Important Dates

August 14, 2020 – Applications are due by midnight.

August 21, 2020 – Acceptance notifications and communication with the next steps and instructions, including how to prepare for the first session.

TBD – 6:00pm – 8:00pm – Introductory Conference Call

September 11, 2020 – 9:00am – 5:00pm – Initial Team Presentations

September 18, 2020 – Each team participates in a pre-scheduled telephone review of the team’s Customer Discovery Progress over the first week

September 25, 2020 – 9:00am-2:00pm – Final Team Presentations

During this introductory 2-week program, there is extensive work done outside the classroom. In addition to the class meetings and webinar, participants should expect to spend another 10-15 hours per week on customer discovery and course assignments. At the conclusion of the program, you will remain connected with your ICAP trainers and SBDC Business Advisors to continue your progress on the Five Steps to Startup Success over the following 12 months.

The introductory program is designed to generate a maximum impact over a relatively short duration and should be considered a required first step for anyone interested in commercializing a technology or product, whether through a startup or licensing arrangement. Some graduates of this cohort may be eligible to apply to NSF’s full National Seven-week I-Corps Program, which includes non-dilutive grants for customer discovery and prototype development. Additionally, this program can help teams develop better submissions for SBIR and CRCF grants from Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technologies.