NSF I-Corps Teams
Trains teams built around NSF-connected researchers to test the commercial potential of their lab technology through structured customer-discovery coursework, as a first step toward a startup, further research, or licensing.
Teams first submit an executive summary through the online application portal, then interview with I-Corps staff; a subset is chosen to join a National I-Corps cohort of roughly two dozen teams, taught by instructors from university-based Hubs, where they run structured customer-discovery interviews before submitting a full I-Corps Teams proposal. From there, past teams have gone on to raise SBIR/…
The National I-Corps program is open to researchers who either hold an NSF research award from within the last five years covering any field of science or engineering, or who complete a regional I-Corps course and earn a recommendation to the national program.
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Guides for this application
All guides →NSF Biosketch Guide: SciENcv, Format, and Examples
Learn how the NSF biosketch works, what SciENcv is used for, how it differs from current and pending support, and what startup teams should prepare.
DocumentsNSF Data Management Plan Example and Writing Guide
Learn how to write an NSF data management plan, what the plan should include, how it differs from NIH data sharing plans, and how startup applicants should handle data.
DocumentsGrant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
Submit & reportSAM.gov Registration and UEI Guide for Federal Grant Applicants
Learn how SAM.gov registration, UEI numbers, Grants.gov accounts, organization profiles, workspace roles, and renewal timing fit together.
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