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National Science Foundation

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.

Between cyclesNational Science FoundationUnited States

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.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.No fixed schedule
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.-
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.-
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.-
Award typeiThe form of funding - grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.-
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.-

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