NY-Regional Virtual Innovation Lean Bootcamp - Winter 2026: Call for Team Applications

The Innovation Lean Bootcamp, hosted by the New York NSF I-Corps Hub, is a fast-paced, hands-on training program for researchers, scientists, engineers, and technologists looking to explore the commercial potential of their innovations. As part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps Network, this two-week bootcamp immerses academic teams and companies into the Lean LaunchPad methodology, designed to help participants move beyond the lab and into the real world to test the market fit of their ideas. 

Over the course of the program, academic teams or deep technology companies will conduct 20+ customer discovery interviews, engaging directly with potential users, buyers, and partners to gather critical insights. Instead of building business plans in isolation, participants experience the real-world uncertainty of entrepreneurship, learning to pivot and adapt based on evidence, not assumptions.

Guided by a seasoned 8-10 NY Regional Teaching Team of entrepreneurs, industry experts, and commercialization advisors, the Innovation Lean Bootcamp equips teams with the mindset, tools, and support needed to turn ideas into impact.

Participating-teams that are accepted, attend all course dates, and successfully adhere to all syllabus requirements are eligible to receive up to $3,000 reimbursement for customer discovery, such as traveling and attending events, conferences, and trade shows anywhere in the United States of America within 4-months of starting the course. A Reimbursement Guide will be provided to all accepted teams for guidance on accessing the funding. 

Winter 2026 New York I-Corps Region Virtual Lean Bootcamp Dates:

Kickoff Session: Monday, January 12, 2026, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM ET

Mid Session: Friday, January 16, 2026, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET (should come back with 10 interviews)

Finale Session:  Friday, January 23, 2026, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET (should come back with 20 total interviews)

A/V Testing in Zoom Room will open at 9:30 AM EST
The course will be entirely virtual via Zoom. The Entrepreneurial Lead must be able to attend all three workshop dates! Two people must be able to attend as a team. 

2-Part Application Process: Application Form + Interview with Course Instructors

Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis until Thursday, December 18, 2025, 12:00 PM ET. The next step after the application submission is a Zoom interview-discussion with your team and the Course Instructor(s).  The deadline to book and complete an interview-discussion via Zoom is Monday, December 29, 2025. There will be absolutely no extensions so please book your interview early!

We recommend applying EARLY so teams have ample time to schedule the required 25-minute Zoom interview discussion. Upon completion of this application, you will see a link to a Calendly Booking Calendar which is where you will schedule your Zoom interview-discussion. 

At A Glance Course Schedule for Winter 2026: https://bit.ly/NYICorpsWinter2026Schedule 

Program Goals:

- Build the foundation commercialization plan of your startup for future NSF National I-Corps $50K Teams Program, SBIR/STTR Proposals, and/or NYC Innovation Hot Spot programming
- Enable teams to develop a clearer decision regarding the market viability of their idea.
- Conduct 20 interviews over the course of the program with potential users, partners, decision makers, stakeholders in your ecosystem
- Teach innovators the fundamental building blocks of the Business Model Canvas (Value Propositions, Customer Segments), and Customer Discovery
- Connect with the nation-wide network of NSF instructors, entrepreneurs, commercialization experts and economic development leaders

Eligibility:
- Teams of 2+ committed members that may be postdocs,  graduate (Masters, PhD) students, faculty, staff, etc. from any university. Undergraduate teams and NY-based "Community" teams such as startup companies (without academic-lineage) working on high-tech solutions may be considered but must make a strong justification.  
- Technology or idea explored in this course should be STEM focused and research based
- Must be able to attend all 3 scheduled workshops AND dedicate time outside of the sessions to get and schedule and conduct customer discovery interviews (20+) 
- May be willing to form an academic team of 3+ people after the program to apply for the NSF I-Corps $50k Teams program, and/or apply to the NSF SBIR/STTR Program, and/or other NYS ecosystem programming

Please note: Individuals who previously participated in a NY Hub led Regional cohort within 12-months are not eligible to participate as an Entrepreneurial Lead (EL) or Co-EL.

If you have any questions or comments, please email info@newyorkicorps.org or Course Instructors ariella.trotsenko@cuny.edu & cira.cardaci@cuny.edu and Course Manager hana.kassem@cuny.edu 
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Team Background
Teams should consists of 2+ members - an EL and an optional additional of the following roles:

Entrepreneurial Lead - The Entrepreneurial Lead (EL) is typically a postdoctoral researcher, graduate student, or any other student (undergraduate, associates). In community startup teams, the EL is likely CEO and Co-founder. The EL possesses relevant technical knowledge and a deep commitment to investigate the commercial landscape surrounding the innovation. The EL should also be prepared to support the transition of the technology, should the I-Corps™ project demonstrate a level of readiness appropriate to leave the academic institution. The Entrepreneurial Lead is likely the individual completing this application. 

Co-Entrepreneurial Lead - A fellow student or team/company member who is co-leading and supporting the customer discovery interview process. Maybe a co-founder. 

Technical Lead (TL) | Principal Investigator (PI) - The Principal Investigator (PI) serves as the technical lead and project manager. This person is usually a faculty/staff at a university and/or a CTO in a company. In most scenarios, the TL is the most member most knowledge on the technical aspects of the project, and maybe also become a co-founder. Senior technical students may also serve as the TL. 

Industry Mentor - The Industry Mentor (IM) is typically an experienced entrepreneur, or business executive with industry experience. The IM guides teams forward, helping them interpret customer comments, assisting the team in contacting relevant people, and keeping the team honest about what they are hearing from the marketplace. This member may also be someone familiar with the Lean LaunchPad Methodology and the Business Model Canvas, and/or has gone through I-Corps before.

Team Composition
Your Team Name *
Which industry is your technology/product/startup idea?
Clear selection
Please list your University Affiliation (N/A if none) *
Are you already a registered company? If so, what state is your company doing business in/headquartered? (N/A if not registered yet) *
Please list your regional geographic location (Ex. Brooklyn, NY) *
Team Eligibility - 2+ committed Regional I-Corps team members

This course requires the participation of two committed team members. Before applying, please carefully review the course dates and times to ensure that two people from your team can attend all three workshops and complete 20 stakeholder interviews within the two-week period.

Due to funding being made available to support customer discovery efforts (up to $3,000), participation requirements will be strictly enforced.

Eligibility and commitment to course dates will be reconfirmed during a brief Zoom interview. A booking link will be provided after you submit this application.

Entrepreneurial Lead (EL) Full Name *
Are you CURRENTLY a student?  *
Required
Entrepreneurial Lead (EL) Email *
Entrepreneurial Lead (EL) LinkedIn Profile *
EL Phone Number *
EL Background/Short Biography (~<200 words) *
Team Member #2 (Co-EL) Full Name
Co-EL/Team Member #2 Email
Co-EL/Team Member #2 Biography (~<200 words)
Technical Lead (TL/PI) Name
Technical Lead (TL/PI) Email
Technical Lead (TL/PI) Biography (~<200 words)
Industry Mentor Name
Industry Mentor Biography (~<200 words)
Industry Mentor Email
If you have any other team members that will participate in the training-course, please list their full name, email, and role (co-EL, co-TL, co-IM) here 
Team or Startup Overview
Please help us get to know your project better. We understand your proposed answers/plans in this form may change during the cohort! That is the goal!
Provide a 1-2 sentence "Business Thesis" of WHAT is the product or service, WHO is the customer, and WHY the customer cares about it *
Provide a brief description of your innovation, technology, or startup (<250 words) *
Provide a brief description of competition and why your idea is different  (<250 words) *
Provide a brief description of the potential commercial impact of the technology  (<250 words) *
This course requires you to find and talk to 20 potential customers, users, and buyers. 

Who are the first three potential people you’d like to interview and why? 
 *
Have you ever applied for an SBIR/STTR? If yes, please share which agency and when.  *
Are you interested in applying for a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant/contract from any of the 11-participating agencies?  If yes, please share which agency and why.  *
What is the IP status of the technology?  *
University’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO) Representative Full Name & Email

N/A if you are not affiliated with a university/institution. 
 *
Why do you want to participate in this Innovation Lean Bootcamp? *
How did you hear about the program? (Email newsletter, personal referral, attended an informational session, etc.)

If you heard about this program through a referral, please share who and/or which organization. 
 *
I have read the Winter 2026 program dates and confirm I/my team members can attend all 3 virtual sessions and dedicate time outside of class to do 20-stakeholder interviews and complete 3 presentations *
Required
I understand this course requires 2 people to participate on the Regional I-Corps team *
Required
Additional Questions? Comments? Concerns? (The next step in this application will redirect you to a Calendly Booking Platform to schedule a 25-min zoom interview-discussion with the Core Instructors)
Submit
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