The NSF I-Corps Ag-ccelerator Program
Do you have a solution to an agriculture technology problem?
OSU's Regional NSF I-Corps Ag-ccelerator trains early stage university-based research teams with a fundamental technology or engineering innovation in the AgTech space to find a scalable business model through the customer discovery process.
Teams who complete the OSU Regional NSF I-Corps program with instructor endorsement are eligible to apply for the National NSF I-Corps program, an immersive 7-week training that comes with a $50,000 NSF grant for customer discovery. Teams in the National program conduct 100 customer feedback interviews and receive a clear "yes" or "no" on product market fit.
Teams who complete the National NSF I-Corps program have a much higher funding rate, including SBIR grants and investments. For NSF SBIR Phase I grants, NSF I-Corps alumni have a ~50% win rate, vs. 15-20% for the general applicant pool. Start your NSF lineage by further maturing your solution to AgTech problems!
Ag-ccelerator Program Schedule
START DATE: July 8th
SCHEDULE: Tuesdays, July 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th from 2–4 p.m. PST.
FORMAT: Remote via Zoom.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENT: 20 customer discovery interviews conducted independently outside of class.
Why It Works
- Advance your AgTech innovation with hands-on guidance.
- Validate your idea through direct feedback.
- Connect with other AgTech innovators solving critical challenges.
What You’ll Learn
- Learn foundational entrepreneurship skills through hands-on, team-based training.
- Identify your top customer segment and value proposition.
- Validate your commercial market and assess product-market fit.
- Explore a scalable business model based on real-world feedback.
- Conduct 20 customer discovery interviews to validate your AgTech innovation.
- Gain potential eligibility to apply for the National NSF I-Corps program and a $50,000 customer discovery grant.
Eligibility Requirements
- Preference given to university affiliated early stage AgTech-based startups. Community teams will be considered.
- Team of 2–4 people; no prior business experience required.
- Teams can include faculty researchers, graduate students, post docs, or Pacific Northwest-based startups.
- Each team member must attend all course sessions.
- Commitment to conduct 20 customer discovery interviews and dedicate 2–5 hours/week outside of class time.
Note: University affiliation will be required for National I-Corps program participation.
Program Aims
- Guide AgTech innovators to determine the commercial potential of their technology.
- Teach participants how to apply the customer discovery process.
- Provide mentorship and team-based feedback to improve entrepreneurial readiness.
- Prepare eligible teams for the National NSF I-Corps program and future SBIR/STTR funding opportunities.
Program Cost
There is no cost to participate in OSU’s NSF I-Corps Ag-ccelerator program for university-affiliated or Pacific Northwest regional teams.
Note: To qualify for the National NSF I-Corps program, the technology must be developed at a university or academic lab.
How to Apply
Fill out the interest form to be notified of upcoming sessions and receive next steps from our team.
FAQs
1. What is the schedule for OSU Ag-ccelerator I-Corps?
The Ag-ccelerator course runs for four consecutive Tuesdays from 2-4 p.m. PST in the summer. The dates for the upcoming course are July 8, 15, 22, and 29.
2. What are the eligibility requirements?
Team Size: Each team must have 2–4 members, typically composed of faculty researches, graduate students, or post docs. Early-stage AgTech startup founder teams in the Pacific Northwest are also eligible.
Technology Innovation: NSF I-Corps is designed for both early-stage AgTech startups in the Pacific Northwest and research teams developing new discoveries in agricultural science or engineering at a university or academic lab. NSF I-Corps can be a key first step to translate a new technology into a startup with a viable commercial market.
Early Stage: If you have a startup team or idea in AgTech and are new to the customer discovery process, you’re in the right place. No business experience is required.
3. What else do you look for from applicants?
Commitment: Each team member will actively participate in at least 20 customer feedback interviews during the program and is required to attend each remote course session. To make the most of the immersive program, each team member should expect to invest 2-5 hours/week outside of class time.
Flexibility: The most successful teams have a high tolerance for uncertainty, a willingness to succeed or fail together, and a mindset open to iteration based on feedback.
4. What is the application process?
The application process is simple and takes about 10 minutes to complete. After submission, our instructor team will follow up if additional details are needed.
5. Is OSU NSF I-Corps Ag-ccelerator in-person or remote?
The program is offered fully remote via Zoom.
6. Do applicants need a university affiliation?
University affiliation is preferred. Community teams will be considered. If you are an early stage technology based startup in the NW-Hub region, we welcome you to apply. However, to be eligible for the National NSF I-Corps program, the technology must be developed at a university or academic lab.
7. Is there any cost to participate?
There is no cost to participate in OSU's NSF I-Corps Ag-ccelerator program.