The Great Plains I-Corps: Discovery 60 is a customized 6-week program designed specifically for participants who have already completed a Regional I-Corps program and are ready to take the next step. Building on the foundations of customer discovery, this advanced course helps teams accelerate discovery, refine their business model, and move closer to launching a business.
You’ll learn to analyze customer decision-making, build a strong go-to-market strategy, weigh partnership opportunities, and work toward a profitable business model. A key focus of the program is conducting 60+ customer interviews to evaluate market demand and validate the potential of your business idea.
Benefits of the program:
- Gain valuable market insight to inform the next steps in your research and/or product development.
- Develop data-driven decision-making skills to validate your business model.
- Cultivate network connections and receive mentoring from experienced industry experts and entrepreneurs.
- Build confidence in essential soft skills—such as communication, adaptability, and resilience—that are vital for navigating the uncertainties of entrepreneurship.
- Develop the entrepreneurial mindset and toolset needed to start a successful business.
MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
Elizabeth Hallgren
Elizabeth Hallgren is the founder of The Levain Group, a business growth training and coaching solutions firm.
She has been teaching the NSF I-Corps curriculum since 2015 through the University of Iowa and more recently the Great Plains Hub. Elizabeth’s current projects include providing curriculum expertise for the Global Insurance Accelerator and serving as a Business Advisor in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program.
Corey Kratcha
Corey is the co-founder and CEO of c2renew. C2renew is a material designer and custom compounder utilizing proprietary bio-composite formulations to meet a wide range of engineering specifications. Corey is also the co-founder and CEO of c2sensor, a sister company of c2renew, developing biodegradable SEED sensors for precision farming.