June 25 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm CST
Enroll in this free innovation bootcamp focused on customer discovery. I-Corps is designed to equip participants with skills for designing products and services that benefit customers. Gain insights for developing a strategy to transition technology from lab to market. The course provides structured lectures and best practices to support teams in engaging with customers effectively.
Schedule
Dates for this cohort are still pending, once determined this page will be updated. We are still accepting applications in the meantime and encourage all to submit to secure their spot in the cohort.
Learning Objectives
- Develop and test customer hypotheses and problem hypotheses
- Build an understanding of Learn Launchpad concepts such as customer discovery, ecosystem mapping and value proposition
- Map your customer ecosystem to understand customer roles, key players and how decisions are made
- Conduct 20+ customer discovery interviews
- Build connections with the commercial ecosystem, including customers, suppliers, and funders, for innovation.
Program Benefits
- Gain eligibility for the NSF I-Corps National Program and $50,000 grant for qualifying technologies and teams (only deep-tech, university-based teams who complete at least 20 customer discovery interviews)
- Increase chances of receiving commercialization grants such as Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
- Gain valuable market insight to inform the next steps for creating impact from your idea
- Gain an exceptional professional development experience appropriate for any career path—academic, industry, startup or other
- Expand your network of like-minded peers, instructors, investors, customers, and mentors.
- Learn, practice and hone your innovation skills
- Participant Support Funding – depending on your university affiliation, Entrepreneurial Leads may be eligible for $1,000 to be used towards your customer discovery efforts
MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
Greg Bertsch
Greg Bertsch is currently an Assistant Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of South Dakota. Prior to teaching, Greg was Co-founder of biotech startups Halomine, Inc. and Antimicrobial Materials. Greg also has extensive industry experience, particularly in the automotive sector.
Jessica Vold
Jessica is the Engineering Entrepreneurship & Innovation Faculty member at North Dakota State University. She serves the College of Engineering teaching entrepreneurship to scientists and engineers. She is also an Assistant Professor teaching materials, mechanics, and introduction level engineering courses out of her home department, Mechanical Engineering. Jessica spent several years working for small businesses spun out of research at NDSU prior to joining the university in 2019. While working for one small business she completed a national NSF I-Crops cohort where listening to strangers became her favorite thing to do.
Jerrid Matthews
Jerrid Matthews serves as an instructor for the NSF I-Corps program and Software Architect at IBM. Jerrid previously co-founded Vesta Mobile Solutions, a company that provided media, entertainment, and small businesses the ability to engage with their users through text messaging. He is also the recipient of prestigious awards, such as the NSF I-Corps grant and the Falling Walls Lab “Young Innovator of the Year” award. In his spare time, Jerrid enjoys sailing and volunteers as an instructor and mentor in various S.T.E.M programs.