GrantEquity-free United States
NSF National I‑Corps Teams
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Apply / official page ↗Typical funding
Up to $50,000 per team (includes stipends, travel and programme participation costs).
Maximum
Standard ceiling is $50,000 per team.
Startup stage
Pre‑company to very early‑stage spin‑out, where technology exists but market is not yet validated.
Sector focus
Any STEM-based innovation emerging from NSF‑funded research or qualified regional I‑Corps programmes.
Overview
Seven‑week commercialization bootcamp that provides up to $50,000 for teams to conduct intensive customer discovery around a research‑based innovation.
Who's eligible
Team must include a technical lead, entrepreneurial lead and independent industry mentor linked to an eligible research institution; typically requires prior NSF research funding or regional I‑Corps participation.
How to apply
Form team, submit an Executive Summary via NSF’s I‑Corps Teams form, interview with NSF staff, select cohort, then submit a formal I‑Corps proposal through the institution.
Good to know
Focuses on completing at least 100 customer interviews and refining the business model; often a precursor to SBIR or venture funding.