About Us

A partnership of nine universities across five states (Arizona, California, Hawai’i, Idaho, and Nevada) designed to advance innovative, university-developed, research-based deep technology venture (DTV) products and services.

What We Do

The NSF I-Corps Hub: Desert and Pacific Region offers six key activities.

Recruit National I-Corps Teams

Recruit teams to expand participation of researchers and teams in the Desert and Pacific Region Hub and as a source for National I-Corps Teams participation.

Provide Regional Training

Provide regional I-Corps training to prepare teams for National I-Corps Teams participation and increase competitiveness for a possible $50K grant. Train I-Corps instructors at the regional level to prepare for national instructional leadership.

Support Additional Institutions

Support additional institutions of higher education to participate in I-Corps but supporting New Partner Institutions.

Evaluate the I-Corps Hub

Evaluate Desert and Pacific Region programs for inclusion in the biannual American Innovation and Competitiveness Act report.

Advance Entrepreneurship Research

Advance research and scholarship on entrepreneurship.

Broaden DEIA Participation

Broaden participation to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for I-Corps.

Hear from a past I-Corps participant about their transformative training experience.

Program Information

I-Corps Training

I-Corps training offered by the I-Corps Hub: Desert and Pacific Region is fully remote, begins with an online orientation and a fast-paced four week training. The I-Corps training is an assumption / hypothesis-testing, customer discovery focused process to gather important insights on problem/solution fit and product/market fit to maximize the impact of an innovation.

Those teams that complete the regional training may be eligible to receive a $3000 grant through the Hub. High-performing teams could be in a position to gain acceptance into the National I-Corps Teams program, which may provide $50,000+ grants for continued venture development, including intensive customer discovery efforts.

Apply now for the Desert and Pacific Region training 

Sessions are online via Zoom from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. HT / 12 to 3 p.m. PT / 12 to 3 p.m. MT / 3 to 6 p.m. ET

Apply now
 

 

Hub Partners

Arizona State University

Arizona State University

www.asu.edu
Ji Mi Choi
Director, NSF I-Corps Hub: Desert and Pacific Region

University of Idaho

University of Arizona

www.arizona.edu
Doug Hockstad
Associate Vice President, TechLaunch Arizona

Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University

nau.edu
Cristy Salanga
Patent Manager

University of California San Diego

ucsd.edu
Dennis Abremski
Executive Director, Institute for Global Entrepreneur, Jacobs School of Engineering

san diego state university

San Diego State University

www.sdsu.edu/
Stanley Maloy
Associate Vice President of Research & Innovation, Biology, Graduate & Research Affairs
Laura Buffard
Associate Vice President, Innovation

University of Hawai'i

www.hawaii.edu
Steven Auerbach
Interim Director, Office of Innovation and Commercialization, Chief Innovation Officer, UH Ventures

Boise State University

www.boisestate.edu
Brett Adkins
Director, Office of Technology Transfer

University of Idaho

www.uidaho.edu
Arch Harner
Assistant Vice President, Research Administration

unlv

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

www.unlv.edu
Leith Martin
Executive Director, Troesh Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation