Upstate Capital shares an overview of resources available to current and aspiring entrepreneurs in New York, including incubators/accelerators, hotspots, funding sources and network-building opportunities.
Connecting to the Ecosystem:
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A network of entrepreneurs, capital providers/investors, service providers, professional advisors and ecosystem support professionals and serves as the nexus for innovation, entrepreneurship and investment in Upstate New York.
Contact: Membership Director, Bailey Burke: bailey@upstatecapital.org
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The open-source software platform is designed to track and visualize innovation ecosystem information including organizations and programs, startups and corporate businesses, venture capital investment activity and open job opportunities. The platform offers free access to real-time data and insights improving accessibility, storytelling and data-driven decision-making.
Contact: Program Manager, Richard Lin: richard@upstatecapital.org
Upstate Venture Connect: https://uvc.org/
Founded in 2010, Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) provides thought-leadership, intelligence and network-building opportunities for entrepreneurs in Upstate NY.
Contact: Head of Marketing & Communications, Nedine Yagan Veltre: nedine@uvc.org
Programs: Empire State Development
New York Ventures: https://esd.ny.gov/venture-capital
New York Ventures supports high-growth companies and their partners to use technology to solve important challenges in areas of strategic interest and importance.
Contact: Director, Pre-Seed & Seed Fund, Josh Nelson: joshua.nelson@esd.ny.gov
Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR): https://esd.ny.gov/innovation-development-support
New York State offers resources designed to enable new and existing businesses to become more competitive through the use of innovative technologies.
Contact: Executive Director, Ben Verschueren: Ben.Verschueren@esd.ny.gov
NYS Science and Technology Law Center: https://nysstlc.syr.edu/
An organization dedicated to providing resources like legal research, education and information to help commercialize new technologies from lab to market.
Contact: Managing Director, Molly Zimmermann: mzimme01@syr.edu
Accelerators + Incubators + Hotspots
Business Incubator Association of New York (BIANYS): https://www.bianys.com/
This network of dedicated leaders works tirelessly to foster a dynamic, diverse, creative, and successful startup ecosystem spanning all corners of the state.
Contact: Deputy Director, Michael Gurtowski: michael.gurtowski@bianys.com
FuzeHub: https://fuzehub.com/
FuzeHub is the go-to resource for startup, small, and mid-size manufacturers and technology companies in New York State.
Competition: The FuzeHub Commercialization Competition helps small manufacturing and technology companies further develop their prototype as they move from new product/production method to marketplace.
Contact: Innovation Fund Manager, Patty Rechberger, patty@fuzehub.com
Nextcorps: https://nextcorps.org/ (Finger Lakes Innovation Hotspot)
NextCorps is a non-profit helping innovative technology companies launch and grow.
Competition: Luminate is an accelerator and investment fund that awards $3 million annually to 10 companies from around the world that are developing emerging solutions in almost every industry. https://luminate.org/
Contact: President, Jim Senall, james.senall@nextcorps.org
The Tech Garden: https://www.thetechgarden.com/ (Central NY Innovation Hotspot)
CenterState CEO’s The Tech Garden is Central New York’s premier technology incubator founded with a mission to convene and support the local startup community.
Competition: GENIUS NY is a $3 million business accelerator in Syracuse, NY focused on uncrewed aerial systems, robotics and big data startups. https://geniusny.com/
Contact: Director, Kara Jones, kjones@centerstateceo.com
Grow-NY: https://www.grow-ny.com/
Grow-NY is a business competition focused on growing an enduring food and agriculture innovation cluster in the Grow-NY region.
Contact: Director, Food & Ag Innovation Program, Cornell University, Jenn Smith, jbs444@cornell.edu
43North: https://43north.org/
43North runs an accelerator program and invests $5M annually into high-growth companies in Buffalo, NY.
Contact: Manager of Investor Relations & Partnerships, Arden Sorge, arden@43north.org
Hudson Valley Venture Hub: https://www.newpaltz.edu/schoolofbusiness/hvventurehub (Hudson Valley Innovation Hotspot)
The Hudson Valley Venture Hub both connects businesses to existing regional organizations and services – as well as provides direct, and highly individualized incubation services to select startups and existing companies with the potential to reach larger scale commercialization of their products and services.
Contact: Director, Eliza Edge, edgee@newpaltz.edu
Innovate 518: https://www.innovate518.com/ (Capital Region Innovation Hotspot)
Innovate 518 is committed to help drive startups and researchers to the tools they need to develop and commercialize their innovative technologies in the New York State Capital Region.
Contact: Director of Economic Development at University at Albany, SUNY, Maria Pidgeon, mpidgeon2@albany.edu
New York City Innovation Hot Spot: https://www.nycinnovationhotspot.org/
The NYC Innovation Hot Spot provides business incubator services to qualified entities to facilitate company growth and encourage job creation.
Contact: Director, Ariella Trotsenko, ariella.trotsenko@cuny.edu
WIN: WNY Incubator Network: https://www.wnyincubators.com/ (Western NY Innovation Hotspot)
WIN is a collaborative effort of business incubators to expand entrepreneurial services, help startups, and grow wealth in the region.
Contact: General Manager, UB Business & Entrepreneur Partnerships, Thomas Murdock, murdock2@buffalo.edu
Accelerate Long Island: http://www.accelerateli.org/ (Long island Innovation Hotspot)
Accelerate Long Island is a unique collaboration among Long Island’s world class research institutions and its business community to commercialize research and create an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Contact: Program Director, Dan Lloyd, dlloyd@accelerateli.org
ThINCubator: https://thincubator.co/ (Mohawk Valley Innovation Hotspot)
MVCC’s thINCubator is the Mohawk Valley’s hub for Entrepreneurship providing new and existing entrepreneurs the guidance and programs they need to turn their ideas into businesses.
Contact: Director, Ryan Miller, ryan@thincubator.co
Southern Tier Startup Alliance: https://www.ststartup.com/ (ST Innovation Hotspot)
The Southern Tier Startup Alliance (STSA) leverages the contributions of incubators and existing entrepreneurial resources in the region, and creates support services where none currently exist.
Contact: Entrepreneur in Residence, Ken Rother, ksr77@cornell.edu
Shipley Center for Innovation: https://www.clarkson.edu/academics/research/labs-centers/shipley (North Country Innovation Hotspot)
Through a collaborative, hands-on process, the Shipley Center provides inventors and entrepreneurs with the resources and expertise needed to fully commercialize their products and launch successful new businesses.
Contact: Director, Jamey Hoose, jhoose@clarkson.edu