Do you Have a solution to a problem? Join OSU's NSF Innovation Corps AgTech program!

OSU's Regional NSF I-Corps AgTech program trains early stage 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 alums have a ~50% win rate, vs 15-20% for the general applicant pool. Start your NSF Lineage by further exploring your solution to AgTech problems!

Sign up here to express interest in our next cohort!

Eligibility Requirements

AgTech based startup or startup idea
  • This program is designed to help teams commercialize a technological innovation in the agriculture space.
Team of 2-4 people
  • No startup or business experience is required of any team members.
2-5 hours per week outside of class
  • Each team member must attend all course sessions, and be prepared to invest 2-5 hours/week outside of class time.

Learning Outcomes

  • Conduct 20 customer interviews

  • Identify your top customer segment and value propositions

  • Validate your commercial market

  • Accelerate finding product/market fit

  • Qualify for the National I-Corps program, which comes along with a $50k award

Interested in Learning More?

FAQs

1. What is the schedule for OSU AGtech I-Corps?

This remote program will meet every week for 4 weeks in July. Each session runs for two hours from 2-4pm PST on Tuesdays. The upcoming cohort will begin on July 8th, 2025.

 

2. What are the eligibility requirements?

Team Size - Each application is required to have a team of 2-4 members, typically comprised of university faculty, students, researchers, or recent alums. Early stage AgTech startup founder teams in the Pacific Northwest are also eligible.

Technology Innovation - NSF I-Corps is designed both for early stage AgTech based startups in in the Pacific Northwest, and for early stage teams who develop a new fundamental discovery in agriculture science or engineering at a university or academic lab. NSF I-Corps is the key first step to translate a new technology into a startup with a viable commercial market and scalable business plan.

Early Stage - If you have a startup idea in the AgTech space and the customer discovery process is completely new to you, 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 over the program and are required to attend each remote course session. To make the most from 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 and willingness to succeed or fail together, and openness to learning something new.

 

4. What is the application process?

The application process is very streamlined, and only requires teams submit an online application - this takes ~10 minutes to complete. Our instructor team will follow up with you if we have additional questions about your application.

 

5. Is osu agtech NSF I-Corps in-person or remote?

The program is hosted remotely via Zoom.

 

6. Do you require a university affiliation for osu agtech I-Corps?

A university affiliation is not required. If you are an early stage technology-based startup in the PNW-hub affiliates region, we welcome you to apply.

However, after completion of OSU Regional AgTech I-Corps, in order to be eligible for the National NSF I-Corps program it is required the technology 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 AgTech program for university or PNW-hub affiliated teams.