GRANT · HOW TO WIN THIS
Varies; check current solicitation for specific award amounts.
One-time submission; cohorts run on a recurring basis — check grants.gov or your regional I-Corps Hub for current windows.
FUNDING TYPE
Grant
CAN YOU GET THIS?
YOUR REAL ODDS
Competitiveness varies by cohort, but this is a structured national program with multiple cohorts per year.
NSF I-Corps is a well-established federal program that accepts teams on a rolling cohort basis. Specific acceptance rates are not published, but demand is high and teams must commit to a rigorous customer discovery curriculum.
WHAT IT TAKES
Check eligibility and confirm your team has a PI, entrepreneurial lead, and mentor — 1–2 days
Apply through the NSF I-Corps Hub or grants.gov with a project summary — 1–2 weeks
Complete the required customer discovery interviews if accepted — 7 weeks (program duration)
WORTH KNOWING
I-Corps is not just funding — it requires active participation in a structured curriculum with customer interviews. Teams that treat it as a learning program, not just a grant, tend to get more out of it.
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Texas Job Creators Quest Grant
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Texas-based small businesses led by underrepresented founders with $100K–$3M in annual revenue can apply for this grant.
BELLE Capital USA Grant
Grant amount varies; no specific figures disclosed.
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