NSF I-Corps is the gold standard for customer discovery. If you have ever wanted to understand how innovation actually moves from the lab to the market, this is your chance to see the methodology up close. The NSF I-Corps Hub Northwest is offering a free, virtual course focused on planetary health technologies. Applications are open through May 29, 2026. Customer discovery is the single most underestimated skill in early-stage startups. Most founders skip it or do it halfway because they are eager to build. Then they spend months or years building something nobody will buy. I-Corps teaches you how to test assumptions, talk to potential customers before you commit to a roadmap, and validate whether a real market exists for what you are building. It is structured, repeatable, and grounded in evidence. Even if planetary health is not your focus, the frameworks and rigor you learn here apply to nearly any technology or market. The program forces you to get out of the building and run real interviews. You leave with clarity on who your customer is, what problem you are solving, and whether your solution has legs. This is especially valuable if you are a solo founder or running a small team without access to formal mentorship or accelerator support. You get expert coaching, a proven process, and a cohort of other founders working through the same challenges. If you are serious about bringing a new technology to market and want to build something people will actually pay for, apply. The course is free, the methodology is tested, and the insight you gain can save you years of wasted effort. Applications close May 29. Send me a message if you want to talk through whether this is a fit for where you are in your journey. https://www.santacruzworks.org/news/nsf-i-corps-hub-planetary-course-applications-open