The National I-Corps Program Structure

In addition to the $50,000 sub-award, I-Corps consists of a rigorous, mandatory seven-week experiential training program. The curriculum is delivered virtually and follows this specific cadence:

• Orientation: A one-day session held one week prior to the kickoff to review logistics and expectations.

• The Kickoff Sprint: A high-intensity, five-day session. This includes three days of core instruction (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and two dedicated “interview days” (Tuesday and Thursday) where teams are expected to hit the ground running.

• Weekly Web Sessions: Five consecutive weeks of half-day online sessions featuring instructor-led lessons and team presentations.

• Lessons Learned: A final two-day “capstone” session where teams present their customer discovery data, their “Go/No-Go” decision, and their next steps for commercialization.

Time Commitment: The program is a major undertaking. Each team member must dedicate a minimum of 15 hours per week. This time is split between the scheduled cohort sessions and active customer discovery (conducting interviews and synthesizing data).

Mandatory Team Commitments

To successfully complete the program and remain eligible for the full sub-award, teams must meet the following requirements:

• 100 Customer Interviews: You must conduct at least 100 first-hand interviews with potential customers, partners, and industry stakeholders during the seven-week program. Note: Interviews conducted before the cohort begins do not count toward this total.

• Attendance Policy: Full participation is mandatory. The EL, TL, and IM must attend all sessions, including the orientation, kickoff, weekly web sessions, and office hours. The NSF is strict: more than one unexcused absence may result in the team being removed from the cohort.

• U.S. Presence: All team members must be physically located in the U.S. for the duration of the 7-week program.

• Scientific Discovery: Teams must remain focused on the “Deep Tech” discovery process. The goal is to evaluate product-market fit and the business model, not to engage in R&D or product coding during the seven weeks.

Technology & Innovation Focus

The NSF I-Corps program is designed exclusively to support the commercialization of “Deep Technologies”—innovations rooted in fundamental discoveries in science and engineering.

• Deep Tech Requirement: Your innovation must represent a fundamental scientific or engineering breakthrough.

• Exclusions: Software projects that are “wrappers” for existing AI models (e.g., standard GPT-based apps) or simple software interfaces without core algorithmic innovation are generally ineligible.

• Institutional Connection: The technology must have an explicit connection to an Institution of Higher Education (IHE). The NSF looks for evidence of this through peer-reviewed publications (completed or in-process) and a formal record of intellectual property (IP) protection, such as a patent application or an invention disclosure filed with NYU’s Technology Opportunities & Ventures (TOV).

Eligibility Pathways (Lineage)

To apply to the National I-Corps program, a team must establish “NSF Lineage” through one of the following two pathways:

1. Prior NSF Research Award: At least one team member must have had an active NSF research award in a relevant field of science or engineering within the last five years.

2. Regional I-Corps Training: Teams without a prior NSF research award must successfully complete the NYU Tech Venture Workshop (or an equivalent NSF Regional I-Corps program) within the past 24 months.

Recommendation from the Hub

All NYU teams—regardless of prior funding—are expected to engage with the Hub. However, for teams using the Regional Training pathway, a formal Letter of Recommendation signed by a senior member of the NY I-Corps Hub staff is mandatory. This letter must be submitted with your Executive Summary to verify that your team has reached the necessary “Deep Tech” and customer discovery milestones required for the national stage.

If you believe you meet the eligibility requirements above, the next step is to:

1. Form a team: To apply to I-Corps, you must form a team of three to four members. Each member must be physically located in the U.S. for the duration of the program and fulfill one of the following required roles:

   • Entrepreneurial Lead (EL): Typically a graduate student, postdoctoral researcher, or staff member who leads the customer discovery process and is committed to the commercialization of the technology.

   • Technical Lead (TL): A faculty member, senior research scientist, or postdoctoral researcher with deep technical expertise in the core technology. The TL must be the person most closely associated with the technological innovation being evaluated.

   • Industry Mentor (IM): An experienced entrepreneur or industry professional, external to the technology development, who provides guidance on business strategy. If you need help identifying an IM, please contact the Entrepreneurial Institute at entrepreneur@nyu.edu.

   • Note on Team Composition: Teams may include a fourth member as a Co-EL or Co-TL. However, teams may not exceed four members total without explicit prior approval from the NSF. Additionally, every team must identify a Principal Investigator (PI) of record; while the PI is often the TL, they are responsible for the administrative management of the sub-award.

2. Submit an executive summary: Submit a two-page Executive Summary (PDF) formatted per the new NSF 25-549 guidelines. Your summary must include three distinct headers:

   • Intellectual Merit: Detail the “Deep Tech” nature of the innovation.

   • Broader Impacts: How this benefits society or the economy.

   • Commercialization Plan: Your intent to form a company and current funding status (must not have significant prior investment).

   • See here for instructions on how to prepare and submit your executive summary.

3. Recommendation from the Hub: All NYU teams must complete a Regional I-Corps program and receive a formal “Letter of Recommendation” from the Hub leadership. This letter confirms your project meets the 2026 Deep Tech eligibility requirements and that your team has completed the necessary preliminary customer discovery.

4. Submit your Application: Submit your finalized Executive Summary and Hub Letter via the NSF I-Corps Application Portal.

5. Interview with NSF: Once NSF has received your executive summary, the I-Corps staff will schedule an interview with your team to review your information, provide feedback, and determine if you are ready for the national program.

6. Select your cohort: After completing a successful interview, you will be invited to select the cohort that your team would like to attend. Be sure all team members are available to attend all I-Corps session dates and times. Upcoming cohorts are listed here.

What to Expect: From Invention to Impact

The I-Corps curriculum is not a traditional academic exercise; it is an immersive “sprint” designed to bridge the gap between foundational research and real-world application. Rather than focusing on research papers or slide decks, participants engage in experiential learning through high-stakes customer discovery.

By “getting out of the building” and interviewing potential customers, partners, and industrial stakeholders, teams move beyond lab-based assumptions to evaluate the commercial viability of their Deep Tech innovations.

The Three Program Outcomes

Per the current NSF 25-549 guidelines, every team completes the program with three specific results:

1. A Clear Path Forward: A data-driven “Go/No-Go” decision on the business model.

2. Evidence of Product-Market Fit: First-hand validation of customer segments and their specific value propositions.

3. A Narrative of Translation: A documented plan for the next stage of the technology’s development.

Track Record of Success

Since its inception, the National I-Corps program has built a formidable innovation ecosystem. As of 2024, the program has supported:

• 3,200+ Teams trained across the National Innovation Network.

• 1,700+ Startups successfully launched.

• $7.0 Billion+ in subsequent funding raised by I-Corps alumni.

Post-Program Opportunities

Completing the national program opens specific pathways for NYU researchers:

• Launching a Deep Tech Venture: Preparing to raise private capital or applying for non-dilutive federal funding, such as America’s Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR).

• Use-Inspired Research: Utilizing discovery data to inform future grant applications (e.g., NSF Translation to Practice (TTP)) or to pivot lab research toward urgent market needs.

• Technology Licensing: Partnering with NYU Technology Opportunities & Ventures (TOV) to license protected IP to existing industry leaders based on validated market demand.