NSF I-Corps National Teams
U.S. National Science Foundation · Commercialisation grant
$50KUp to $50,000 award for the 7-week program (includes a $10,000 participation fee paid from the award)
NSF award for university research teams to run customer discovery and test whether their technology can become a product or company.
Key terms
- Team of 3–5: technical lead, entrepreneurial lead and an independent industry mentor
- Must apply from a US institution of higher education with a technology connection to it
- Eligible via an NSF research award in the last 5 years, or by completing a regional I-Corps program with a recommendation
- At least 100 customer interviews and full attendance at all sessions required
- $10,000 participation fee is paid from the award
Eligibility
- Where
- United States
- Stages
- idea
- Needs VC/accelerator backing
- No
- Needs partner referral code
- No
- Must be incorporated
- No
- AI focus required
- No
- Students / researchers
- Eligible
- Nonprofits
- Not eligible
Also required
- University-based research team
- NSF award or regional I-Corps completion
How to apply
Submit the I-Corps Teams Executive Summary Form; after an interview with NSF staff, pick a cohort and submit the I-Corps proposal.
- Benefit
- cash
- Equity-free
- Yes
- Decision time
- —
- Credit validity
- —
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Status
- Open
Verified 2026-10-30 · source
More: Government grants for startups · Startup programs in the United States
Guide: Startup grants and free credits for student founders (2026)