KU Faculty Lead, Lisa Friis, Named NAI Senior Member
Elizabeth “Lisa” Friis, professor of mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering at the University of Kansas, and faculty lead for the NSF Great Plains I-Corps Hub, has been named a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). This distinction recognizes emerging academic inventors whose work has demonstrated impact through patents, commercialization, and technology development. Source: KU News Friis was
From Undergraduate to LLC: Airborne Dynamic Systems Takes Flight with Customer Discovery
A student-built drone platform becomes the foundation of a growing company after customer discovery revealed a major opportunity in the power industry.
Turning Eggshell Waste Into Opportunity
For Amie Norton, I-Corps was not about launching a startup right away. It was about understanding whether her research could translate into meaningful use outside of academic settings. https://youtube.com/shorts/oMonSHN_dEU?feature=share Entering the program as a faculty researcher, Amie wanted to explore how a laboratory-based technology might move toward application. Through I-Corps, she gained tools to test assumptions, engage potential customers,
University of North Dakota Leads $20 Million Federal Initiative to Transform Diabetes Care for Seniors
The University of North Dakota has secured a major federal investment of up to $19.9 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to lead a transformative national initiative aimed at improving diabetes care for older adults. The multi-year award includes up to $16.9 million in federal funding, along with $3 million in industry matching support, positioning UND
The Power of Mentorship in I-Corps
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
Listening Before Building: How Ilios Aerospace Embraced Customer Discovery
When Ilios Aerospace entered the NSF I-Corps program, their idea was clear: design a light-sport aircraft that is more affordable, easier to manufacture and assemble. What wasn’t clear? Who their customer really was and what they wanted. Like many startups, Ilios Aerospace began with a technology-first mindset. Pedro Cupertino, aerospace engineer and entrepreneurial lead, admits that his initial approach was
UND I-Corps Team Selected for VentureWell’s 2026 E-Team Program
Neuroclear Pro Park, a student innovation team from the University of North Dakota, has been selected to join the Winter 2026 cohort of VentureWell’s competitive E-Team Program. Only twenty-two student ventures nationwide were chosen for this cohort, representing emerging technologies aimed at improving healthcare, sustainability, information technology, and other critical sectors. Neuroclear Pro Park is developing a continuous-monitoring wearable designed
2025: Year in Review
Every year, the NSF Great Plains I-Corps Hub works toward a singular goal to ensure that research does not stop at discovery. The goal is to help ideas move beyond the lab and into the world where they can create economic activity and expand opportunities across the Midwest. In 2025, that work continued across six states and eleven universities, and