Apply for NSF I-Corps Virtual Immersive Short Course

UC Davis Venture Catalyst is collaborating with the Bay Area Node for the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps program to host their Immersive Short Course training for UC Davis and regional teams with technology innovations based on discoveries in fundamental science and engineering, which will be structured as three online evening sessions taking place on July 20, July 22, and July 27, 2020.

Applications for the Immersive Short Course are open through July 3, 2020. Selected applicants will be contacted two weeks before the first day of class to schedule a team interview call with the I-Corps instructor.

The Immersive Short Course training is focused on helping early-stage teams who have a fundamental technology, engineering, or business model innovation learn how search for a scalable business model through the Customer Discovery process. The three online evening sessions will teach teams to identify and refine their Value Propositions and Customer Segments, which are essential to de-risking ideas and achieving product-market fit. Outside of class, teams are expected to conduct at least 15 interviews with potential customers as part of the Customer Discovery process. Participants can expect to spend 20-30 hours outside of class on interviews.

In addition to benefitting from the initial Customer Discover process, applicable teams that complete the Immersive Short Course with instructor endorsement may qualify for the National Innovation Corps program, which includes a $30k or $50k grant for customer discovery and supplemental training. Of note, teams that complete the national program have a much higher funding rate, including investment and National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants, which provide up to $256k in seed capital to conduct research and development.

Apply Here by July 3

When:
6:00 – 9:00 pm, Monday, July 20, Wednesday, July 22, and Monday, July 27, 2020

All sessions will be hosted in an online virtual format to abide by social distancing guidelines.

Questions: VentureCatalyst@ucdavis.edu