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
For Aditya, innovation didn’t begin with a perfectly defined product. It began with curiosity and a desire to solve real-world problems. Like many early-stage researchers, he had promising technology, but no clear path to impact. That changed when Aditya began structured customer discovery through I-Corps. “Before I-Corps, my customer wasn’t a specific person—I just had a general idea of who
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
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,
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
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