Illinois I-Corps Workshop Series

The Illinois I-Corps Workshop Series uses the Lean LaunchPad method to give participants a working knowledge of how to think about their innovation ideas from a business and customer perspective, as well as how to conduct customer discovery interviews; the first step in any commercialization process. This course provides a set of skills and entrepreneurial knowledge that can be applied to any career path.

Benefits of the Program

• Develop best practices for conducting customer discovery and identifying key stakeholders.
• Learn, practice, and hone your innovation skills.
• Improve the odds for commercial success.
• Understand market trends and needs in your ecosystem.
• Expand your network of like-minded peers, instructors, investors, customers, and mentors 
• Receive mentoring from experienced industry experts and entrepreneurs
• Become eligible for the NSF I-Corps National Teams program and $50,000 grant for qualifying technologies and teams
• Prepare for applying to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
  
  

2026 Session Dates

Registration for our Fall cohort is currently closed. 

2027 Session Dates

We are currently finalizing the schedule of our next cohort, for early 2027. Please submit your interest in the program so we can reach out once dates are available. If you have questions about the program and if it is the right fit, please reach out to Morgan Malm. 

Questions? Please email Morgan Malm at mmalm@illinois.edu.