Researcher in lab

National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps

The NSF I-Corps mission is to improve the commercialization of research-based technology in the New England area, supported by year-round, hands-on courses and activities. Through the I-Corps opportunities, you'll get entrepreneurial training, support, and funding for customer discovery & your new technology - all while building your network of mentors, investors, and local entrepreneurs.

Not only do the program experiences help you gather evidence about product-market fit for your business idea, you could increase your chances of receiving an Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award.

About I-Corps

Spark fusion graphic

Spark (3-week program)

  • Participate in 2 hands-on evening workshops (3 hours each)
  • Ask questions during 2 coaching calls with experienced entrepreneurs (1 hour each)
  • Engage in discovery exercises where you talk to potential users and prospective customers for your technology
  • Participation unlocks eligibility to apply for Fusion

Fusion (Self-paced program)

  • Conduct 12 new interviews and craft a final presentation
  • Gain additional coaching and funding for further customer discovery
  • Apply for $1,500 for travel expenses
  • Completing Fusion may qualify you to apply for the NSF I-Corps Teams program and a grant of up to $50,000!
Paul Bosco, Jr

NSF I-Corps provides a platform to combine your academic experience with the entrepreneurial mindset. It empowers us, as Tufts researchers, to apply our academic rigor to understanding real-world business challenges, gaining unique insights from potential customers, stakeholders, experienced mentors, and motivated peers. This program offers a unique opportunity to see where your ideas fit in the wider world, enriching your journey as a researcher and broadening your impact as an innovator.

Paul Bosco, Jr., Head of Product, Stealth Startup & MSEM '22

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Jimmy Edgerton

Think of NSF I-Corps Spark 3-week courses as the scientific method mixed with an entrepreneurial spirit! You will form hypotheses about your potential customers and what the customers value. You will be given tools to test the customers' problems via conversations with real customers. You will analyze the data, adjust your hypothesis, and improve your business' plans.

Jimmy Edgerton, Lecturer & NSF I-Corps Instructor

Leveraging Tufts Entrepreneurial Activities and I-Corps

Jean Phuong Pham, MSIM '21, has partnered with Igor Sokolov, PhD, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, to launch Cellens Inc. which offers a revolutionary non-invasive test for bladder cancer. After winning the Derby Entrepreneurship Center's Montle Prize for Entrepreneurial Achievement and 1st place in the $100k New Ventures Competition, Cellens went on to join the National Science Foundation I-Corps program, receiving $50,000 in grants to do market research and establish their value proposition for patients, doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, caregivers and other stakeholders.

Jean Pham presenting at $100k New Ventures Competition

Dive into Lessons Learned from the NSF I-Corps Program

Two Engineering Professors from Purdue University recently published a study outlining the research benefits associated with participation in the National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Customer Discovery program, including "improvements in overall career success attributes, such as learning, mentoring, and research capabilities."

Click here to read the study.

Contact Us

If you'd like to schedule a call with Filip Čučkov, Director of the Auster Center for Applied Innovation Research, to learn more about available opportunities or upcoming cohorts, please feel free to email him directly at Icorps@tufts.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • NSF I-Corps is a national initiative by the National Science Foundation that helps students, researchers, and faculty members explore the commercial potential of their innovative ideas or research. Through structured training, mentorship, and customer discovery, participants gain the tools and mindset to translate their work into real-world impact.

  • The I-Corps program is structured into three levels of increasing depth and intensity. Spark is an introductory program designed to give individuals or early teams a taste of innovation and customer discovery methods. Fusion is a follow-up program for more developed teams that want to explore market fit and build entrepreneurial skills. I-Corps Nationals is a competitive, grant-funded national program that supports selected teams with intensive mentorship and $50,000 in NSF funding to validate their business model.

  • Any Tufts-affiliated student, researcher, or faculty member with an idea, project, or research that could lead to an innovative solution is welcome to apply. Applicants from all departments, disciplines, and levels of experience are encouraged to get involved.

  • No, you do not need to have a startup or even a fully developed product. Especially for the Spark program, you can apply with just an early-stage idea, research concept, or a curiosity about innovation. Fusion and Nationals are more suitable for teams that have taken some initial steps in shaping their idea or customer segment.

  • Yes, you can apply to the Spark program as an individual. For Fusion and Nationals, teams are encouraged and sometimes required, but we can help connect you with potential teammates or collaborators from other programs and backgrounds.

  • The time commitment varies by program. Spark typically includes one or two short workshops across a few days. Fusion is a multi-week experience involving weekly meetings and guided work. Nationals is more intensive and spans seven weeks, with a strong emphasis on customer discovery and regular team sessions.

  • Yes, I-Corps Nationals provides each selected team with $50,000 in non-dilutive grant funding from the NSF. While Spark does not include funding, it offers critical preparation that strengthens your future applications and funding potential.

  • I-Corps is designed to help you assess whether your idea is worth building into a venture. While it doesn’t require you to form a company, many participants find the process so valuable that they continue on to launch startups, apply for federal grants, or join incubators and accelerators.

  • Yes, international students are welcome to join Spark and Fusion. For Nationals, because the NSF grant is federal funding, at least one member of the team must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. However, international students can still be key members of a participating team and receive full training and mentorship.

  • Not at all. Innovation comes from all fields, and I-Corps encourages participation from students and researchers across disciplines including healthcare, policy, education, the arts, and more. If you’re interested in creating impact with your ideas, I-Corps is a great place to start, regardless of your academic background.