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NSF I-Corps Hub Program

The National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program helps university-based researchers investigate the commercial potential of their STEM-related technology.

The next regional I-Corps cohort is coming in February, 2026! Applications open December 1, 2025. (all dates are virtual)‍

Friday, February 20, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. — Class 1

Introduction to I-Corps
Team Introductions
Business Model Generation
Value Proposition Design
Best Practices for Customer Discovery

Friday, February 27, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. — Class 2

Team presentations on Lessons Learned from Customer Discovery
Hypothesis Development
Customer Interview Workshops

No meeting March 6.

Friday, March 13, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. — Class 3: Closing Session, Final Presentations

Final Team presentations
What’s Next Discussion

CMU is a partner in the Mid-Atlantic I-Corps Hub. The goal of the I-Corps Hubs program is to create and sustain an ecosystem in the United States by establishing tools and training activities, funding research, and sharing effective innovation practices across the country. The program supports the commercialization of deep technologies with a university connection, which grow from discoveries in fundamental science and engineering. Eligible teams that complete the I-Corps regional program have an opportunity to apply for the I-Corps Teams program for a $50K grant to continue their customer discovery activities.

The impact of the Hub I-Corps program at CMU (1/1/2022-9/30/2025):
63 CMU startups participated in I-Corps Mid-Atlantic Hub regional programs
$10.6M in follow on funding to participating startups
10 teams accepted to accelerator programs
13 teams accepted to the I-Corps National Teams program
4 SBIR/STTR grants received
1 Team acquired
1 NSF Convergence Accelerator Phase I grant received
1 NSF Partnerships for Innovation – Technology Translation grant received

The impact of the I-Corps Site program at CMU (2014-2021):
208 I-Corps Site teams with 687 program participants
$202M in follow on funding to teams
42 teams accepted to accelerator programs
12 teams accepted to the I-Corps National Teams program
21 SBIR/STTR Phase I and 11 Phase II grants received by teams
8 teams were acquired

For more information about the CMU I-Corps Site program, click here.

Testimonials

FeiFei Fu, co-founder of Magnify Biosciences. "...my journey has been deeply enriched by my involvement in the NSF I-Corps National Cohort Program. The I-Corps program fundamentally shifted our mindset towards not just refining our technology but also solving a significant market pain point with a recurring need for a better solution—a niche our technology could fill."