MILWAUKEE I-CORPS PROGRAM
SUMMER’15
PROGRAM
The Milwaukee I-Corps Program is a joint project of the academic institutions in the
Milwaukee region to accelerate ideas using the proven I-Corps methodology. Funded
by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps Program Foundation
(grant # 1450386), the Southeastern Wisconsin I-Corps Site will foster
commercialization of applied academic research and faculty/student innovation; build
an innovation/commercialization network that supports faculty and/or student
ventures; and broaden the pool of students and faculty fluent in Lean LaunchPad (LLP)
methodology. PROJECTS
I-Corps Site team ideas or projects can originate from student work, research (funded
or unfunded), institutional- or industrial projects. The program encourages projects
with a focus in an area(s) of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
However, all types of projects will be considered.
TEAMS
Teams are composed of three members who can be students, post-docs, staff, faculty,
alumni, or members of the local entrepreneurial community.
The Entrepreneurial Lead (EL) is a post-doctoral scholar, a student, professional staff, or
alum of one of the partnering academic institutions with relevant knowledge of the
technology and a deep commitment to investigate the commercial landscape
surrounding the innovation.
The Academic Lead (AL) will be responsible for overall project management. The AL will
preferably have an academic appointment that would normally qualify the AL to submit
proposals or play the role of a PI in subsequent submissions to NSF. The AL can also be
post-doctoral scholar, a student, professional staff, or alum provided that person has a
deep understanding of the technology that serves as the focus of the project.
Additionally, teams will have a Mentor (M), who can either apply as part of the team or
be provided by the I-Corps Site. A Mentor will typically be an experienced or emerging
entrepreneur with experience in transitioning technology out of academic labs. The
Mentor will be responsible for guiding the team forward and tracking progress. The
I-Corps Site will find mentors for the team that do not have them.
MILWAUKEE I-CORPS PROGRAM
PROCESS
The inaugural summer program consists of a four-week workshop where participants
are coached on designing and validating a business model around their idea. The last
session will be dedicated to team presentations on lessons learned and a closing
reception. Upon completion, each team will have to decide whether to proceed with
the idea (“go”) or stop and regroup (“no-go”)
BENEFITS
The I-Corps Site will provide:
 Education: five LLP workshops on customer discovery
 Mentoring: via I-Corps Site’s entrepreneurial network
 Mini-grant: up to $2,400 in NSF funding, which can be used for prototyping
materials, travel to visit potential customers and end users, and other business
expenses
 Continuing commercialization support and follow-up
Workshops on Customer Discovery: Teams participate in a four-week series of
workshops that follows the Lean LaunchPad (LLP) methodology. The workshops will
meet once a week for two hours.
Mentoring: The I-Corps Site will assist teams by facilitating connections with members
of its extensive entrepreneurial network consisting of advisors, CEOs, investors, and
areas experts.
Monetary support: Teams will be eligible for funding of up o $2,400 for activities related
to the development of their business model, such as attending industry shows, visiting
customers, and the development of prototypes.
Upon completing the summer program, all teams will have tested and developed their
business models and will be well positioned to apply for further funding. For example,
teams will have all necessary materials to develop a strong application to the National
NSF I-Corps program, which substantially increases the likelihood of obtaining NSF SBIR
Phase I and II funding, for a potential further funding of close to $1 million.
The site will leverage a broad resource network to help teams advance their ideas to the
market including investment networks as well as accelerator and incubator programs.
APPLY
Application Deadline: May 15: for final full team application.
For additional information, contact:
Ilya Avdeev, [email protected]
Brian Thompson, [email protected]