NSF I-Corps at UNLV
Turn your research into real-world impact through customer discovery and commercialization training.
About the Program
The National Science Foundation I-Corps Program helps researchers move beyond the lab to discover real-world market opportunities for their innovations, turning research into technologies that benefit society and drive economic impact.
As a partner in the NSF I-Corps Hub: Desert and Pacific Region, UNLV offers an introduction to I-Corps and connects research teams with the NSF National I-Corps. Eligible UNLV-affiliated research teams will participate in a four-session course to help make a critical decision: should you commercialize your technology?
Why I-Corps Matters Now
The Office of Economic Development (OED) serves as the local gateway to this national program. The National Science Foundation I-Corps program, equips UNLV researchers and aspiring entrepreneurs with the training, mentorship, and resources to advance academic discovery toward market-ready solutions. To learn more about how the Office of Economic Development supports technology commercialization and industry engagement, visit the website.
Program Benefits
What to Expect
- The entire I-Corps training will be delivered virtually through Zoom.
- Throughout the course of the program, you'll learn how to conduct customer interviews and market research, then put those skills into practice immediately.
- Each week, you'll interview potential customers to discover whether the problem you're solving creates enough urgency to drive real adoption.
- Participants will also conduct weekly team presentations to keep everyone accountable as you gather insights and move toward your go/no-go decision.
Program Requirements
Eligibility
The I-Corps Program is open to university-affiliated research teams and startups developing new technologies at institutions of higher education. Each team must include three roles:
- Academic Lead (Principal Investigator): Typically a UNLV faculty or staff member who oversees the research
- Entrepreneurial Lead: A student, faculty/staff member, or alumnus who drives commercialization efforts
- Industry Mentor – an external advisor with relevant industry experience (cannot be a UNLV employee)
Please note the following:
- Teams are allowed to have more than one entrepreneurial or academic lead. It is welcome to have multiple faculty members or students who want to contribute to the team and learn.
- If you need help finding a mentor, the UNLV Office of Economic Development and The Center for Entrepreneurship can connect you with one.
- If the technology you are interested in was not funded by the NSF, you can still participate in the program. By completing the NSF I-Corps program, you will establish an NSF funding lineage for your project, making it eligible for other sources of commercialization-focused funding from the NSF.
Commitments and Expectations
All teams must:
- Have at least one team member must attend all four sessions
- Conduct market research and customer discovery between sessions
- Complete a minimum of 20 customer interviews by the end of the program
Application Process
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. If your team is accepted, you will be placed in the next available cohort. Follow the process listed below to initiate the application process.
Step 1: Email Our Team
Send an email to i-corps@unlv.edu with the following information:
- Subject Line: I-Corps NSF Application
- Your name
- Project name
- Your UNLV affiliation (faculty, student, staff, alumni)
- Brief project description
Step 2: Schedule Your Consultation
Upon reviewing your email, a member of our team will contact you to schedule a meeting with Leith Martin to discuss your project and eligibility. Following this meeting, you'll complete a formal application for program approval. If accepted, your team will be placed in the next available cohort.
Helpful Links
-
The Office of Economic Development can support you and your work at UNLV by advancing your ideas, disclosing a technology, connecting you to industry collaborators, and locating boilerplate agreements.
-
This National Institutes of Health program funds biomedical and behavioral research projects with commercial potential and public health impact. Funding available: up to $150,000 (Phase 1) and $1 million (Phase 2).
-
This National Science Foundation program supports high-risk, high-reward technology startups with strong commercial potential. Phase 1 provides $150,000 over six months, with successful projects receiving an additional $750,000 in Phase 2 funding over two years.
-
The Nevada Small Business Development Center provides no cost business assistance and training at every stage, from startup to growth and beyond.
-
The Mendenhall Innovation Program integrates entrepreneurship and design into engineering education. This minor teaches engineering students the fundamentals of product commercialization from early-stage conception through development with instruction from faculty and industry professionals.
