I-Corps | Worcester Polytechnic Institute

I-Corps is a National Science Foundation program designed to accelerate the commercialization of groundbreaking technology and business ideas. Participants engage in a customer discovery process, assessing the market potential of their innovations through customer interviews and business model development. Entrepreneurs gain valuable insights into customer needs, refine their product offerings, and craft effective go-to-market strategies.

Supported by an extensive network and innovative approach to entrepreneurship, I-Corps helps innovators rapidly develop ideas and bring them closer to market.

Learn more about the National Science Foundation I-Corps program.

NSF I-Corps Hub: New England Region

WPI teams can participate in the National Science Foundation's I-Corps program through the New England Region hub based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

New England Region I-Corps Hub

The I-Corps Methodology

You begin by working with your team to come up with a testable hypothesis. What is the need in the market, what is your approach to addressing the need, what is the benefit to the customer, and what is the competitive alternative to your idea? You will be asked to identify key stakeholders in the industry and conduct interviews. Each week you will check in with your group and provide the results of the customer discovery. I-Corps materials will guide you through the process.

Stay committed to the course and you will come away with deeper insight into the value of your idea. You may end up pivoting several times if you discover your initial idea is not viable, but adjustments will make your value proposition more viable. The process will enable you to hone your interpersonal skills, experience team dynamics, work through strategy development, and conduct market-based research. To be successful, you will need to work through ambiguity, take risks in reaching out to stakeholders, and listen rather than assume your idea is the right one.

Get funded! Typical funding for a team could be in the $2,000 to $3,000 range and would be used to travel to key customer locations or attend a conference in your industry. Additional funding may be available for prototyping, if needed.

I-Corps at WPI, Fall 2024

In 2024, the WPI I-CORPS program brought together teams tackling critical challenges in three fields.

Sustainability & Clean Energy: Projects addressed urgent environmental issues with cutting-edge clean energy solutions. Highlights included a direct carbon fuel cell, a magnesium-air battery, and innovative approaches to magnesium production and recycling. The projects aligned with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and shift to sustainable energy sources.
AI & Automation: Teams demonstrated a strong focus on AI and automation to enhance healthcare and streamline operations. Notable projects included an AI-driven facial skin cancer screening device and SAMIS AI.
Advanced Materials & Manufacturing: Innovation in materials science was front and center with projects like Safeblock and HydroFlex, which explored new methods in battery lifecycle management and precision polishing for manufacturing.

Highlights

Market Validation & Customer Discovery: Teams, such as those working on Safeblock and the AI-driven facial skin cancer screening device, worked on customer discovery to ensure their solutions addressed real-world needs.
Funding & Support: The team working on a magnesium-air battery secured funding from the Mass Clean Energy Center, while others explored non-dilutive funding opportunities.

In their words

Safeblock: "The system aims to enhance safety, transparency, and collaboration among stakeholders."
AI-driven facial skin cancer screening device: "This device aims to address limitations in current screening methods, making early detection more accessible."
Direct carbon fuel cell: "Our technology offers a cleaner and more readily available energy source."
Magnesium-air battery: "This development aligns with the International Maritime Organization's 2050 goals for reduced emissions in the shipping industry."
SAMIS AI: "Our platform aims to reduce labor, time, and financial costs while enhancing safety in aircraft maintenance."

Dive Deep into How WPI Teams Innovate with I-Corps

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