The National Science Foundation designated UC San Diego as one of the four original universities to pilot their "innovation Corps" concept in 2011. The resulting NSF I-Corps™ program was established to educate and train technical founders in lean startup principles, including value-based development and customer validation.
IGE has enhanced and expanded the core curriculum, creating a rigorous introductory workshop series as foundational first steps in a Path-to-Market journey. This program will guide you through the process of product development, market validation, and business modeling.
Today, IGE is part of the Desert Pacific I-Corps Hub, which includes Arizona State University, Boise State University, San Diego State University, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, University of Hawai'i, University of Idaho, and University of Nevada-Las Vegas and UC San Diego. This allows IGE to expand its Impact by increasing our network, pooling resources, and servicing more startup teams.
Ready to Start Your Entrepreneurial Journey?
In partnership with the NSF I-Corps Hub: Desert and Pacific Region, IGE provides training opportunities all throughout the year.
Experienced Industry Mentors
The program is based on real-world, hands-on, immersive learning in concert with mentoring from experienced industry entrepreneurs. It includes interviewing customers and understanding their needs and problems to develop a strong product/market fit. In each session, participants engage with mentors and other teams to share what they learn from their customer discovery efforts - as constructive feedback to further their development.
Funding Opportunities
Admitted teams may apply for an award to continue market validation if requirements are met.
Objectives of the Program:
- Learn the basics of lean startup entrepreneurship
- Effectively communicate the value of your idea
- Validate market potential through customer discovery
- Gateway to other acceleration programs such as NSF I-Corps™ Nationals Teams Program
National I-Corps
Once you complete the regional I-Corps course, you may be eligible to apply to National I-Corps, which has additional eligibility requirements, where you can earn a grant of up to $50,000.
Eligibility Requirements
Program Commitment
Attend five mandatory classes and complete homework assignments. Interface with your mentor between classes. Funding may be available if all criteria is completed.
Project Type
Originate from student work, research (funded or unfunded), institutional, or industrial projects.
Team Composition
All UC San Diego students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, and recent alumni are eligible to apply.
2025 I-Corps Aspire Courses
UC San Diego is a member of the NSF I-Corps Hub: Desert and Pacific Region, a curated partnership of nine universiites combining nascent, emerging and mature research and entrepeneurial strengths across state lines, reaching beyond conventional innovation Hubs. Choose the course that best matches your project and schedule- our Hub offers both specialized and general options. Check the upcoming courses on the Apply page to find the right fit for you.
I-Corps Aspire: Sustainability, hosted by UC San Diego (May 2025)
Spring 2025 - Orientation 5/5
5/1, 5/8, 5/15, 6/5
Spring Deadline: 4/27/25
I-Corps Aspire: MedTech hosted by UC San Diego
Fall 2025: Orientation 9/29
10/1, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29
Fall Deadline 9/24/25
Upcoming I-Corps Aspire Courses
Learn the fundamentals of customer discovery and assess problem-solution fit over four 3-hour sessions conducted via Zoom.
I-Corps Aspire (May-Jun 2025)
Multiple Sessions-
May 14th to Jun 4th or
May 30th to Jun 20th
More Dates Available online:
Questions? Contact Rebecca Deller at rdeller@ucsd.edu