Apply for I-Corps

Upcoming Cohort: Summer 2022
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• ​Applications Due: Sunday, May 22, 2022
• Teams Selected: Wednesday, May 25, 2022
• Week 1: Friday, June 10, 2022 (Group Meeting)
• Week 2: Friday, June 17, 2022 (Individual Meeting)
• Week 3: Friday, June 24, 2022 (Group Meeting)
• Week 4: Friday, July 1, 2022 (Individual Meeting)
• Week 5: Friday, July 8, 2022 (Group Meeting)
• Week 6: Friday, July 15, 2022 (Group Meeting, Panel)
• Week 7: Friday, July 22, 2022 (Group Meeting, Final presentations)

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All meetings will be offered virtually. An in-person option may also be available.
​Group meetings take place on Fridays from 12:00-2:00pm.
​Individual meetings will be scheduled on first come, first serve basis.
Additional cohorts may be scheduled depending on availability of applicants.

UA's I-Corps program is
​all about customer discovery!

The I-Corps Program 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!

Graduated 300 Teams

12,000 Customer Interviews
​Completed By Teams

60 New Startup
Companies Launched

Raised Over $8 Million
​In Funding

Eligible Participants

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

University Teams
They 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. ​​

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.

Community Teams 
They 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
You can apply independently to join a team as a way to see new ventures and share their expertise.

What is in the program?

If selected for the I-Corps Program, 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.

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The University of Akron is an Affiliate of the Great Lakes Region I-Corps Hub

The 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, the market and business model, and the fit with the goals and competencies of UA's I-Corps Program. 

Downloadable application available here.

Questions?

Email us at UAicorps@gmail.com

I-Corps Success Stories​

Special thanks to UARF's I-Corps Site sponsors:

I-Corps is provided in collaboration with: