National NSF I-Corps
7 weeks, 100 customer interviews, and a 50K non-dilutive NSF grant to validate product market fit
Teams who complete the Intro to Lean Startup: NSF I-Corps Method program with instructor endorsement are eligible to apply for the National NSF I-Corps program, an immersive 7-week training that comes with a $50,000 NSF grant for customer discovery. Teams conduct 100 customer feedback interviews and receive a clear yes or no on product market fit.
Teams who complete the National NSF I-Corps program have a much higher funding rate, including SBIR grants and investments. For NSF SBIR Phase I grants, NSF I-Corps alums have a ~50% win rate, vs 15-20% for the general applicant pool.