What Great Lakes I-Corps Hub does

The Great Lakes I-Corps Hub is a non-profit, NSF-funded regional consortium that delivers entrepreneurship and customer-discovery training to academic researchers across the U.S. Midwest. Operating under NSF Award #2048612, the Hub anchors a network of 16 partner universities spanning eight states (IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI) and serves academic founders — primarily STEM researchers, graduate students, and faculty — seeking to translate research into commercial products and ventures.

The Hub's core offering is the Lean LaunchPad / NSF I-Corps curriculum, delivered through several program tracks: Regional I-Corps, National NSF I-Corps, I-Corps Boost, Pathways to Impact, and Conference Connect. Programs are free to participants and delivered by NSF-certified instructors and Tech Scouts embedded at 14-16 partner university sites, with centralized coordination provided by an approximately 12-person hub team. Since 2012, participating teams across I-Corps programming have generated $1.42 billion in reported economic impact and 4,185 job-years, and teams completing I-Corps are reported to be 60% more likely to receive follow-on SBIR funding.

The organization's business model is grant-funded: NSF covers participant costs, and the Hub is not a revenue-generating entity in the commercial sense. Strategic focus is on expanding the breadth and depth of regional entrepreneurship programming, vertical-specific cohort offerings (e.g., AgTech), sub-regional institutional clustering, and feeding successful teams into the National Innovation Network.

Name

Great Lakes I-Corps Hub

Legal name

NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Lakes Region

Website

https://greatlakesicorps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Great Lakes I-Corps Hub is an NSF-funded non-profit consortium of 16 Midwestern universities that delivers Lean LaunchPad / I-Corps customer-discovery training to academic researchers commercializing research into ventures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Education and Innovation Training

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Mentorship & Coaching (Career, Academic, Industry-Specific) (EDAMAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Alumni, Peer & Community Networking Programs (EDAMAKAM)

Keywords

• Innovation education programs
• Customer discovery training
• Technology commercialization services
• Lean launchpad methodology
• Entrepreneurship training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. NSF Grant Funding: The Great Lakes I-Corps Hub is supported by NSF Award #2048612 from the National Science Foundation. All programs (Regional I-Corps, I-Corps Boost, National I-Corps) are provided free of charge to participants.
2. $50,000 National I-Corps Grant: Qualifying teams completing the National I-Corps program receive a $50,000 grant from NSF to further their innovation and commercialization efforts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Great Lakes I-Corps Hub delivers free, cohort-based entrepreneurship training programs that teach academic researchers customer discovery and commercialization using the Lean LaunchPad methodology. Core offerings include Regional I-Corps courses at 16 partner universities, the National NSF I-Corps Teams program, I-Corps Boost, Pathways to Impact, Conference Connect, the Mentor Network, and Instructor Training, all funded by NSF Award #2048612.

Product overview

The NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Lakes Region is a network of 16 universities offering free innovation education programs that teach academic researchers how to commercialize technology through customer discovery. The core program is Regional I-Corps, a cohort-based course using the Lean LaunchPad methodology, which serves as the foundational step for participants. Completing a Regional I-Corps program qualifies teams for the National NSF I-Corps Teams program, which offers a $50,000 grant and intensive 7-week mentorship. Additional offerings include I-Corps Boost for post-program acceleration, Pathways to Impact workshops, and Conference Connect for travel grants. The Hub also provides instructor training, a mentor network, and extensive educational resources on topics including intellectual property, business development, and entrepreneurship fundamentals. All programs are free for participants and are supported by NSF Award #2048612.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Regional I-Corps A free, cohort-based program that helps faculty and graduate students explore the commercial viability of their technology-based innovation ideas using the Lean LaunchPad approach. Regional I-Corps courses are offered at 16 partner universities across the Great Lakes region and serve as the foundational step in the I-Corps methodology.
• National NSF I-Corps Teams A 7-week, immersive program designed to enable teams of scientists, engineers, and researchers to understand the potential value of their technology and inventions to society. Participants receive a $50,000 NSF grant and must complete at least 100 customer discovery interviews during the program.
• I-Corps Boost A modular acceleration program for individuals who have completed a Regional I-Corps program. The program guides participants through value proposition refinement, market assessment, and funding pathway development, suited for those seeking licensing, industry partnerships, or startup launch.
• Pathways to Impact Workshops designed to help researchers think about impact beyond the laboratory environment, supporting the translation of research into practical applications and societal benefit.
• Conference Connect An online, asynchronous program that enables participants to apply for travel grants to advance their customer discovery by attending relevant conferences. The course teaches conference selection, preparation, and interview best practices.
• I-Corps Mentor Network A public-private partnership program connecting I-Corps teams with experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts who provide commercialization expertise, industry connections, and guidance through the customer discovery process. Includes Team Mentors, Cohort Mentors, Spot Mentors, and Starter Mentors.
• Instructor Training A two-phase training program that educates, coaches, and supports emerging instructors in the I-Corps methodology. Phase 1 is an asynchronous course on Canvas LMS covering I-Corps goals, teaching core concepts, inclusive practices, feedback, and guiding teams. Phase 2 involves shadowing experienced instructors during Local or Regional courses.

Quantifiable outcome

• I-Corps teams are 60% more likely to receive follow-on funding such as SBIR grants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for the Hub headquarters. Provides administrative infrastructure, faculty leadership, and program delivery. Hub Executive Director Jonathan Fay and Hub Assistant Director Emily Demko are based at U-M. Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) manages local I-Corps programming.
• University of AkroncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program delivery partner. Kelly Bialek serves as Program Director. Fred Carter serves as Instructor. Dean Suzanne Bausch serves as Co-PI. Part of collaboration with University of Akron Research Foundation.
• University of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program delivery through Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Program Director Ellen Zatkowski. Offers in-person sessions at Chicago Booth's Harper Center. Faculty Leads Steven Kaplan and Jonathan Paul.
• University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHub Director Jed Taylor stationed at UIUC. Program hosted by Technology Entrepreneur Center in Grainger College of Engineering. Research Lead Joe Bradley. Dean Rashid Bashir serves as Co-PI. Morgan Malm serves as Tech Scout.
• University of Illinois ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program delivery partner. Avi Mayerhoff serves as Program Director. Tom Royston serves as Co-PI. Vikas Berry serves as Faculty Lead. Specializes in deep-tech and university-affiliated team development.
• University of IowacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program through John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC). Lynn Allendorf serves as Program Director. Faculty Leads Ned Bowden and Sarah Vigmostad. Instructors Gregg Barcus and Kurt Heiar.
• Iowa State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program delivery partner. Kris Johansen serves as Program Director and Tech Scout. Faculty Lead Sree Nilakanta. Provides training ground for faculty, postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate students.
• Michigan Technological UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program delivery partner. Lisa Casper serves as Program Manager. Mary Raber serves as Program Director. Faculty Lead Adrienne Minerick. Focuses on entrepreneurially-minded graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, staff, and community teams.
• University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program through Value Proposition Design. Ashley Mahoney serves as Program Director and Hub Director. Dean Andrew Alleyne serves as Co-PI. Faculty Lead Allison Hubel. External industry executives and OTC experts support programming.
• Missouri University of Science and TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program delivery partner. Christine Karslake serves as Program Director. Faculty Lead Sajal Das. Provides infrastructure for technology-based innovation exploration.
• University of Nebraska-LincolncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program delivery partner. Joy Eakin serves as Program Director. Nick Alder serves as Tech Scout. Co-PIs Daniel Schactman and Mark Riley. Faculty Lead Andrew Zimbroff. Offers specialized AgTech cohort.
• The Ohio State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program hosted by Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship. Caroline Crisafulli serves as Program Director and Tech Scout. Co-PI Ayanna Howard. Faculty Lead Jonathan Song. Requires in-person attendance in Columbus, OH.
• Purdue UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program: Purdue I-Corps Discovery. Matthew Lynall serves as Hub Director and Faculty Lead. Co-PI Dan DeLaurentis. Amy Ross serves as Program Manager. T Hingba serves as Tech Scout. Features asynchronous and synchronous virtual workshop phases.
• University of ToledocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program in collaboration with University of Akron Research Foundation. Norm Rapino serves as Program Director and Tech Scout. Faculty Lead Matthew Franchetti. Intensive 7-meeting critical evaluation format.
• University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program through Technology Entrepreneurship Office (TEO). Bonnie Bachman serves as Program Director. Ian Robertson serves as Co-PI and Dean. Faculty Leads Dan van der Weide and Suman Banerjee. Instructors Jennifer Gagne and Ron Kelley. Offers micro-grants up to $1,500.
• University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional I-Corps program as affiliate of Great Lakes I-Corps Hub. Ilya Avdeev serves as Program Director and Faculty Lead. Loren Peterson serves as Tech Scout. Collaboration among five Milwaukee institutions: Concordia University, Marquette, Medical College of Wisconsin, MSOE, and UW-Milwaukee.
• National Innovation NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of NSF-funded I-Corps Teams and Hubs addressing America's need for innovation education. Includes other I-Corps Hubs: Desert and Pacific, Great Plains, Interior Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-South, New York, Northeast, Southwest, and West regions.
• Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (UChicago)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Chicago's Polsky Center provides I-Corps programming including five educational sessions, 20+ customer interviews, and connections to MBA students from Chicago Booth School of Business.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NSF I-Corps Hub: Southwest: University of Texas at Austin-led NSF I-Corps Hub covering the Southwest U.S. with the same cohort-based Regional and National I-Corps training portfolio.
• NSF I-Corps Hub: Northeast: Northeastern University-led NSF I-Corps Hub serving the Northeast U.S. with identical Regional, National, and instructor training programs under the same NSF national structure.
• NSF I-Corps Hub: Interior Northeast: Princeton University-led NSF I-Corps Hub covering the Interior Northeast region with the same Lean LaunchPad training pipeline feeding into National I-Corps Teams.
• NSF I-Corps Hub: West: Stanford-affiliated NSF I-Corps Hub — the historical origin of the Lean LaunchPad methodology — running the same Hub model of regional cohorts feeding into National Teams.
• NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Plains: Great Plains I-Corps Hub (Missouri S&T) delivering equivalent Regional I-Corps training to researchers in the Great Plains states under the same national I-Corps framework.
• NSF I-Corps Hub: New York Region: Cornell University-led NSF I-Corps Hub covering the New York region with the same training programs (Regional courses, National Teams pathway, customer discovery curriculum) funded by NSF.
• NSF I-Corps Hub: Mid-Atlantic Region: One of the parallel NSF I-Corps Hubs (hosted at University of Maryland) delivering the same Lean LaunchPad-based commercialization training to researchers in its own multi-state region under the same NSF national program.
• NSF I-Corps Hub: Mid-South: Vanderbilt University-led NSF I-Corps Hub covering the Mid-South region with the same NSF-funded commercialization training methodology and $50K National Team grant pathway.

Broad incumbents

• Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP): Stanford's flagship academic entrepreneurship program — the original home of the Lean LaunchPad methodology that the I-Corps program adopted. Overlaps in audience (academic researchers) and curriculum, but operates as a broader university initiative rather than a regional NSF Hub.
• MIT Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship: MIT's central entrepreneurship center providing commercialization education, mentorship, and programs to MIT faculty, students, and researchers — a comparable university-based entrepreneurship training ecosystem at greater scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gr8lakesicorps
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GR8LakesICorps
• Facebookfacebook.com/GreatLakesICorps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-lakes-i-corps-hub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Great Lakes I-Corps Hub