I-Corps

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UA's I-Corps Site program is all about customer discovery! It supports teams through an intensive 7-meeting critical evaluation. Our goal is to help faculty, students, and the community answer important questions about their business, product or technology idea through coaching and direct customer interactions. The I-Corps program can help you:

Get clarity on your customer
Learn and apply best practices on the business model canvas
Get direct feedback on your business idea
Expand your network and access needed resources
Level up your business!

Watch testimony from fall 2019 Participant

Eligible Participants

UA's I-Corps Site is open to faculty, student and community led teams. You can apply to I-Corps in many ways:

University teams are comprised of at least one faculty member (Academic Lead), one or more students (Entrepreneurial Leads) and one or more Mentors. Faculty from all colleges and departments, and other regional universities, are encouraged to apply.
Community teams are comprised of at least one entrepreneur or aspiring entrepreneur (Entrepreneurial Leads) and one or more Mentors. Applicants should be based in Northeast Ohio, but need not be affiliated with The University of Akron.
Mentors can apply independently to join a team as a way to see new ventures and share their expertise.
Students can apply independently to assist an existing team in assessing their business idea as a way to learn about entrepreneurship and build their resumes.

program

If selected for I-Corps, teams will attend a 7-meeting training session that requires them to:

Conduct at least 21 interviews with potential customers or end users
Perform preliminary market research and competitive analysis
Present their progress and evolving business idea multiple times
Meet with mentors and instructors to receive candid feedback

For more detail, see the full I-Corps schedule.

application process

Applications are accepted anytime and will be evaluated prior to the next I-Corps cohort. Each application will be assessed on the background and commitment of the team members, uniqueness of the business idea and (if applicable) intellectual property strength, the market and business model, and the fit with the goals and competencies of UA's I-Corps Site.

Downloadable application available here.

details

Questions: email UAicorps@gmail.com

Upcoming Cohort: Spring 2021 Virtual Program

Applications Due: Sunday, February 28
Teams Selected: Wednesday, March 3
Week 1: Friday, March 12 (Group Meeting)
Week 2: Friday, March 19 (Individual Meeting)
Week 3: Friday, March 26 (Group Meeting)
Week 4: Friday, April 2 (Individual Meeting)
Week 5: Friday, April 9 (Group Meeting)
Week 6: Friday, April 16 (Panel)
Week 7: Friday, April 23 (Group Meeting final presentations)

All meetings will be conducted virtually.
Group meetings take place from 11:30am-1:30pm or 12:00-2:00pm depending on cohort placement. Individual meetings will be scheduled on first come, first serve basis.

Current Cohort: Winter 2020/2021 "Friday" Program

Week 1: Friday, December 4 (Group Meeting)
Week 2: Friday, December 11 (Individual Meeting)
Week 3: Friday, December 18 (Group Meeting)
NO MEETING: Friday, December 25
NO MEETING: Friday, January 1
Week 4: Friday, January 8 (Individual Meeting)
Week 5: Friday, January 15 (Group Meeting)
Week 6: Friday, January 22 (Panel)
Week 7: Friday, January 29 (Group Meeting final presentations)

All meetings will be conducted virtually. All Friday Group meetings take place from 12:00-2:00pm. Individual meetings will be scheduled on first come, first serve basis.

Current Cohort: Winter 2020/2021 Med Tech/Healthcare "Saturday" Cohort

Kickoff Meeting: Saturday, December 5, 9am-12pm (Group Meeting)
Check-in #1 & #2: 20-minute check ins scheduled between December 12 - January 2
Mid-point Meeting: Saturday, January 9, 9am-11am (Group Meeting)
Check-in #3: 20-minute check in scheduled between January 11-23
Finale Meeting: Saturday, January 23, 9am-12pm (Finale Group Meeting)

All meetings will be conducted virtually. Additional details at www.NorthcoastICorps.com

I-Corps Key Metrics

To date, UA's I-Corps Site has:

Graduated 285 teams
Educated 950 individual team members
Engaged 240 mentors
Spurred teams to conduct 7,000 customer interviews
Seen 54 startup teams and seen 32 new startups launched, which have raised $5 million in funding