Business incubation provides a nurturing, instructive and supportive environment for entrepreneurs during the critical stages of starting up a new business. The goal of incubators is to increase the chance that a start-up will succeed, and shorten the time and reduce the cost of establishing and growing its business. Incubators serve as a launching pad for young and small businesses. Start-ups, which are innately dynamic entities, need access to support, and incubators are a means of providing this.
Commercialization is the process of introducing a new product or service to the general market. It takes into account production, distribution, marketing, sales, and customer support required to achieve the commercial success of the new product or service. Commercializing a product or service can be a lot harder than some new entrepreneurs expect. Having people to turn to for advice and expertise can make all the difference.
Company Incubators
McGovern Center
The McGovern Center is Cornell’s incubator for life sciences companies. It is designed to develop young Cornell life science companies. The Center is funded by Cornell’s Research Division, the Institute of Biotechnology, and a generous gift from Kevin M. McGovern ’70 and his family.
The Center’s program focuses on accelerating research/development of its client companies’ technology/products, validating its client companies’ business plans, and strengthening its client companies’ management teams.
Rev Ithaca Startup Works
Rev: Ithaca Startup Works is a business incubator and workspace in Ithaca, NY. We offer business mentorship, workspace, and startup resources for any new or growing business that will create jobs in the community.
Our membership is open to all and our mentorship is field-agnostic; Rev has incubated successful app startups, as well a successful food startups. We believe that more innovative companies offering more jobs in more fields enriches our local economy and improves life for everyone.
Technology Licensing
Cornell Center for Technology Licensing
One of the main objectives of the Center for Technology Licensing (CTL) is to foster the growth of new businesses based on Cornell Technology to promote regional economic development. We work to create successful transitions from innovation to new enterprise.
Company Funding and Beyond
Cornell Venture Capitalists
Searchable list of Cornell-affiliated venture capitalists, with employer and biographical information.
Cornellians in Private Equity
Searchable list of Cornellians in private equity, with employer and biographical information.
Big Red Venture Fund
An early-stage venture capital fund operated entirely by a team of MBA students at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management. BRV typically invests up to $250,000 in U.S.-based high-growth companies across all industries. Initially funded by donations to Cornell University, BRV is a true evergreen fund, recycling all proceeds for reinvestment. Along with investing start-up capital in promising new companies, BRV also serves as the gateway to Cornell technologies by providing its investment partners unique access to new innovations.
Outside of Cornell
Koffman Southern Tier Incubator
In addition to the connections we can facilitate for our start-ups, the incubator provides co-working space on all three floors to encourage a collaborative culture among members. Not only do we offer traditional office and lab space for leasing, but co-working memberships, which provide access to any available space, admission to all events hosted by the Southern Tier Incubator, and the ability to book the conference or event room, are also available.
Southern Tier Startup Alliance
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. By bringing coherence to a growing regional ecosystem of entrepreneurs and support organizations, the STSA strives to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.
The STSA organizes workshops and programming throughout the region for entrepreneurs and budding entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs-in-Residence provide 1:1 mentoring to entrepreneurs and startups in the region. Member startups at the STSA’s partner incubators may also qualify to receive tax benefits through the NYS Innovation Hot Spot program.
LAUNCH New York
Launch New York is a 501(c)(3) venture development organization whose mission is to identify, support and invest in high-growth, high-impact companies and catalyze the entrepreneurial culture to drive job and wealth creation in the 27 westernmost counties of Upstate New York.