the I-Corps team.
How Mentors Support Teams
Industry mentors provide teams with a real-world perspective that elevates commercialization readiness.
Beth Lambeth, Tech Transfer Officer at South Dakota Mines, shares:
“As a tech transfer officer, I’m fortunate to learn about dozens of new technologies each year, but serving as an NSF I-Corps mentor lets me go much deeper. Working that closely with a team as their mentor gives me a view of the technical, market, and execution details that I don’t normally get to engage with.”
This deeper engagement helps teams refine value propositions and better understand scalability.
Strengthening Customer Discovery
Customer discovery is central to the I-Corps process, and mentors help teams challenge assumptions early.
Marc-Antoine Niamba, Director of Biotech Development at the University of South Dakota, who participated in I-Corps as both a cohort member and mentor, explains:
“I started in I-Corps as a cohort participant myself, so I know firsthand how valuable it is to have someone with practical experience question your assumptions before the rubber meets the road.” He adds, “I see my contribution as the extra spin the students need to hit the ground running in their customer discovery journey.”
Why Professionals Choose to Give Back
Many mentors are motivated by the opportunity to support innovation and improve entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Kaylee Yaggie, Medical Product Manager at SafetySpect, Inc, shares:
“Giving back through I-Corps is meaningful to me because I have participated in the program both as a student and as an industry mentor, giving me a clear view of its impact from multiple perspectives.”
“As a mentor, I am able to leverage my industry experience and professional network to help teams ask the right questions, validate their assumptions, and gain practical, real-world insights that strengthen their projects.”
Becoming an I-Corps Industry Mentor
Tyler Scherr, Licensing Specialist and Business Development Manager at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, describes the experience this way:
“I’ve had the privilege of mentoring several I-Corps teams, and each one is a unique experience. I-Corps teams are full of brilliant people with incredible inventions who are earnestly trying to identify a viable product-market fit for their intellectual property. If you enjoy meeting interesting people, learning about new scientific discoveries, and solving puzzles, I’d highly recommend becoming an industry mentor.”
If you’re passionate about entrepreneurship, commercialization, and helping research create impact, we invite you to join the I-Corps mentor community.