Innovation Networks for Entrepreneurial Success

The National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program supports researchers in their entrepreneurial journeys. We are studying how participants’ networks grow change through the program, finding quantitative characteristics linked to entrepreneurial success.

Our findings have suggested:

  • Actively using professional network can identify new, unique connections improve learning quality
  • High network growth rate, decrease in density & centralization suggest successful participants rapidly add new resources and ensure diversity when adding new connections
  • Network growth strategies include pre-preparation & continued customer discovery after I-Corps

Publications thus far include:

(2025) *Madan, R., *H. Hassan, A. Layton, M. C. Hipwell. “Examining the network growth strategies of early-stage entrepreneurs.” ASEE 2025 Conference & Exposition. Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

(2024) *Hassan, H.; *Rodriguez, L.; Seets, C.; Layton, A.; Hipwell, M. C. “Engineering the Next Generation of Innovators: A Curricular Approach.” ASEE 2024 Conference & Exposition. Portland, OR, USA.

8th Annual National Innovation Network Meeting. (2025) *Hassan, H., *R. Madan, M. C. Hipwell, A. Layton. “Structural and Relational Predictors of Entrepreneurial Success in Entrepreneurial Networks.” Washington D.C., USA.
(2025) *Madan, R., *H. Hassan, A. Layton, M. C. Hipwell. “Examining the network growth strategies of early-stage entrepreneurs.” ASEE 2025 Conference & Exposition. Montreal, Quebec, Canada.