Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the Innovation Corps translational research grant program at the University of Louisville.
Who is eligible?

University of Louisville faculty, staff and students with an entrepreneurial interest, who want to take their lab research to the marketplace. The technologies must benefit society and the economy. Interested alumni should contact us first.

What projects are eligible?

Projects can originate from student work, funded or unfunded research, or projects done with institutions or industry partners. Each project must focus on one of the science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) areas the National Science Foundation supports.

What’s the budget?

The UofL I-Corps site program can provide up to $2,500 in total funding to teams. This funding is typically for a period of six to twelve months.

What can I use the funding for?

Funding can be used for entrepreneurial training, prototype development; travel expenses for customer discovery; and other necessary resources that directly help get the project to the marketplace.

How will I do my startup instruction?

Each team participates in the seven-week I-Corps curriculum, based on Stanford’s Lean LaunchPad process. This training is conducted on-site at UofL through the Nucleus LaunchIT program.

NSF also hosts monthly webinars about the program.

What will my mentors teach me?

Mentorship in the UofL I-Corps program focuses on:

      • Commercialization of team projects;
      • New start-up businesses development;
      • Licensing agreements;
      • How to create business plans suitable for review by third-party investors;
      • And how to make go/no-go decisions about commercialization, within six months of receiving support.
How does UofL hook in with the national NSF I-Corps program?

NSF I-Corps is a partnership that encourages entrepreneurship on both a local and national level. Currently, there are more than 80 active sites across the U.S.