NIH ICorps Entrepreneurship Training for SBIR/STTR Awardees
Summary
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced the ICorps at NIH program, offering entrepreneurship training for Phase I SBIR/STTR awardees. The program aims to help small businesses develop and validate business models for commercialization. Applications are due by March 27, 2026, and April 17, 2026.
What changed
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a notice regarding the ICorps at NIH program, an 8-week entrepreneurship training course designed for small businesses that have received Phase I SBIR/STTR awards. This program, administered in partnership with the NSF, focuses on customer discovery and business model validation to facilitate the commercialization of life science innovations. It is entirely virtual and provides curated training, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
Small businesses that have received Phase I SBIR/STTR awards from NIH, CDC, FDA, or ACL are eligible to apply. The program aims to help these businesses advance their understanding of market opportunities through customer interviews and build robust business models. Interested parties should note the application deadlines for the two upcoming cohorts: March 27, 2026, and April 17, 2026. Further details and program specifics can be found on the ICorps at NIH program page.
What to do next
- Review eligibility criteria for the ICorps at NIH program.
- Submit applications by the March 27, 2026, or April 17, 2026, deadlines if applicable.
Source document (simplified)
ICorps at NIH — An Entrepreneurship Program to Support Commercialization Training for Phase I SBIR/STTR awardees Notice Number: NOT-OD-26-037
Key Dates
Release Date: March 05, 2026
Related Announcements
None
Issued by
Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health (OD)
Purpose
The I-Corps at NIH program provides an 8-week, experiential entrepreneurship training course for small businesses that have received a Phase I SBIR/STTR award from NIH, CDC, FDA, or ACL. Through structured customer-discovery activities and expert-guided instruction, the program strengthens teams ability to develop and validate business models that translate discovery-stage life science innovation toward commercialization. It offers curated training, expert mentorship, and networking opportunities. The core goals include:
- Advance understanding of market opportunities via at least 100 external customer interviews
- Build a robust business model canvas aligned with unmet clinical needs
- Prepare teams for follow-on funding and partnerships The I-Corps at NIH program is entirely virtual and administered through a partnership with the NSF. The deadline for consideration in the two I-Corps at NIH cohorts are March 27, 2026, and April 17, 2026.
For more details please see the I-Corps at NIH program page: seed.nih.gov/ICorpsatNIH
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
General questions: SEED (Small business Education & Entrepreneurial Development) Office, [email protected]
Institute/Center Specific Contacts (by awarding IC):
See ICorps at NIH program page: seed.nih.gov/ICorpsatNIH
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NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health ®
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