UNC Charlotte I-Corps
Entrepreneurial Training for Research Innovators
UNC Charlotte’s I-Corps program empowers faculty, researchers, students, and innovators to evaluate the commercial potential of their technologies through hands-on entrepreneurial training. As part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps Mid-Atlantic Hub, UNC Charlotte helps research teams transform discoveries into solutions with real-world impact.
NSF I-Corps Fall 2026 Cohort
UNC Charlotte is accepting applications for the NSF I-Corps Fall 2026 Regional Course Program. This virtual program helps faculty and graduate student teams explore the market potential of their research through customer discovery, market research, and hands-on entrepreneurial training.
Application Deadline: October 1, 2026, or until the cohort is filled
Format: Virtual
Who Should Apply: Faculty and Graduate Student teams
Duration: November 2–16, 2026
Commitment: Three virtual class sessions, independent customer discovery activities, and customer interviews
What is I-Corps?
The National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) is an immersive entrepreneurial training program designed to help researchers extend their work beyond the lab and identify real-world market opportunities. Through customer discovery, market research, and mentorship, participants assess whether their innovations solve meaningful problems and have commercialization potential.
UNC Charlotte has been an NSF I-Corps Site since 2015 and has trained hundreds of teams across the region. In 2024, UNC Charlotte officially joined the NSF I-Corps Mid-Atlantic Hub, expanding access to regional resources, mentorship, and funding pathways.
Inside the I-Corps Experience
Program Benefits
Participants gain practical tools and experience to evaluate the commercial potential of their research and accelerate innovation pathways.
Customer Discovery: Learn how to identify and engage potential users and stakeholders through structured interviews and field research.
Market Validation: Test assumptions and determine whether your innovation addresses a meaningful and viable market need.
Commercialization Readiness: Build a clear pathway toward licensing, startup creation, or future funding opportunities.
Mentorship & Networks: Gain access to experienced mentors, entrepreneurs, and regional innovation partners.
Your I-Corps Journey
What to Expect
At the beginning of the program, teams will receive instruction on customer discovery and market research. Between sessions, participants will interview potential customers and stakeholders to test assumptions, gather feedback, and better understand the market need for their research or innovation.
Each team will share its customer discovery findings during the weekly virtual sessions.
Program Expectations
- At least one team member must attend each program session.
- Teams must engage in market research, customer discovery and other commercialization-focused activities outside of class.
- Teams must complete at least 20 customer interviews by the end of the program.
Applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Please note that some I-Corps programs may be limited to participants affiliated with designated partner institutions.
Required I-Corps Prep
To be considered for the Fall 2026 cohort, participants must complete the short I-Corps Prep course by October 22, 2026. Applicants will not be formally accepted into the cohort until the prep course has been completed.
Fall 2026 Course Schedule
Class 1: Introduction and Customer Discovery | Monday, November 2, 2026, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
- Introduction to I-Corps
- Team introductions
- Business model generation
- Value proposition design
- Customer discovery best practices
Class 2: Testing and Refining Your Ideas | Monday, November 9, 2026, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
- Team presentations: lessons learned from customer discovery
- Hypothesis development
- Customer interview workshops
Class 3: Findings and Next Steps | Monday, November 16, 2026, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
- Final team presentations
- Next steps and commercialization pathways
Who Should Apply
This program is designed for:
• Faculty Researchers
• Graduate Students
• Postdoctoral Scholars
• Research Staff
No business plan is required, only an interest in exploring real-world impact.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should have:
✔ A research-based idea, invention, or technology
✔ A connection to a UNC Charlotte Faculty member and graduate student
✔ Interest in commercialization or real-world application
✔ Willingness to conduct customer discovery interviews
Teams and individual applicants are welcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does our technology need to be NSF-funded to participate?
No, prior NSF funding is not required to join UNC Charlotte I-Corps. Teams with innovations supported by other funding sources or no external funding at all are welcome to apply if they are interested in exploring commercialization pathways.
Do we need a complete team to apply?
No. If you are interested in participating but do not yet have a full team, you may still apply. The UNC Charlotte I-Corps team may be able to help connect you with potential collaborators or mentors as part of the application process.
Can teams from outside UNC Charlotte participate?
Yes. Teams from other institutions within the Mid-Atlantic I-Corps network are eligible to apply, depending on space and program guidelines. Priority may be given to UNC Charlotte-affiliated teams.
Can our team have more than one faculty or graduate student member?
The standard I-Corps team structure includes one faculty member and one graduate student. In some cases, additional team members or advisors may participate, depending on the project needs and program guidance.
Ready to Explore Your Innovation’s Potential?
Join UNC Charlotte I-Corps and take the next step toward transforming your research into real-world impact.
Contact
For questions about the UNC Charlotte I-Corps Program, please contact:
Devin Collins, devin.collins@charlotte.edu
Executive Director of New Ventures and Industry Alliances, ORTIA