NSF I-Corps Fellowship Info Session
Learn how the NSF I-Corps Northeast Hub promotes Inclusive Innovation through the NSF I-Corps Fellowship by matching innovation-minded students and post-docs to accepted I-Corps teams partcipating in an upcoming regional I-Corps Propelus program. This unique Fellowship enhances the typical I-Corps experience for both the teams and the I-Corps Fellows and sets both up for success in future endeavors!
Take your novel ideas to the next level by understanding how your research discovery or innovation can create value for potential customers through the I-Corps program. Learn about the people who could benefit from the commercialization of your technology and deepen your connections to the market ecosystem. Develop your skills for innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization through experiential learning. For scientific researchers, innovators, and tech-entrepreneurs, I-Corps has become the standard for commercializing research discoveries and technological innovations across the country!
The National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps Hub: Northeast Regional program provides specialized training and stipends of up to $1,500 to teams for meeting with potential customers to understand their real-world pain points. Teams of 2+ interested in exploring the commercial viability of their ideas for products and businesses that are based on their own inventions, University intellectual property, or any STEM-related technology and encouraged to apply. Accepted teams have an opportunity to be matched with an I-Corps Fellow to serve as a co-Entrepreneurial Lead to enhance their team with the Fellow's unique perspective, network, and schedule.
The I-Corps Fellowship program, hosted by the Northeast I-Corps Hub will take place in various 2025 cohorts. Join us as the NSF I-Corps Northeast Hub leaders will walk us through I-Corps Propelus & Fellowship eligibilty requirements, program details, and how to make the most of the experience. Joining the discussion:
- Cait Baiduc, NSF I-Corps Fellowship Program Manager
- Lori Dars & Mark DeGuzman, NSF I-Corps Fellowship Fellowship Co-Founders (Rutgers)
- Walida Ali, Innovation Outreach Development Manager
- Linda Edouard, Deputy Research Lead, NSF I-Corps Northeast Hub (Rutgers)
- Michael Oguntuase, Team Fellow & Ecosystem Fellow
- Diana Nicholas & Shivanthi Anandan, Drexel I-Corps Team - URBN SteamLab
- Nathalie Wijaya, Team Fellow
Who Should Attend:
- Innovation-minded students and post-doctoral researchers who want an innovation experience to develop their skills by contributing in a meaningful way to an I-Corps team and serve as co-Entrepreneurial Lead
- Faculty, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students and/or undergraduates who are developing a scientific or technical discovery at any institution in the Northeast
- Program Leaders and Faculty from Minority Serving Instutions looking for experiential learning opportunities for their students and post-docs
- Innovators from across the Northeast region looking to commericalize their technology
- Novus I-Corps Participants from across the Northeast Region
Benefits:
- TRAINING: Introduce the I-Corps Lean LaunchPad approach to evaluating technologies through customer-discovery research, focused on identifying the technology’s potential for development in a startup or other venture. Fellowship program includes 3 sessions outside the typical I-Corps sessions.
- FUNDING: Team Stipends of up to $1,500 are provided to each team and can be used to fund customer-discovery expenses such as travel to conferences & trade shows, professional associations, and LinkedIn Premium. Fellowship Stipends of up to $1,000 per Fellow for completing I-Corps Fellowship requirements and contributing in a meaningful way as a co-Entrepreneurial Lead (or as a Cohort Fellow or Ecosystem Fellow, for returning Fellows).
- RESOURCES: Teams will receive mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs and innovators. Teams may also access other programs offered by Hub-affiliated institutions.
- FOLLOW-ON OPPORTUNITIES: Upon completion, teams are eligible for the national NSF I-Corps Teams program which provides an intensive 7-week training course and a $50,000 grant.
NSF I-Corps Fellowship Applications for open for submission on a rolling basis, typically being matched 2-3 weeks before a cohort begins.