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!

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 18 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.

Fill out the appropriate document (below), please select the one that most directly reflects your role or group
Attach any required documents listed in the form
Email the application and any attachments to UAicorps@gmail.com

Inventor student entrepreneur mentor COMMUNITY TEAM (Non-UA)

details

Questions: email UAicorps@gmail.com

Fall 2019 Program Dates

Applications Due: Friday, September 27
Teams Selected: Wednesday, October 2
Week 1: Friday, October 11 (Group Meeting)
Week 2: Friday, October 18 (Individual Meeting)
Week 3: Friday, October 25 (Group Meeting)
Week 4: Friday, November 1 (Individual Meeting)
Week 5: Friday, November 8 (Group Meeting)
Week 6: Friday, November 15 (Panel)
Week 7: Friday, November 22 (Group Meeting final presentations)

Tentative Spring 2020 Dates:

Fridays from February 28-April 17 (no Meeting March 27)

Tentative Summer 2020 Dates:

Tuesdays and Fridays from June 5-June 26

I-Corps Key Metrics

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

Graduated 211 teams
Educated 650 individual team members
Engaged 186 mentors
Spurred teams to conduct 4,100 customer interviews
Seen 80 startup teams and seen 27 new startups launched, which have raised $4.2 million in funding