OSU I-CORPS
Training researchers
to be entrepreneurs
OSU’s National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) Program helps researchers (students and faculty) find the commercial potential of their technology. The program is funded by a $1.2 million grant over five years. OSU is one of nine universities that make up NSF's Southwest I-Corps Hub.
Program Overview
Program benefits
- Teams receive up to $3,000 in NSF funding for travel reimbursement and stipends to help you conduct 30 interviews.
- Gain eligibility to apply for an I-Corps $50,000 National Program.
- Develop entrepreneurial skills including how to engage customers.
- Discover your initial business model and product-market fit for use in commercialization plans like SBIR/STTR grants.
Cohort options
Spring Cohort #2
- Pre-Launch: July 1, 2026 (10 a.m.-12 p.m.)
- Launch: July 15, 2026 (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)
- Midterm: July 22, 2026 (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)
- Pipeline Next Steps and Office Hours: Week of July 27
- Closing Workshop: August 5, 2026 (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Team composition
- A minimum of two people is required to make up an I-Corps team (entrepreneurial lead and technical lead) with a maximum of four members.
- The technical lead will typically be a faculty member, senior research scientist or postdoctoral scholar.
- The entrepreneurial lead is typically a student or other personnel with relevant knowledge of the technology.
