The National Science Foundation has given WSU the Innovation Corps (I-Corps) grant, giving students and faculty the opportunity to bring their entrepreneurial idea to life.

Director of business development at the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture Travis Woodland said each team that participates in the program will be aided up to $2,500 in an eight-week session to build their idea.

Throughout the course, an online curriculum explains how to build a start-up. Teams are required to meet weekly to discuss topics on the agenda, Woodland said.

Woodland said the program itself is free, and there are no prerequisites for any team members. There are three eight-week sessions throughout the school year, Woodland said, each calling for 30 participants.

He said teams are comprised of a minimum of two people, an entrepreneurial lead and an industry faculty expert.

However, it is recommended that teams contain three to four people, including members for things like marketing, product design, and any other position that will make their idea as successful as possible.

While a mentor is necessary throughout the project, they are not technically part of the team, Woodland explained. He said if a team does not have a mentor, I-Corps will take it upon themselves to find them one.

The purpose of this program is to “help teams build a business model canvas”, Woodland said. I-Corps gives teams the chance to form a better starting point in their endeavor.

With their funding, teams are able to go into the business world to talk to customers, suppliers, and experts that will help their idea develop. The funding goes directly into the team’s travel expenses and material for building demonstration products they can show potential investors, Woodland said.

Woodland said he believes it is important for people interested in the program to know that they are “inviting students, staff and faculty from all over campus.”

This means any major is more than welcome to take advantage of this program by gaining valuable skills that will make them better employees in the future.

Reporting by Shannon Steffen