University of Florida
University of Florida

regional course

Finding the “problem-solution fit” is a critical first step toward ensuring commercial success when bringing your technology to market. Under the guidance of expert instructors and industry mentors, in the regional course, participants build skills to systematically test key assumptions about their innovations and identify customer/stakeholder problems, so they can develop a solution that meets the specific target customer’s unmet need.

Experiential Training

Regional I-Corps training is not grant-writing or pitch training, but the learnings from the regional course could help prepare you to develop more competitive proposals and pitches.

Regional I-Corps courses typically meet virtually once a week for 6 weeks and are offered at no cost to innovators and entrepreneurs. Participants who complete the program successfully receive a professional development certificate from UF. Completing the I-Corps Regional Course successfully is a prerequisite before applying to the National I-Corps Teams program and securing $50,000 in funding for customer discovery.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Faculty, postdocs, staff, students, and community entrepreneurs with technology-based innovation, ideas, or Intellectual Property (IP).
  • Innovators can be working in any area of technology and at any stage of technology development.
  • Some regional courses are industry-focused and offer participants the opportunity to attend and conduct customer discovery interviews at partnering industry conferences.
  • Teams of 2 or more participants are required, with one participant ideally being a faculty member or PI working on the project. All students and postdocs should get approval from their faculty mentor to participate.

Team Composition

  • The Entrepreneurial Lead (EL) could be a postdoctoral scholar, graduate student, or other student or personnel with relevant knowledge of the technology and a deep commitment to investigating the commercial landscape surrounding the innovation. The Entrepreneurial Lead should also be capable and willing to support the transition of the technology if the I-Corps project demonstrates potential for commercial viability.
  • The I-Corps Teams Mentor (IM) will typically be an experienced entrepreneur with proximity to the institution and experience in transitioning technology out of academic labs. The I-Corps Teams Mentor must be a third-party resource and may be recommended by the proposing institution. The I-Corps Mentor will be responsible for advising the team through the I-Corps process and helping the team navigate the industry/business ecosystem in the specific application area(s).
  • The Technical Lead (TL) will typically be a faculty member, senior research scientist, or postdoctoral scholar with deep, direct technical expertise in the core technology the I-Corps team is exploring for commercial potential. Typically, the Technical Lead will also serve as the proposal Principal Investigator (PI).

Core Learning Objectives

  • Understand how to define and identify customer segments
  • Understand how to articulate a value proposition
  • Understand how to map the customer job workflow, ecosystem and customer types
  • Understand how to formulate and test key assumptions or hypotheses related to problem-solution fit
  • Understand how to network and secure interviews with target customers and key stakeholders
  • Understand how to conduct customer discovery interviews
  • Understand how to summarize and present key insights and implications from customer discovery interviews and hypothesis testing

UPCOMING I-CORPS OPPORTUNITIES

Feb 16
10:00am

The M.U.S.E. of AI: A Practical Roadmap

Seminar at UF Innovate | The Hub You’re invited to UF Innovate | The Hub for a seminar! Join us

Feb 17
12:00pm

The H-1B Insider Guide for Professionals

Lunch & Learn at UF Innovate | The Hub You’re invited to UF Innovate | The Hub for a Lunch

Feb 25
01:30pm

Access Your PR Superpower

Seminar at UF Innovate | The Hub Ready to get media attention as a startup? Join us for a session

Feb 26
08:00am

Florida Funders: Venture Summit 2026

The Founder Summit is an in-person event designed to support early-stage startup founders building high-growth technology or tech-enabled companies. The

Feb 26
09:30am

Lab Essentials Showcase

Vendor Show at UF Innovate | Sid Martin Biotech Join us for a vendor show in the UF Innovate |

Mar 11
12:00pm

Top 10 Employment Matters with GrayRobinson

Lunch & Learn at UF Innovate | The Hub Avoid HR headaches as you learn to comply with state and

Innovator’s FAQ

Have questions? You’re not alone. Check out these questions frequently asked by our innovators.

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Report a New Discovery

Visit the Gatorlink portal to report a new invention or work or biological material.

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Innovator’s Guide

Learn more about the innovator’s role during some of the key steps of the licensing process.

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