I-Corps

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

Current Cohort: Fall 2020 Virtual Program

Applications Due: Sunday, September 20
Teams Selected: Wednesday, September 23
Week 1: Friday, October 2 (Group Meeting)
Week 2: Friday, October 9 (Individual Meeting)
Week 3: Friday, October 16 (Group Meeting)
Week 4: Friday, October 23 (Individual Meeting)
Week 5: Friday, October 30 (Group Meeting)
Week 6: Friday, November 6 (Panel)
Week 7: Friday, November 13 (Group Meeting final presentations)

All meetings will be conducted virtually

All Friday 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.

*NEW*
Fall 2020 Med Tech/Healthcare Saturday Cohort

Applications Due: Sunday, September 20
- Select "Medical or Healthcare Technology" in section 3 of application
Teams Selected: Wednesday, September 23
Week 1: Saturday, October 3, 9am-12pm (Group Meeting)
Week 2: 20-minute check in scheduled between October 5-10
Week 3: Saturday, October 17, 9am-11am (Group Meeting)
Week 4: 20-minute check in scheduled between October 19-24
Week 5: Saturday, October 31, 9am-12pm (Finale Group Meeting)

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

New Upcoming Cohort: Winter 2020 Program

Applications due Sunday, November 22
Selected teams announced Wednesday, November 25
Meetings held Fridays from December 4, 2020 to January 29, 2021(no meeting on December 25 nor January 1)

I-Corps Key Metrics

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

Graduated 243 teams
Educated 700 individual team members
Engaged 200 mentors
Spurred teams to conduct 6,000 customer interviews
Seen 54 startup teams and seen 32 new startups launched, which have raised $4.2 million in funding