Great Plains I-Corps at Wichita State

Great Plains I-Corps at Wichita State University

Assess the market potential for your technology innovation!

The Innovation-Corps (I-Corps) program is a vital part of the National Science Foundation’s mission to create and support a national innovation network. This program offers training to university researchers and community innovators who are interested in entrepreneurship education and mentoring, with the ultimate goal of reducing the time it takes to transform technologies from the laboratory to the market. I-Corps training provides hands-on, practical instruction that enables scientists, engineers, and innovators to assess the commercial potential of their technology, a critical initial step in successfully converting them into products, processes, and services that have a positive impact on society.

Why Should I Apply?

Did you know over 60% of all start-ups fail, primarily due to lack of customers. I-Corps will help you evaluate the product-market fit. By helping teams connect with potential customers, strategic partners, and key experts, the program will de-risk the pathway from innovative ideas to impactful products.

Gain valuable market insight to inform the next steps in your research and/or development.
Cultivate network connections and receive mentoring from experienced industry experts and entrepreneurs.
Develop the entrepreneurial mindset and toolset needed to start a successful business.
Become eligible to participate in the NSF I-Corps National Teams program and $50,000 grant for qualifying technologies and teams.

What does I-Corps Have to Offer?

Customer discovery and validation training and experience
Mentoring from industry experts and entrepreneurs
Access to entrepreneurial resources
Networking with an innovation ecosystem

I-Corps Teams

Each team should include an Entrepreneurial Lead, a Technical Lead, and a Mentor.

The Entrepreneurial Lead can be a Post-Doctoral scholar, graduate student, undergraduate or other student, or professional university staff member, with relevant knowledge of the technology and a deep commitment to investigate the commercial landscape surrounding the innovation. The Entrepreneurial Lead must be capable and have the desire to support the transition of the technology, should the project demonstrate the potential for commercial viability.

The Technical Lead can be a faculty member who is the technology inventor and serves as principal investigator, OR a postdoctoral researcher who has deep expertise in the core technology area to be evaluated for market potential.

The Mentor must be an experienced or emerging entrepreneur with experience in transitioning technology to market.

*If you have not identified a Mentor or need assistance, please contact WSU Strategic Initiatives at Icorps@wichita.edu or (316) 978-5363 and we will do our best to match you with a mentor for your project.

Funding Specifics

As part of the I-Corps program, the participating Entrepreneurial Lead of each team can receive up to $2,000 in funding. This funding is awarded to support team-based customer discovery research aimed at investigating the commercial viability of a product or a specific market application of a novel process, algorithm, device, or other technology.

I-Corps funding can be used to for any expenses related to customer discovery research. Teams have approximately six months to spend their awards. Expenses can include:

Meetings, Conferences, Trade shows and Training: Cost of registration/admission as well as ancillary costs associated. (i.e., travel/transportation, meals, fees, etc.)
Conference must be related to product/service industry
Meetings hosted by the team for the purpose of customer discovery or market research

* Legal fees and Administrative Costs (office supplies and equipment) cannot be included.

Expected Outcomes

Movement toward R&D and commercialization of team projects
Applications submitted by teams to the National NSF's I-Corp Team Program
New start-up businesses formed
Licensing agreements
Creation of business plans suitable for review by third-party investors

How Does I-Corps Work?

Through I-Corps, a select Kansas group of innovators will “get out of their comfort zones,” talk to customers, and identify the best product market fit.

Participants will go through workshops over a six-week period alongside a cohort of fellow teams led by experienced instructors. Each week, you will learn more about the customer discovery process, and your business model canvas, and integrate the findings to bring your innovation closer to market. Participants will also take part in office hours with trained coaches from various entrepreneurship resources. Participants who complete the program are awarded up to $2,000 in funding to conduct customer interviews.

Teams of 2-3 people may APPLY. All team members will attend and participate in the workshops.

Who Can Apply?

All researchers and entrepreneurs in the region, including graduate students, postdoctoral researchers & research faculty with deep technology to bring to market. Our site is especially suited for WSU students and faculty but is also available to community members and faculty and students from other universities.

Apply Here

The I-Corps program’s benefits go beyond creating a business plan or an NSF proposal. Participants gain practical experience in customer discovery, which is a critical stage in the entrepreneurial process that involves engaging with potential customers, partners, and other industry stakeholders.

To apply, you will need to fill out an eligibility review form through WSU. Once we verify your eligibility, we will reach out to you with next steps regarding how to apply.

Eligibility Review Form