The NSF Great Plains I-Corps Hub has officially wrapped up its first Discovery 60 cohort, an intensive eight-week program designed to help researchers and entrepreneurs refine their business models, get to know their potential customers, and move closer toward commercialization.
Discovery 60 builds upon participants’ earlier I-Corps experience by requiring 60+ customer discovery interviews, which is 3 times the number completed in a standard regional cohort. Through this process, participants gain a deeper understanding of their market, analyze customer decision-making, refine go-to-market strategies, and build a profitable, scalable business model.
“Our teams have worked really hard throughout these eight weeks. They’ve gone out, met with customers, and gathered the kind of qualitative data that truly vets and validates their ideas,” said Brenna Johansen, Innovation Outreach Specialist for the Great Plains I-Corps Hub. “We want them to leave in the best position to move forward, whatever that looks like for them. Whether that’s continuing their research, commercialization, or seeking further funding.”
This inaugural Discovery 60 cohort exceeded expectations. Fourteen teams participated, collectively conducting 953 customer discovery interviews, with some teams going well beyond the minimum, completing as many as 130 interviews in just eight weeks.
The program culminated with a virtual showcase, where teams presented on their learnings, shared progress, and received feedback from the innovation community. More than 40+ external stakeholders, partners, and community members joined to hear the teams’ stories, ask questions, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Teams reported major achievements, including:
- Securing additional grant funding to fuel their next steps
- Establishing new strategic partnerships
- Making key pivots to their technology or business model based on customer feedback
- Building confidence in essential soft skills like communication, adaptability, and resilience
The success of this first Discovery 60 cohort marks a significant milestone not only for the Great Plains I-Corps Hub but also for I-Corps nationally. It demonstrates the need for structured, high-impact entrepreneurial training in the region and underscores the value of customer discovery as a foundation for innovation.
“This Discovery 60 cohort was the first of its kind for our hub, and one of the first nationwide,” Great Plains I-Corps Hub Director Dr. Chad Ulven added. “NSF has encouraged hubs to experiment with this format, and we’re proud to be among the first to launch it successfully.”
The teaching team members echoed this sentiment, celebrating the transformation they witnessed in participants:
“From the very first time we heard your pitches, to what we heard today, every single one of you talked about a customer. Not just the technology, not just the solution that you’re creating, and not just your research,” said Lead Instructor, Dr. Elizabeth Hallgren, “That’s something to celebrate, because without a customer, you can’t commercialize.”
As we look ahead, the Hub is eager to support these teams as they continue their journeys. whether that’s securing additional funding, applying for a National I-Corps cohort, or launching their startups into the market.
