Cal Poly Pomona’s National Science Foundation Innovative Corps program is preparing for its upcoming 10th cohort taking place virtually on March 10 and April 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with an in-person field trip on March 24 to Incubator.
CPP faculty, staff, alumni and students will once again be working together to translate their research, products and ideas into the marketplace. Not only will participants gain entrepreneurial skills that typically take years to obtain, but they also will learn how to qualify to apply to the NSF National Innovation Network Team Program for up to $50,000 in funding.
Applications to participate in this upcoming Spring Short Course are now open. The deadline to apply is Sunday, Feb. 19 at 11:59 p.m.
The program’s ultimate goal is to provide participants with the necessary mentoring and team-building training to help them build an effective business proposal and acquire the appropriate funding.
“CPP I-Corps Site program is one of three CSU-based programs funded by NSF. It serves as a miniature incubator by providing resources, infrastructure, advice, training, more importantly, networking opportunities, to nurture and support local entrepreneurial teams (including faculty and students) who want to transition their technology from concept to marketplace” said Dr. Yao Olive Li, Program/Project Manager for the I-Corps program.
During this short course, participants will accomplish the following:
- Position your research for SBIR/STTR funding
- Learn how to focus your business plan
- Build the confidence and skills to create a comprehensive business model
- Get tools to bring your technology to the marketplace
- Obtain mentoring and networking opportunities
- Gain entrepreneurial skills that typically take years in only three days!
The National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps program prepares researchers to extend their focus beyond the university laboratory and accelerates the economic and societal benefits of research projects that are ready to move toward commercialization. Through I-Corps, researchers learn to identify valuable product opportunities that can emerge from academic research and gain skills in entrepreneurship through training in customer discovery and guidance from established entrepreneurs.
As an I-Corps site, Cal Poly Pomona coordinates projects through the various stages of commercialization. Teams participate in a program consisting of team building, customer discovery, developing a Business Model Canvas and finally presenting their ideas to industry professionals.
For more information on NSF I-Corps, please view the I-Corps website or contact i-corps@cpp.edu.