The NSF I-Corps Mid-Atlantic Hub wrapped up a special NSF I-Corps AI/robotics hub-wide cohort, led by Carnegie Mellon University, on March 21, 2025. The cohort included 25 research-based teams developing artificial intelligence and robotics innovations to address a wide range of applications, including biotechnology, manufacturing, education, energy, B2B software, aerospace, and more.
Participants averaged over 18 customer discovery interviews per team, resulting in more than 457 conversations held with potential customers and industry players, a new record for a Hub-hosted cohort.
Many of the teams will be eligible for the national NSF I-Corps Teams program, through which they can receive $50,000 for continued customer discovery.
This is the second hub-wide industry-specific cohort. The first, a therapeutics cohort, was held last year.
The AI/robotics cohort resulted in updates to the Hub’s curriculum, including various strategies on how to use AI in customer discovery and startup development, AI startup case studies, three startup founder speakers, and an investor speaker.
The next Hub regional cohort is the Quantum for National Security I-Corps Customer Discovery Workshop, which will be held in May.
