Posted October 5, 2026 by Tiffany Lee
Applications are now open for the spring 2027 cohort of Nebraska I-Corps, a six-session commercialization training program led by NUtech Ventures. This spring cohort, which begins Feb. 18, is open to University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska at Kearney faculty, staff, postdocs and students. Additionally, non-university applicants may be accepted at the discretion of the I-Corps instructor team.
This program will begin with a mandatory in-person orientation session on Feb. 18 at NUtech Ventures. Subsequent course sessions will be held via Zoom at 4-6 p.m. CST on Feb. 25, March 4, March 11, March 25 and April 15. The application deadline is Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. CST. Course instructors will schedule an intake meeting with applicants to determine acceptance into the program.
The National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps Program is a commercialization training program that offers regional and local support to innovators. The Nebraska I-Corps program is designed to help innovators see the potential value of their ideas through the eyes of customers. Nationally recognized instructors, mentors and experienced entrepreneurs support participants in conducting discovery interviews with potential users of their technology. This process can illuminate stakeholders’ pain points and provide information about whether an innovation will solve their problems.
The program is based on the Lean LaunchPad methodology, which includes value proposition design, customer segmentation and mapping a stakeholder system. In addition, the program offers at least three one-on-one coaching sessions with course instructors for personalized mentorship on a team’s needs and goals.
Nebraska I-Corps is hosted by NUtech Ventures in partnership with the Nebraska Business Development Center and the Great Lakes I-Corps Hub. For questions, contact Nick Alder, Nebraska I-Corps instructor and entrepreneurship program manager at NUtech Ventures.
