Purdue I-Corps: Discovery
Purdue I-Corps: Discovery
October 10 - November 21
Free
Course Description
Purdue I-Corps: Discovery will help you explore the commercial viability of your deep tech innovation idea/IP. We teach the Lean LaunchPad approach, a process to help you systematically test key assumptions about your technology and the customer problems it might be able to solve better than current alternatives. This assessment of “technology-problem fit” is the critical first step toward commercial success for any technology venture. These courses are for researchers and students with deep tech IP and a strong interest in commercializing their technology. Researchers from other Midwest universities are welcome to apply.
Learning Objectives
- Develop familiarity with Lean LaunchPad concepts and tools such as customer discovery, ecosystem mapping, and the Value Proposition Canvas
- Understand customers’ problems (“pain points”) from THEIR perspective
- Map your customer ecosystem to understand customer roles, requirements, and decision processes
- Build connections to the commercial ecosystem (i.e. customers, suppliers, funders) for your innovation
Course Benefits
- Increase chances of commercialization grants such as SBIR/STTR, PFI-TT, etc. ($250K-$2M)
- Gain valuable market insight to inform the next steps for your idea
- Develop network connections and receive mentoring from experienced industry experts and entrepreneurs
- Develop an entrepreneurial mindset and toolset needed for conducting use-inspired research and roles in industry, startups, or government
- Become eligible for the NSF I-Corps National Teams program and $50,000 grant for qualifying technologies and teams (only deep-tech, university-based teams who complete at least 20-30 customer discovery interviews)
Course Format
The Discovery Program will be conducted in two phases: An Asynchronous Program and four Synchronous Virtual workshops. Successful completion of the asynchronous course is required to advance to the Synchronous Virtual Workshops. Following completion of the asynchronous program, you will meet with the instructors and, if accepted, you will receive a registration link for the synchronous virtual workshops.
- Asynchronous Program:
- Flexible Learning: Complete the course in approximately 4 hours, with 30 days from registration to finish.
- Self-Paced Modules: Access resources anytime, anywhere.
- Preparation for Success: Get ready for a Local I-Corps Program by learning the fundamentals of I-Corps, Customer Discovery, and Business Model Generation.
- Synchronous Virtual Workshops:
- Workshop 1 – October 17: Customer Discovery, Value Proposition Canvas
- Workshop 2 – October 24: Customer Discovery, Ecosystem Mapping
- Workshop 3 – November 7: Customer Discovery, Market Sizing, Commercialization Pathway
- Workshop 4 – November 21: Customer Discovery, Next Steps
- During the synchronous workshop phase, you will conduct 30-40 customer discovery interviews, provide weekly summaries about customer discovery findings, estimate your market size, determine a commercialization pathway, and receive feedback and coaching from experienced
instructors/mentors.
- During the synchronous workshop phase, you will conduct 30-40 customer discovery interviews, provide weekly summaries about customer discovery findings, estimate your market size, determine a commercialization pathway, and receive feedback and coaching from experienced
Course Schedule
- Asynchronous Program
- September 29, 2025
- Deadline: Complete by October 10, 2025
- Synchronous Virtual Workshops: All course events occur on Fridays from 12:00 PM—2:00 PM ET
- October 17: Customer Discovery, Value Proposition Canvas
- October 24: Customer Discovery, Ecosystem Mapping
- November 7: Customer Discovery, Market Sizing, Commercialization Pathway
- November 21: Customer Discovery, Next Steps
Register using the form below. Questions can be directed to Matthew Lynall, mlynall@purdue.edu
Register