Aggie I-Corps is a comprehensive training program designed to assess the viability of your business idea. The program aims to promote the translation of research, foster collaboration between academia and industry, and equip students with a solid understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship. Aggie I-Corps is available to all research colleges and universities in New Mexico. NMSU is a partner in the Southwest I-Corps Hub that provides training and funding to students and faculty commercializing innovative technology. To successfully complete Aggie I-Corps, also known as ldealaunch, teams must conduct a minimum of 30 interviews with prospective customers for their product or service. Projects can be derived from student work, research (funded or unfunded), institutional initiatives, or industrial endeavors. The project's focus must lie within the realms of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), typically supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with new cohorts commencing at regular intervals throughout the year. Students will receive $500 to $1000 participant support when working on student-led projects. Students will receive $2000 participant support when working on faculty-led projects that involve NMSU intellectual property. ldealaunch cohorts are intended for teams that have not been previously funded by the NSF. Lineagelaunch is a shorter path to National NSF I-Corps and is intended for teams that have been previously funded by the NSF.
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Program Director
Dr. Kramer Winingham serves as a Program Director for Arrowhead Center and is the Director of NMSU’s National Science Foundation I-Corps Site. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration with specializations in Finance and Information Systems, and a Doctorate of Economic Development from NMSU. His doctoral thesis “Economic Development through Technology Transfer” developed a novel approach to technology transfer incorporating design thinking – this approach is applied to commercializing NMSU technologies at the Arrowhead Center. He currently serves as CEO/President for two companies commercializing technologies. He also owns and operates a property management company.
Kramer can be reached at jkramer@nmsu.edu
Dr. Wei Tang serves as the Faculty Lead in the National Science Foundation Southwest I-Corps Hub at NMSU. He holds a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Yale University. He is currently a Paul W. and Valerie Klipsch Distinguished Professor at the Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer Engineering in College of Engineering at New Mexico State University. He has participated in various commercialization activities such as National I-Corps in University of Michigan. His research interests including biomedical circuits and systems, wearable sensors, and machine learning. He was the recipient of the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Award in 2017 and NMSU Dennis W. Darnall Faculty Achievement Award in 2024.
Wei Tang can be reached at wtang@nmsu.edu
Program Manager | Aggie I-Corps
Chris Corbine is an accomplished Program Manager for the Aggie I-Corps program, specializing in innovation transfer within New Mexico research institutions. With a background in aiding early-stage start-ups, Chris provides valuable mentorship, education, and resources to burgeoning entrepreneurs. A 20-year retired Air Force veteran, he served as an electronics technician and combat aircrew and systems expert on the HH-60G Combat Rescue Helicopter. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Leadership from Southwestern College in Winfield, KS and a Master of Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management from Liberty University.
Chris can be reached at corbine@nmsu.edu
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