They Knew the Technology. I-Corps Helped Them Find the Customer.
June 23, 2026
FrackOp came into I-Corps confident they understood their market. Customer discovery showed them just how much they had left to learn.
FrackOp came into I-Corps confident they understood their market. Customer discovery showed them just how much they had left to learn.
Dr. Lisa Friis first went through I-Corps in 2012. More than a decade later, she came back to the program but this time with a new team and technology concept to lead through the process. She expected to find it familiar, but in reality, she found it transformational. For many amputees, the challenges don’t end with learning to use
Most early-stage innovators come into customer discovery hoping to confirm what they already believe, and honestly, that’s human nature. You’ve spent months, sometimes years, developing a solution to a problem you’re convinced is real. Of course you want people to agree with you. But here’s what we’ve seen consistently across teams in the NSF Great Plains I-Corps Hub: the first
A student-built drone platform becomes the foundation of a growing company after customer discovery revealed a major opportunity in the power industry.
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,
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
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
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
The number one reason startups fail isn’t lack of funding or poor marketing. Startups often fail because they build something that no one wants. That truth can sting, especially when you’ve poured your time and energy into a business idea. But it’s also why the I-Corps process is so powerful. It forces us to pause, step back, and ask the
Summer tends to bring a natural pause to the academic and professional hustle. Calendars ease up, meetings slow down, and for many researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators, this quieter season can open the door to something important: time to focus. If you’ve been sitting on an idea—maybe it’s a research project with potential, a side concept you haven’t had the time