
Program description
The Innovation Corps (I-CorpsTM) program, funded by the National Science Foundation, aims to accelerate academic research projects that are ready to move toward commercialization. Through training and mentorship, program participants learn about the commercialization process and test the value of their business idea by talking to potential customers and stakeholders.
In addition to the main program that all participants will take part in, the UW Pacific Northwest program also has two industry-specific tracks – one in HealthTech and another in CleanTech/ClimateTech. These allow participants with innovations in those industries to dive deeper into the specific needs of their fields. Read more about the two tracks in the Program tracks section below.



Details of the program
What you will learn
- How to find and connect with potential customers and stakeholders
- How to prototype a business idea using lean startup tools
- How to tell your story to your stakeholders and your community
- How to use those skills to test the value of your idea
Expectations
- Connecting with and interviewing at least 4 new individuals weekly
- Capturing insights from those interviews to help evolve your thinking around your project
- Briefly summarize and present weekly work
- Practice your storytelling skills
What you will leave with
- Long-lasting connections with industry mentors and other innovators.
- Opportunity to apply for up to $1,000 in funding to continue customer discovery.
- Opportunities and support to apply for federal grant funding and other local and national opportunities.
Main program
Program tracks

Student researchers at the Molecular and Cellular Biology Lab
HealthTech
Participants in this space will take a deeper look at the specifics of the life sciences industry.

CleanTech/ClimateTech
Participants in these spaces will take a deeper look at the specifics of these industries. (This track is offered once a year during the summer.)
Creating value and driving impact




Who is it for?
- Faculty, researchers, postdocs, students or staff members from an academic or research institution in the Pacific Northwest
- Professionals with industry or startup experience who are looking to mentor the next generation of academic entrepreneurs

Register
Deadline: Monday, May 29, 2023 at 11:59pm
For teams and solopreneurs
Participants in this program must be ready to spend several hours per week working on their project over the 6 weeks of the program.
For mentors
Mentors who report the highest satisfaction from the program usually dedicate 2 hours per week over 6 weeks to the program and engage in a variety of activities (training, bootcamps, individual team mentoring, or pitching). Learn more about the mentor experience.
Participating institutions
The UW CoMotion I-Corps program provides access to teams from universities that do not have NSF I-Corps funding. Over the past 24 months, 166 UW teams and 42 teams from all corners of the region have benefited from this entrepreneurial training. Join us by contacting Soraya Bailey at sorayab@uw.edu.
















Program dates & deadlines
Keep track of the key dates and deadlines for the current program cycle.
Timeline - five milestones
Past winners
Learn more about recent award-winning projects.
Teaching Team
Learn more about our teaching team and mentors.
Contact
Phone: 206-543-3970
Email: icorps@uw.edu
For questions about the biomedical track, contact TLButler@uw.edu