The NSF I-Corps Hub Mid-Atlantic Region has hired Christian Herrera as a Technology Scout Lead to serve as a free resource for teams that have completed an I-Corps program. 

Tech Scouts close the gap between I-Corps completion and a team's next steps, creating smoother connections between teams and downstream funding sources and strengthening their commercialization efforts. Teams are eligible when they have completed a regional, national, or I-Corps Next program.

Herrera, who began the position in June, has a Ph.D. in infectious disease research and an MBA from Penn State University. His expertise in both science and business gives him a dual understanding of commercialization, allowing him to break down the process more effectively for teams.

“These are brilliant researchers. They're coming into a space that they maybe don't really have a solid grasp on — which can be a source of vulnerability, and it's a joy for me to be able to mentor them, guide them, and teach them what this commercialization journey looks like,” Herrera said.

After I-Corps, many teams enter a valley where they don’t know their next steps. What type of funding should they pursue? Should they incorporate, or stay part of the university system? Tech Scouts offer support services catered to teams that feel stuck.

“My main role as the tech scout is to meet with an I-Corps team and say, ‘Hey, you are in a great place for this type of funding program,’ after carefully evaluating each team,” Herrera explained. 

Tech Scouts like Herrera help teams apply their new knowledge to build a better product, find the right funding resources, and write stronger funding proposals.