UW to Host NSF-Funded I-Corps Training Cohort During Fall Semester

For those who have technology ideas they want to commercialize, a prime opportunity awaits.

 

The University of Wyoming will host a National Science Foundation (NSF) Great Plains Innovation (I)-Corps Hub training cohort, beginning with an orientation session Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 2-3:30 p.m. MDT. The application is open until Sunday, Sept. 13, and interested teams are encouraged to apply. To fill out an application, go to https://gp-icorps.org/events/gph-uw-fall-2026/

 

UW’s regional I-Corps training -- offering a blended approach to assess the market potential of technology ideas -- spans 10 weeks, with three-hour training sessions scheduled every other Tuesday from Oct. 6 through Dec. 1. This program is aimed at faculty, staff, students, researchers, community innovators or anyone with a technology that they’d like to explore commercializing. 

 

“We are now recruiting for our fall cohort. There is no limit to the number of people who can apply,” says Erica Belmont, a UW associate professor of mechanical engineering. “We want to encourage anyone who is interested in entrepreneurial training to apply, whether they have an early-stage idea or a formed company. This is, particularly, a great opportunity for graduate students to explore translation of their research to commercialization.”

 

In this experiential training, the curriculum explores the commercial potential of deep technology solutions across any industry sector and prepares researchers to extend their focus beyond the lab and consider the economic and societal impact of their work. By talking to end users and customers, participants will learn about the impact and need behind their ideas and research.

 

Participation in the program is free. Each team should include, at the very least, an entrepreneurial lead.

 

Isabelle Bart, a seasoned business and startup coach, will be the lead instructor. She is dedicated to driving impactful change, empowering teams to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset and fostering culture innovation. Bart is an international business adviser with proven success in early-stage commercialization, marketing and fundraising. She has mentored leaders in strategy and leadership and teaches ideation, innovation and commercialization. Bart provides access to partners for business plans, marketing, website search engine optimization and pitch preparation.

 

To conduct the customer discovery interviews that are a significant focus of the training, travel support is available for participants. Travel funds in the amount of $750 are available per team. Upon completing the cohort, a $1,250 stipend is provided to entrepreneurial leads. There also are opportunities for follow-on support and training, which can increase participants’ chances to secure Small Business Innovation and Research grants, Small Business Technology Transfer grants and other grant support.

 

A related event, titled “From Prototype to Pitch: Meet gBETA Wyoming and NSF I-Corps Hub Great Plains,” is scheduled Tuesday, Sept. 1, from noon-1:30 p.m. in the UW Innovation Network Makerspace, located in Coe Library. This session is designed for early-stage innovators -- including students, researchers and makers -- who are curious about turning projects into ventures. Space is limited, as only 13 seats are available. Registration is required to receive lunch. For more information, go to https://uwyo.libcal.com/event/17257069.

 

For more information on the Great Plains I-Corps Hub, go here. 

 

For questions, email Ram Veerakumar at rveeraku@uwyo.edu or Belmont at ebelmont@uwyo.edu.