NSF I-Corps

Desert and Pacific Region Hub

Entrepreneurial Training to Bring Technology to the Market

Entrepreneurial Training

The National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (NSF I-Corps) program provides 4-weeks of entrepreneurial training for teams of researchers, students, and mentors to explore the commercial potential of their research and innovation.

Focused on research-based deep technology venture products and services, the Desert and Pacific Region Hub spans five states.

Hub Partners

Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, UC San Diego, San Diego State University, University of Hawaii, Boise State University, University of Idaho, and University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Learn More

What to Expect

Get Entrepreneurial Training and Support

• Turn your idea into a marketable product/service
• 4-week virtual program focused on customer discovery and value proposition
• Join a National I-Corps Teams program, and receive $50,000 in seed funding
• Open to all entrepreneurs: Faculty, Staff, Students & Community

Explore Your Idea’s Commercial Potential

• Improve commercial success through assumption testing and customer discovery
• Validate your business model and establish product-market fit
• Expand your network and develop industry connections

Upcoming Cohorts

Select the start date that interests you for detailed information and an application link specific to that cohort. Cohort dates are as follows:

I-Corps Aspire hosted by University of Arizona (Jun-Jul 2025)
June 11 to July 2
Learn the fundamentals of customer discovery and assess problem-solution fit over 4 sessions, 3 hours each, conducted via Zoom.

I-Corps Aspire (Jul-Aug 2025)
July 11 to Aug 1
Learn the fundamentals of customer discovery and assess problem-solution fit over 4 sessions, 3 hours each, conducted via Zoom.

I-Corps Aspire hosted by San Diego State University, San Diego (Jul-Aug 2025)
July 11 to Aug 15
Build your entrepreneurial skills and get real-world feedback on your idea in a dynamic hybrid course blending online sessions with in-person collaboration at San Diego State University.

I-Corps Aspire (Aug-Sep 2025)
Aug 22 to Sept 12
Learn the fundamentals of customer discovery and assess problem-solution fit over 4 sessions, 3 hours each, conducted via Zoom.

I-Corps Aspire hosted by Northern Arizona University (Sep-Oct 2025)
Sept 11 to Oct 2
A 4-week deep dive into a transformative, evidence-based customer discovery process designed to help researchers and entrepreneurs gain valuable insights into problem-solution fit for their innovation or startup idea. Held in person on the NAU campus, with a Zoom option available for added flexibility.

I-Corps Aspire hosted by Boise State University (Sep-Oct 2025)
Sept 19 to Oct 10
Join Boise State University for four live, 3-hour Zoom sessions of interactive exercises and expert guidance to uncover real customer needs and validate your solution for market success.

I-Corps Aspire: MedTech hosted by University of California, San Diego (Sep-Oct 2025)
Sept 29 to Oct 29
Dive into the MedTech innovation space as you learn to test assumptions, engage with real-world stakeholders, and explore the commercial potential of your research. This I-Corps Aspire course guides you through the fundamentals of customer discovery with a 1-hour kick-off session and four 3-hour sessions, all conducted via Zoom.

I-Corps Aspire hosted by University of Arizona (Oct-Nov 2025)
Oct 20 to Nov 10
Learn the fundamentals of customer discovery and assess problem-solution fit over 4 sessions, 3 hours each, conducted via Zoom.

Alumni Testimonials

Ryan Manwaring Cambria Brann Brandon Yagla

Ryan Manwaring

NSF 2023

Manwaring elaborates on his journey through the program and having, “ unwavering support from the I-Corps faculty and Cara Van Sant, Director of the Venture College.”

Manwaring’s biggest takeaway can be summed up in his own words: “The importance of doing many interviews so that you can really start identifying patterns, market opportunities, and the importance of pivoting.”

Learn more about Manwaring’s NSF journey.

Cambria Brann

NSF 2023

“This program was the missing piece I needed to turn my idea into a reality. Thanks to the team of professionals and community of entrepreneurs like myself, I was able to get the guidance I needed to move forward and build my business from the ground up.”

Brandon Yagla

NSF 2023

“The NSF cohort was great! I learned some really valuable lessons on value propositions and how to interview people/customers to better find the problem they want solved. I didn’t really have much experience with the business side of entrepreneurship and even though this particular cohort was a sped up version I still walked away from the program significantly more confident in both myself as an entrepreneur and the Sol Well as a viable solution in the renewable energy industry.”

Learn more about how Yagla started Sol Well here.