The Texas Tech University (TTU) I-Corps Program in partnership with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is conducting a regional program in Amarillo, TX. The program is currently seeking to enroll new participants in a National Science Foundation (NSF) supported program designed to foster science and technology entrepreneurship. This program is open to students, faculty, staff, and members of the Amarillo community who are solving problems to make the world a better place. All product or service ideas must be focused on addressing a medical or health science-related problem.

The NSF I-Corps program cultivates and supports VIPs by teaching program participants how to identify novel commercial applications for an idea or technology. Applicants interested in developing an idea, concept, or technology are encouraged to participate.

The program is designed to develop skills in "customer discovery". This is the process of identifying your potential customers and the problem your innovation is solving for society. Answering these questions are the keys to thinking about future development.

The TTU NSF I-Corps Site teams may apply for support funds related to the team's efforts in customer discovery.

Key Program Dates

Pre-Opening Workshop & Orientation: Friday, July 7, 2023 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Opening: Monday, July 10, 2023 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Office Hours: Friday, July 14, 2023 and Monday July 17, 2023
Closing: Friday, July 21, 2023 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Venue

Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine
7671 Evans Drive, Amarillo, TX 79106

*All sessions will be held in-person in Amarillo, TX with virtual participation available over Zoom. Attendance and participation is mandatory.

Application Requirements At-A-Glance

• 2-3 page summary of the applicant's perceptions, including:
  • Summary of problem being solved
  • Description of the technology concept
  • Description of the commercial potential of the idea/technology
  • Description of the target customer that would benefit from the innovation
•  In 250 words or less, describe how you will benefit from participating and what you hope to learn from the Site program
• Resume of Team Members
• Build a Team (See Below)

How to Get Started

To get started, an important first step is to establish one member of the team as a dependable "captain" to manage all communications and logistics for the team and correspondence with Hub staff. The captain also completes the application.

Step 1: Submit an application by responding to the questions below.

Submit Application

Step 2: Application reviewed by the I-Corps Teaching Team.

Step 3: Selected teams are invited to a virtual interview.

Step 4: Letter of acceptance into the program to selected teams.

Step 5: Team attends program workshops and conducts 15 customer interviews.

What We Mean by Your Team

Each team at this early stage must have a project lead and a technology or scientific lead.

CONCEPT
Technology concepts can originate from faculty research labs, internship experiences, capstone courses, or other science-based practical courses. Concepts should be original and, in an area of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) normally supported by the National Science Foundation but can include other disciplines or inventions from non-traditional pathways.

ENTREPRENEURIAL LEAD
The Entrepreneurial Lead (EL) may be a postdoctoral scholar, graduate or other student, staff member, researcher, or other person with relevant knowledge of the technology and a deep commitment to investigate the commercial landscape surrounding the innovation. The Project Lead should also be capable and have the will to support the transition of the technology, should the I-Corps Team's project demonstrate the potential for commercial viability.

TECHNICAL LEAD
The Technical Lead (TL) may be a faculty member, senior research scientist, inventor, postdoctoral scholar, or technical/subject matter expert with deep and direct technical expertise in the actual core technology about which the I-Corps team is exploring commercial potential. Typically, the Technical Lead will also serve as the Principal Investigator (PI).