Spring 2020 Cohorts
NSF is currently recruiting for the Spring I-Corps™ National cohorts.
| Spring Cohort #1: Boston, MA | Spring Cohort #2: Atlanta, GA | Spring Cohort #3: San Francisco Bay Area, CA | |
| Kickoff (On-Site) | March 31 – April 3 (arrive March 31 by 5 pm) | April 20 – 23 (arrive April 20 by 5 pm) | April 27 – 30 (arrive April 27 by 5 pm) |
| Web sessions (Online) | Wednesdays 1-4 pm ET April 8, 15, 22, 29 May 6 | Wednesdays 1-4 pm ET April 29 May 6, 13, 20, 27 | Tuesdays 1-4 ET May 5, 12, 19, 26 June 2 |
| Lessons Learned (On-Site) | May 14-15 (arrive by May 14 to start at 12 pm) | June 4-5 (arrive by June 4 to start at 12 pm) | June 10-11 (arrive by June 10 to start at 12 pm) |
Submit Executive Summaries (ES) to: icorps-apply@nsf.gov
Preparation of the Executive Summary for the I-Corps™ National Program
Team Formation:
Identify a set of at least three I-Corps™ Team members to participate in the I-Corps™ National Cohort:
- Entrepreneurial Lead (EL)
- I-Corps™ Teams Mentor (IM)
- Technical Lead (TL)
Typically, team members who complete your regional program will constitute the team for the National Cohort. However, occasionally not all three members of your regional team will be able to go to National due to schedule conflicts and other commitments. In that case, it is important for at least the EL or TL from your regional program to be part of the National team for continuity with the new member.
The Entrepreneurial Lead (EL) could be a postdoctoral scholar, graduate or other student, staff member, researcher, or other personnel with relevant knowledge of the technology and a deep commitment to investigate the commercial landscape surrounding the innovation. The Entrepreneurial Lead should also be capable and have the will to support the transition of the technology, should the I-Corps™ Teams project demonstrate the potential for commercial viability.
The I-Corps™ Teams Mentor (IM) will typically be an experienced entrepreneur with proximity to the institution and experience in transitioning technology out of Academic labs. The I-Corps™ Teams Mentor should be a third-party resource and may be recommended by the proposing institution. The I-Corps™ Teams Mentor will be responsible for advising the team on its progress through I-Corps™ and will usually have contacts in the industry area(s) being explored. Other than their direct expenses for program participation, Mentors are not compensated through I-Corps™ Teams awards – Mentors are part of a volunteer cadre of entrepreneurs.
The Technical Lead (TL)/Principal Investigator (PI) will typically be a faculty member, senior research scientist or postdoctoral scholar with deep and direct technical expertise in the actual core technology about which the I-Corps™ team is exploring commercial potential. Typically the TL/PI will also serve as the proposal point of contact.
Teams may have an additional member in the role of co-EL, or co-TL. Teams with more than four members will not typically be supported.
Contents of the Executive Summary:
Prepare a one to two-page (maximum) Executive Summary that describes the following:
Team Members. Composition and roles (EL, TL, IM, plus any additional co-EL, co-TL or co-IM) of the team members proposing to undertake the commercialization feasibility research and a brief description (one page) of each member’s qualifications.
Proposal Principal Investigator. Proposal Principal Investigator (PI) and a brief description of their connection to the team. In most cases the PI will also be the PI is the person who will be designated as the recipient of the NSF I-Corps™ National Cohort grant. It is important to check with your institution that the person assuming the role of the PI is eligible to receive NSF funding. If the PI is not eligible to receive NSF funding, the Site Lead may assume the role of the NSF PI and manage the award funds.
Relevant current/previous NSF awards establishing team eligibility. The lineage is typically an NSF grant number. For your Site (Mason), the number is: 1735775. If teams from your institution did not go through your regional program but are applying based on NSF research grant funding, they should use the award number for their research grant.
Brief description of the core technology.
Application/Market. Brief description of the potential commercial application.
Current Plan. Brief description of the current commercialization plan.
NSF Contact:
Forward the Executive Summary to: icorps-apply@nsf.gov
Once we review your Executive Summary, you will be contacted about next steps.
Telephone Interviews:
Teams that describe projects with viable commercialization potential will be scheduled to engage in a telephone interview with NSF’s I-Corps™ Management Team. The purpose of this conference call is to assess the proposing team’s capabilities and commitment to the program. At the conclusion of this initial call, teams may be invited for a second telephone interview that includes both the NSF I-Corps™ Management team and instructors of the I-Corps™ Teams Curriculum. At the successful conclusion of both conference calls, teams may be invited to submit full proposals.