Course Description

The Ohio State University local NSF I-Corps program offers an immersive 4-week training tailored to researchers and students eager to explore the commercial potential of their research. This program is designed to provide faculty, staff, and students with an opportunity to develop marketable ideas and accelerate the startup process. If you want to make an impact with your research, joining our NSF I-Corps program is a great place to start.

This course will help you explore the commercial viability of your innovation. The Lean Launchpad approach is a process to help you systematically test key assumptions about your technology/product/service and the customer problems it may solve. This process will help you narrow your focus as you test specific hypotheses about your proposed product/service.

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 comprehend customer roles, requirements, and decision processes.
• Build connections with the commercial ecosystem, including customers, suppliers, and funders, for innovation.

Benefits of the Program

• Become eligible for the NSF I-Corps National Teams program and a $50,000 grant for qualifying technologies and teams
• Prepare to apply to the NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) commercialization grant programs, etc.
• Gain valuable market insight to inform the next steps in your research and/or development.
• Develop network connections and receive mentoring from experienced experts and entrepreneurs.
• Develop an entrepreneurial mindset and toolset beneficial for any career

Course Schedule

In-Person sessions – IMR Innovation Center 1381 Kinnear Columbus, OH 43212

Virtual sessions – Zoom link will be provided upon registration

All sessions are held from 9:00-11:30AM ET

• January 19, 2024 Ecosystem mapping and customer segments (In-person)
• January 26, 2024 Hypothesis development and value proposition design (Virtual)
• February 2, 2024 Customer Discovery basics and Customer Discovery in action (Virtual)
• February 9, 2024 Commercialization roadmap (In-person)

Please fill out the following application and you will be contacted by program staff regarding acceptance. Questions can be directed to Brian Genide, genide.3@osu.edu.