Submissions open until June 19, 2026
TechLaunch is an advanced, hands-on entrepreneurship bootcamp designed to help researchers and innovators explore the market potential of science- and engineering-based ideas.
Modeled after the NSF I-Corps™ approach, the program supports early-stage teams in testing their value proposition, engaging directly with potential customers and stakeholders, and taking practical steps toward real-world impact.
The 2026 edition is developed under the UT Austin Portugal Program in collaboration with ANI – Agência Nacional de Inovação, S.A. and funded by Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and European Union’s NextGenerationEU program, within Component C16 – Digital Transition, Investment C16-i03.02.
Ready to explore the market potential of your technology?
- Read the Program Announcement (available in Portuguese and English) for a complete understanding of how TechLaunch works and what requirements you and you team must meet;
- Complete the online submission form, and
- Submit it by June 19, 2026, to join a structured, hands-on program that helps research-driven teams turn invention into impact.
At a glance
Why Apply
TechLaunch helps teams reduce the risk of lab-to-market commercialization by giving them a structured process to test assumptions, validate needs, and understand whether their technology can generate meaningful value outside the lab.
Selected teams will take part in a seven-week hybrid program including training, workshops, weekly presentations, mentoring sessions, and customer discovery activities. Each team is expected to conduct a minimum of 100 customer discovery interviews during the program.
Teams will have access to an indicative budget of up to €30,000 per team to support customer discovery and validation activities, as well as prototyping and in-person participation in the Opening Week in Porto and the Closing Week in Austin. This is a new feature introduced in this year’s edition.
The program ends with an in-person week at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) with covered participation costs. During this final stage, teams present their work, reflect on lessons learned, and engage with the U.S. startup and innovation community.
Who should apply?
TechLaunch is designed for researchers, Ph.D. students, and early-stage teams who want to explore the market potential of science and engineering-based ideas and engage directly with the market ecosystem.
The program is particularly suited for teams that are still testing the commercial relevance of their technology and are ready to engage directly with potential users, customers, and stakeholders.
TechLaunch is not intended for fully commercialized projects, teams seeking direct funding, or participants unable to commit to an intensive program.
What participants will gain
- Test and refine a value proposition based on real market needs.
- Collect first-hand insights from potential customers, users, and stakeholders.
- Build an evidence-based pathway toward commercialization.
- Develop a stronger entrepreneurial mindset for translating research and technology into practical impact.
Key dates
| Stage | Date & Details |
|---|---|
| Submission deadline | June 19, 2026 |
| Notification of participants | Before July 10, 2026 |
| Signing of participation agreements | By September 15, 2026 |
| TechLaunch start date: Virtual pre-launch | September 18, 2026
|
| Opening Workshop in Porto, Portugal (in-person) | From September 28 to October 2, 2026 |
| Weekly Webinars | October 9, 16, 23, 30 and Nov 6, 2026 |
| Closing Week in Austin, USA (in-person) | From November 9 to 13, 2026 |
Program structure
TechLaunch 2026 combines intensive training, market validation, and international exposure. The program includes:
- An in-person opening week in Portugal
- Virtual weekly webinars
- Virtual mentoring sessions
- Customer discovery and validation activities
- A final in-person closing week at UT Austin
During the program, teams will work closely with experienced instructors trained under the I-Corps™ model and will receive focused feedback on their customer discovery process, value proposition, and commercialization pathway.
Team structure and eligibility
Each team must include:
- 1 Entrepreneurial Lead (EL) focused on customer discovery and market validation;
- 1 Technical Lead (TL) responsible for the scientific and technological development of the project.
Teams may include up to 4 members in total and may optionally involve a Team Mentor (TM) with industry or entrepreneurial experience. Primary EL and TL roles must be clearly identified.
More on eligibility criteria on the official Program Announcement.
Financial model and support
Participation in TechLaunch 2026 provides access to training, mentoring, and international immersion activities to support the validation of science- and technology-based solutions.
Teams are allocated an indicative budget of up to €30,000 to support customer discovery, validation activities, prototyping, and participation in the Opening Week in Porto and the Closing Week in Austin.
Expenses are primarily managed and paid directly by INESC TEC, with reimbursement applied only in exceptional, pre-approved cases.
This indicative budget is a planning ceiling rather than a fixed grant or cash allocation, and actual costs may vary depending on team needs and program activities.
For more on TechLaunch’s financial model and support, please refer to the official Program Announcement.
Instructors
Aprille (Raabe) Busch, Esq.
Executive Director, Southwest I-Corps Hub
The University of Texas at Austin
Aprille leads the Southwest I-Corps Hub and teaches in NSF’s national I-Corps programs and U.S. SBIR bootcamps.
Before joining UT Austin, she served at the U.S. Department of State, supporting global science and tech cooperation.
Her career spans roles as senior counsel in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and as a foreign affairs officer.
Aprille also serves on the boards of SXSW Pitch and TUNIE, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship across Texas.
She holds a JD from Tulane University and a BA in Communication from Saint Mary’s College, with a Peace Studies focus from Notre Dame.
Weston Waldo, MBA
Program Manager, Southwest I-Corps | Director, TEXVMS
The University of Texas at Austin
Weston is a certified NSF I-Corps instructor and experienced startup founder with multiple exits. He has helped guide over 1,800 teams through the I-Corps program and has supported early-stage commercialization across DeepTech, life sciences, and renewables.
He’s also an investor and commercialization reviewer for NSF’s SBIR/STTR program, and has trained teams across multiple I-Corps Hubs. Weston holds both an MBA and BBA from Texas Tech and is fluent in Mandarin.
Jessica Fleenor
Teaching Assistant, Southwest I-Corps Hub
The University of Texas at Austin
Jessica Fleenor is a leader in venture acceleration and startup program design. She directs OwlSpark, Rice University’s tech and small business accelerator, where she oversees strategy, operations, and founder support.
She also founded BlueLaunch, Rice Alliance’s first initiative for non-tech entrepreneurs, which she later integrated into OwlSpark as a dedicated track to expand its reach.
Jessica plays a key role in delivering the NSF I-Corps™ program across Texas, training research teams in customer discovery and commercialization. With a strong background in strategic planning, ecosystem development, and operational execution, she helps entrepreneurs build sustainable, high-impact ventures.
Previous cohort testimonials
Participants from the previous TechLaunch edition highlight how the program helped them move beyond assumptions, engage directly with potential users and customers, and refine their path toward real-world impact.
“
Participating in TechLaunch wasn’t just an academic exercise for our team; it was a deep dive into the daily physical realities of the people who build our world. The best innovation happens when empathy meets engineering.
“
TechLaunch helped us move from a technology-first mindset to a customer-driven strategy. We leave the programme with a clearer focus, stronger networks, and a more grounded path towards real-world impact.
“
I went completely out of my comfort zone, and it was very worth it. I’d highly recommend this program.
FAQs
TechLaunch is an intensive entrepreneurship program based on the NSF I-Corps™ model, designed to help researchers and innovators validate the market potential of science- and technology-based solutions.
The program is intended for researchers, PhD students, innovation-driven professionals, and early-stage teams exploring the market potential of deep tech solutions. It is not intended for fully commercialized projects, teams seeking direct funding, or participants unable to commit to an intensive program.
Participants are expected to actively engage in all program activities, attend mandatory sessions, conduct at least 100 customer discovery interviews, and be open to feedback and iteration.
Each team must include at least one Entrepreneurial Lead and one Technical Lead. Teams may have up to four members. An optional Team Mentor may also be included.
Yes. All team members must reside in Portugal and maintain an active affiliation with a Portuguese institution during the program.
Projects must have a deep tech profile, be based on scientific or engineering knowledge, involve a non-trivial technical challenge, and not be based on intellectual property that prevents the team from participating in the program.
Applications will be evaluated by the TechLaunch instructional and coordination team at UT Austin. Criteria include team composition and commitment, readiness for customer discovery, clarity of problem and value proposition, scientific and technological basis, and potential for learning and impact. An interview stage may be included.
Yes. Active participation in all core activities, including the opening week in Portugal and the closing week in Austin, is mandatory.
The program requires a high level of commitment over seven weeks, including:
- interviews with stakeholders;
- preparation for weekly sessions;
- team coordination.
Yes. All participants must sign a Participation Agreement with INESC TEC. This agreement does not create an employment or service provision relationship or entitlement to remuneration.
No. TechLaunch does not provide direct funding to teams. Support is implemented through a centralized expense management model, where eligible costs are generally paid directly by INESC TEC. Reimbursement is limited to specific, pre-approved cases.
Each team may benefit from an indicative budget of up to €30,000, depending on team size, level of activity, justified needs, and overall budget availability. This amount is not guaranteed and does not constitute a fixed allocation or entitlement.
Eligible expenses may include customer discovery and validation activities, participation in the opening week in Portugal and closing week at UT Austin, travel and accommodation for approved program-related activities, digital tools subject to specific rules, and prototyping expenses up to €5,000 per team subject to prior approval.
As a general rule, expenses are contracted, organized, and paid directly by INESC TEC. Reimbursement is allowed only in specific cases, such as low-value local transportation expenses and digital tools whose subscription period extends beyond the eligible period. All reimbursements require prior approval, valid supporting documents, and compliance with PRR rules.
No. Salaries, stipends, or honoraria for team members are not eligible. Other non-eligible costs include legal or IP-related costs, passport, visa or ESTA-related fees, travel insurance policies, non-approved expenses, and costs that may constitute double funding.
Meal costs are generally not eligible, except during the closing week at UT Austin, within the defined daily ceilings and excluding meals already provided by the program.
Yes. Teams will be required to provide information on activities carried out, contribute to program monitoring and evaluation, and respond to follow-up information requests when needed.
For further FAQs, please consult the Program Announcement.
