UMD I-Corps
Discover the commercial potential of your innovation through an NSF-backed program, for free.
Discover the commercial potential of your innovation
I-Corps is a National Science Foundation (NSF) program designed to foster, grow, and nurture national innovation ecosystems around research based technologies and advancements. The University of Maryland is the lead institution of the NSF I-Corps Hub: Mid-Atlantic Region and a member of the NSF National Innovation Network.
UMD I-Corps provides real world professional development training on how to incorporate research innovations into market ready solutions to solve societal problems. The curriculum is based on the Lean Startup framework, through which researchers can better understand the market potential of an innovation and their next steps for commercialization.
Participating in an introductory I-Corps course is a required step of commercializing technology at the University of Maryland.
The I-Corps program is comprised of two parts: the self-paced I-Corps Prep mini-course, and the Mid-Atlantic I-Corps Customer Discovery Workshops. Participants do not need to start a company to apply or attend a workshop.
What you get out of it
Unlock
a path to the NSF's national I-Corps Teams program, including a $50,000 I-Corps grant and eligibility for SBIR funding and beyond.
Learn
what it takes to commercialize your innovation, including the real-world impact of your research, the barriers to adoption, and how to overcome them.
Expand
your network with introductions to potential mentors, customers, and investors.
Save
years and money by accelerating your understanding of your product, customers, and market.
I-Corps options
Start here – required first
Open to UMD faculty, staff, postdocs, and students. Also open to University System of Maryland and regional researchers, deep tech entrepreneurs, and companies.
Register for I-Corps Prep »If our dates don't fit
The Hub offers I-Corps through universities across the region. UMD leads the Hub.
Hub Cohorts »Go deeper
An intensive, national-level accelerator focused on deep-dive market validation and scaling a business model. Seven weeks, 100+ customer interviews.
National I-CorpsUMD I-Corps Impact
Begin your journey by completing the I-Corps Prep module. This foundational mini course is crucial for your success in preparing for the program. You can get started today!
Register for I-Corps Prep »Once you have completed I-Corps Prep, you can apply to join a regional I-Corps cohort. Complete your application below
I-Corps Cohort Application »You may only join a cohort with instructor approval, after completing I-Corps Prep.
20
customer interviews minimum, during the cohort
10-15
hours per week, for the two to three weeks
3-4
cohort meetings, Friday mornings 8:30-11:30 a.m. EST
3-4
hours to finish I-Corps Prep, self-paced, any time
1,360
Teams served
2,229
Participants
$446M
Total funding raised by teams
1,686
Jobs created
Through the Mid-Atlantic I-Corps program, my start-up achieved a major breakthrough by validating our business model and identifying a clear product-market fit. The customer discovery process and mentorship helped us refine our strategy, and we're now better positioned to pitch to investors and build impactful partnerships.
- Melissa Heyer
