NSF I-Corps
Helps United States research teams in NSF I-Corps test market fit through customer discovery and commercialization coaching.
NSF I-Corps is NSF's customer-discovery and translation program for U.S.-based research teams. It helps teams test whether a technical idea has a real market path, and the program is aimed at early deep-tech translation rather than a general research grant. The standard award is $50,000 for Teams, with about 150 cohorts a year. The cycle is annual, the eligible band sits roughly between TRL 2 and TRL 4, and the program is limited to U.S.-based researcher teams. Nonprofits and individuals are excluded, and the same project cannot be stacked across awards. I-Corps fits early teams that need structured customer discovery before they commit to a larger development plan. The value is less about capital than about disciplined market learning, so proposals are strongest when the technical problem is real, the user need is specific, and the team is willing to change course based on evidence. It is a good first stop for researchers who need to turn an invention into a venture or a licensing path.
No upcoming rounds verified. Cadence: Annual.