I-Corps Site Program | Worcester Polytechnic Institute

NSF I-Corps™ Site Program: WPI I-CORPS Fall 2024 Cohort

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the WPI I-CORPS Fall 2024 Cohort! This fall, the program brings together an impressive group of teams tackling today’s critical challenges across sustainability, advanced technology, and market-driven innovation.

Key Themes in the Fall 2024 Cohort:

Sustainability & Clean Energy: Numerous projects address urgent environmental issues with cutting-edge clean energy solutions. Highlights include the Direct Carbon Fuel Cell, Magnesium-Air Battery, and innovative approaches to Magnesium Production and Recycling. These projects are aligned with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and shift to sustainable energy sources.
AI & Automation: The cohort demonstrates a strong focus on AI and automation to enhance healthcare and streamline operations. Notable projects include the AI-Driven Facial Skin Cancer Screening Device and SAMIS AI, each aiming to improve health outcomes and operational efficiency through artificial intelligence.
Advanced Materials & Manufacturing: Innovation in materials science is front and center with projects like Safeblock and HydroFlex, which explore new methods in battery lifecycle management and precision polishing for manufacturing.

Cohort Highlights:

Market Validation & Customer Discovery: Many teams, such as Safeblock and the AI-Driven Facial Skin Cancer Screening Device, are working on customer discovery to ensure their solutions address real-world needs. This aligns with our mission to validate market potential and foster commercially viable solutions.
Funding & Support: The cohort represents diverse stages of development, with projects like Magnesium-Air Battery already securing funding from Mass Clean Energy Center, while others, such as SAMIS AI, explore non-dilutive funding opportunities.
Collaboration & Mentorship: Many of these teams have established their technical and entrepreneurial leads but express a strong need for mentorship. Our program is ready to provide guidance and connect them with experienced mentors to support their growth and innovation journey.

In Their Words:

Safeblock: "The system aims to enhance safety, transparency, and collaboration among stakeholders."
AI-Driven Facial Skin Cancer Screening Device: "This device aims to address limitations in current screening methods, making early detection more accessible."
Direct Carbon Fuel Cell: "Our technology offers a cleaner and more readily available energy source."
Magnesium-Air Battery: "This development aligns with the International Maritime Organization's 2050 goals for reduced emissions in the shipping industry."
SAMIS AI: "Our platform aims to reduce labor, time, and financial costs while enhancing safety in aircraft maintenance."

Observations & Program Goals: The Fall 2024 cohort exemplifies impactful, industry-spanning innovation. With a focus on sustainability, AI, and advanced technology, these projects are poised to make a substantial impact. As the program unfolds, our focus on mentorship, collaboration, and market validation will support these teams in turning their ideas into real-world solutions that shape a brighter future.

The WPI I-CORPS team is excited to work with these innovators to bring their projects to life and drive positive change in their respective industries.

For more information about the National I-Corps™ Program, visit NSF I-Corps™.

WPI I-CORPS Fall 2024 Cohort Deepdive

WPI I-Corps Program Overview

The WPI I-Corps Program is designed to accelerate the commercialization of groundbreaking technology and business ideas. Through experiential learning and real-world entrepreneurship, participants will engage in a customer discovery process, assessing the market potential of their innovations.

Supported by the extensive network and innovative approach to entrepreneurship of humble ventures, this program will provide critical resources to help teams rapidly develop their ideas and bring them closer to market.

Our program targets WPI researchers, staff, students, and members of the surrounding community, providing them with the knowledge and tools to evaluate and validate their business ideas through customer interviews and business model development. Over the course of the program, participants will gain valuable insights into customer needs, refine their product offerings, and craft effective go-to-market strategies.

You can find out more about the National I-Corps program at: https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/i-corps/

The Methodology

1. You begin by working with your team to come up with a testable hypothesis. What is the need in the market, what is your approach to addressing the need, what is the benefit to the customer, and what is the competitive alternative to your idea? You will be asked to identify key stakeholders in the industry and the team is responsible for conducting the 30 interviews. Each week you will check in with the group and provide the results of the customer discovery. There will be both hard copy and video materials that will be used to guide you through the process each week.

2. If you stay committed to the course, you will have come away with a much deeper insight into the value of your idea. You may end up “pivoting” several times as you discover the initial idea is not viable, but adjustments to the value proposition make it more viable. It will allow you to compliment the normal WPI for-credit curriculum and hone inter-personal skills, team dynamics, strategy development and market based research. To be successful in this course, you have to be willing to work through ambiguity, take risks in reaching out to what could be total strangers, and be willing to listen, rather than assume your idea is the right one.

3. Get funded! Typical funding for a team will be in the $2000-$3000 range and would be used to travel to key customer locations or attend a conference in your industry. Whatever can be justified to complete your 30 customer interviews would be considered. There is also a small amount of funds ($350-$500) available for prototyping, if needed.