2021 Innovation/Entrepreneur Resource Directory

Welcome to the 2021 Innovation & Entrepreneur Resource Directory. The following organizations foster innovation and provide funding, consultation, training, and other support to entrepreneurs across Central New York.

Note: This is an update of the Innovation and Entrepreneur Resource Directory that ran in the Nov. 23 issue of The Central New York Business Journal.

Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars at SU Libraries

222 Waverly Ave.

Syracuse, NY 13244

Website: launchpad.syr.edu

Year Established: 2016

Organization Type: innovation center, incubator, funding source, consulting/training provider

Services/Resources Offered: Competitions: Campus challenges, as well as national, state, and regional business plan competitions that provide opportunities for students from across the network to connect and innovate. Coworking: Campus-wide accessibility to open coworking space, specialized applications, and tools to help get startups off the ground and scale, with a focus on inclusive entrepreneurship. Workshops: Workshops and technical assistance programs that build competence through experiential learning, and referral to highly ranked Syracuse University entrepreneurship education programs. Networking: Networking events that build university-wide innovation infrastructure and bring together entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and funders, as well as technical service providers. Mentors: One-on-one mentoring that cultivates entrepreneurial thinking and problem solving for both non-profit and for-profit businesses of any size and industry. Connections: Regional, national, and global connections to university programs and venture leaders to share best practices, engage with successful entrepreneurs, and find partners. Team Building: Interdisciplinary team-building that fosters a team approach and utilizes collaboration as a tool for innovation. Resources: One-stop connections to the university’s robust network of entrepreneurial resources, programs, and activities. Events: Access to world-class content, experts, and global events through the Blackstone Charitable Foundation.

Industries Served: All

Notable Initiatives/Success Stories/Events: “From our launch, we’ve seen over 4,550 program participants who are faculty, staff, students, and alumni innovators with 825 venture ideas. We’ve raised $37.25 million in investments, with $3.55 million won in competitions. Our ventures span over 118 countries, with over 110 ventures incorporated. We’re proud of our 50/50 female/ male ratio, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.”

Number of Businesses/Entrepreneurs worked with in 2020: 812

Total Admin. Staff: 2

No. of CNY Offices: 1

Total No. of Offices: 0

Executive Director: Linda Dickerson Hartsock

 

CASE at Syracuse University

2-212 Center of Science & Technology

Syracuse, NY 13244

Phone: (315) 443-1060

Website: case.syr.edu

Year Established: 1984

Organization Type: incubator, funding source

Services/Resources Offered: university-industry research and development collaborations; engage students; deliver customized technology workshops and short-courses; host networking events; pursue funding opportunities; commercialize technology; facilitate access to University resources

Industries Served: works with companies of all sizes, from any industry sector

Total Admin. Staff: 6

No. of CNY Offices: 1

Director: Pramod Varshney

 

Central New York Biotech Accelerator (CNYBAC)

841 East Fayette St.

Syracuse, NY 13210

Phone: (315) 464-9288

Website: cnybac.com

Year Established: 2011

Organization Type: innovation center, incubator

Services/Resources Offered: license state-of-the-art wet lab space, shared equipment, access to Upstate Medical University clinical and basic science expertise, access to Upstate Medical University core facilities, educational programming, service Provider network, mentor network, match resources, 200+-seat theater and café event space rental, collaborative partnerships

Industries Served: biotech/biomed commercialization start ups

Executive Director: Kathi Durdon

 

The Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP)

103 CAMP Building 5665

Potsdam, NY 13699

Phone: (315) 268-2336

Website: clarkson.edu/camp

Organization Type: consulting/training provider, Center for Advanced Technology
Services/Resources Offered: materials synthesis, materials processing, technology transfer, materials - computational methods, materials characterization, education & training

Industries Served: industry, corporations, and government entities

Director: Devon Shipp

FuzeHub

25 Monroe St. Suite 201

Albany, NY 12210

Phone: (518) 768-7030

Website: fuzehub.com

Year Established: 2016

Organization Type: funding source, consulting/training provider

Services/Resources Offered: FuzeHub provides New York State manufacturers and startups with guided access to network of industry experts, programs, and assets to solve productivity, commercialization, research and development issues, and other challenges to growth.

Industries Served: Small to medium-sized manufacturing companies and startups

Notable Initiatives/Success Stories/Events: Manufacturing Reimagined Program, Cybersecurity, Build4Scale

Total Admin. Staff: 18

Total No. of Offices: 1

Executive Director: Elena Garuc

 

Griffiss Institute

592 Hangar Road

Rome, NY 13441

Phone: (315) 838-1696

Website: griffissinstitute.org

Year Established: 2002

Organization Type: incubator, consulting/training provider

Services/Resources Offered: technology transfer, internship, program, workforce education & training, STEM education

Industries Served: advocates and facilitates the co-operation of private industry, academia, and the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, in developing solutions to critical cyber security problems

Interim President and Chief Engineer: Mike Wessing

 

Integrated Electronics Engineering Center at Binghamton University

Integrated Electronics Engineering Center

Binghamton, NY 13902

Website: binghamton.edu/ieec

Year Established: 1991

Organization Type: research center

Services/Resources Offered: Reliability and Failures Lab, Smart Electronics Manufacturing Lab; collection of equipment open for students, faculty, and industry members use; archive of past and on-going industry research projects, knowledge-sharing, networking

Industries Served: electronics

Notable Initiatives/Success Stories/Events: Annual Electronics Packaging Symposium

Director: S.B. Park

 

Kevin M. McGovern Family Center for Venture Development in the Life Sciences

405 Weill Hall, Cornell University

Ithaca, NY 14853

Phone: (607) 255-3756

Website: mcgoverncenter.cornell.edu

Year Established: 2008

Organization Type: incubator

Services/Resources Offered: lab equipment, office space

Industries Served: life sciences

McGovern Center Director: Lou Walcer

 

Koffman Southern Tier Incubator

120 Hawley St.

Binghamton, NY 13901

Phone: (607) 777-5094

Website: southerntierincubator.com

Year Established: 2017

Organization Type: incubator

Services/Resources Offered: 35,000 square-feet of offices, high-tech labs, and co-working spaces that encourage collaboration between members; access to financial, legal, and regulatory resources and services

Industries Served: energy, electronics, health

Assistant Vice President for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development: Per Stromhaug

 

Launch NY

77 Goodell St., Suite 201

Buffalo, NY 14203

Phone: (716) 881-8006

Website: launchny.org

Organization Type: funding source
consulting/training provider

Services/Resources Offered: mentoring, proof-of-concept funding, business tools, resource network

Industries Served: advanced manufacturing, biomedical, chemicals/materials, cleantech, consumer goods & services, food and beverage, IT & web technology, life sciences & pharmaceuticals, medical devices, mobile technology, nanotechnology, sensors

President & CEO: Marnie LaVigne

 

Mohawk Valley Small Business Development Center

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY 13502

Phone: (315) 792-7547

Website: http://nyssbdc.org/centers/centers.aspx?centid=13

Year Established: 1986

Organization Type: consulting/training provider

Services/Resources Offered: one-on-one business counseling, business-plan development, startup assistance, sources of financing, government contracting assistance, training workshops, research services, and MWBE resources

Director: Paul Arvantides

 

MVCC’s thINCubator

326 Broad St.

Utica, NY 13501

Phone: (315) 880-0511

Website: thincubator.co

Year Established: 2014

Organization Type: innovation center, incubator

Services/Resources Offered: offers programs to help you generate better business ideas, refine and accelerate startups (The Refinery), and meet other CNY creatives (MESH); coworking

Total Admin. Staff: 2

Co-Director: Stacey Smith
Co-Director: Ryan Miller

 

New York Business Development Corp.

1220 Coffeen St.

Watertown, NY 13601

Phone: (315) 782-9262

Website: watertown.nyssbdc.org

Year Established: 1986

Organization Type: consulting/training provider

Services/Resources Offered: free confidential business counseling for new and existing businesses in Jefferson, Lewis, and Oswego counties including business planning, marketing, financial assistance, government-procurement opportunities

Regional Director: Elizabeth Lonergan

 

North Country Innovation Hot Spot

65 Main St.

Potsdam, NY 13676

Phone: (315) 268-3810

Website: northcountryhotspot.com

Organization Type: incubator

Services/Resources Offered: office and lab space, press releases, business development, business plan review, growth strategies, market channels, product development

Industries Served: small and early-stage businesses

Director of the Shipley Center: Jamey Hoose

 

Praxis Center for Venture Development

350 Duffield Hall, Cornell University

Ithaca, NY 14853

Phone: (607) 255-6032

Website: https://pcvd.cornell.edu/

Year Established: 2019

Organization Type: innovation center, incubator
consulting/training provider

Services/Resources Offered: provides a launchpad for Cornell University based researchers to commercialize their technologies

Industries Served: semiconductors, medical devices, enterprise software, chemicals, instruments, and many others

Administrative Academic Director: Robert Scharf
Program Assistant: Stacy Clementson

 

Rev: Ithaca Startup Works

314 East State St.

Ithaca, NY 14850

Phone: (607) 882-2400

Website: revithaca.com

Organization Type: incubator

Services/Resources Offered: business mentorship, workspace, and startup resources

Industries Served: any new or growing business that will create jobs in Ithaca and surrounding communities, mentorship is field-agnostic

Notable Initiatives/Success Stories/Events: Events@Rev

Executive Director: Tom Schryver

 

Small Business Development Center at OCC

Mulroy Hall

Syracuse, NY 13215

Phone: (315) 498-6070

Website: onondagasbdc.org

Year Established: 1986

Organization Type: consulting/training provider

Services/Resources Offered: business counseling, business-plan development, consulting, workshops, MWBE resources, cooperatives

Notable Initiatives/Success Stories/Events: COVID-19 programs, assistance, and resources ESD Digital Initiative

Total Admin. Staff: 9

Regional Director: Joan A. Powers

 

South Side Innovation Center

2610 South Salina St.

Syracuse, NY 13205

Phone: (315) 443-8466

Website: southsideinnovation.org

Year Established: 2006

Organization Type: innovation center

Services/Resources Offered: Entrepreneurial Assistance Program (EAP), supporting clients and tenants of SSIC; WISE Women’s Business Center for women seeking to start or grow a business; Syracuse Commercial Test Kitchen (COMTEK) to help food entrepreneurs launch businesses; Start-up NY/ Program for Investment in Micro-entrepreneurs (PRIME) supporting disabled and low-income entrepreneurs with training and assistance

Industries Served: aspiring, new, and existing entrepreneurs, women, minorities, low-income individuals, individuals with disabilities, and those interested in food product development and manufacturing

Director: El-Java Abdul-Qadir

 

SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center

French Hall 201

Canton, NY 13617

Phone: (315) 386-7312

Website: canton.edu/sbdc

Organization Type: consulting/training provider

Services/Resources Offered: free direct counseling and a wide range of management and technical assistance services; helps start-ups develop a business plan, assist existing businesses prepare to expand, or offer resources for industry-specific topics

Director: Dale Rice

 

SyracuseCOE

727 E. Washington St.

Syracuse, NY 13244

Phone: (315) 443-4445

Website: syracusecoe.syr.edu

Organization Type: Center of Excellence

Services/Resources Offered: University and corporate R&D expertise, state-of-the-art R&D facilities, industry-led product development, exposure to funding opportunities, assistance with grant proposals networking and intellectual collisions, focused economic development programs, start-up assistance, business attraction opportunities

Industries Served: environmental and energy technologies

Notable Initiatives/Success Stories/Events: SyracuseCoE Symposium

Interim Executive Director: Eric A. Schiff

 

TDO

445 Electronics Parkway, Suite 102

Liverpool, NY 13088

Phone: (315) 425-5144

Website: tdo.org

Year Established: 1988

Organization Type: consulting/training provider

Services/Resources Offered: help manufacturers and technology entrepreneurs through lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, Toyota Kata, Quality Management Systems, global business development, technology commercialization, SBIR assistance, ISO certification

Industries Served: manufacturing, packing & crating, R&D, engineering services, testing laboratories, packing & labeling services, commercial and industrial machinery and equipment

Total Admin. Staff: 4

No. of CNY Offices: 1

Center Director: Jim D’Agostino

 

The Tech Garden

235 Harrison St.

Syracuse, NY 13202

Phone: (315) 470-1970

Website: thetechgarden.com

Year Established: 2004

Organization Type: innovation center, incubator, funding source, consulting/training provider

Services/Resources Offered: events, resources, programs

Director of Operations: Caitlin Moriarty

Director of Programs: Jeannine Rogers

Director of Communications: Kara Jones

Director of GENIUS NY: Jeff Fuchsberg,

 

The Technology Farm

500 Technology Farm Drive

Geneva, NY 14456

Phone: (315) 781-0070

Website: thetechnologyfarm.com

Organization Type: incubator

Services/Resources Offered: “Flexible Technology” research building for entrepreneurs/start-up companies and diversifying companies; multi-tenant flex space for mid-sized research and development companies; build-to-suit sites for large, mature companies ranging in size from 4 to 20 acres

Industries Served: agriculture, food, and biotechnology

Executive Director: John Johnson

 

U.S. Small Business Administration Syracuse District Office

224 Harrison Street

Syracuse, NY 13202

Phone: (315) 471-9393

Website: sba.gov/ny/syracuse

Organization Type: federal agency

Services/Resources Offered: business counseling and training programs, access to capital, government contracting programs, disaster recovery, small business advocacy

Industries Served: small business

Notable Initiatives/Success Stories/Events: SBA Emerging Leaders program

District Director: Bernard J. Paprocki

 

Upstate Venture Connect

235 Harrison St., #41

Syracuse, NY 13202

Phone: (315) 235-1283

Website: uvc.org

Year Established: 2010

Organization Type: consulting/training provider

Services/Resources Offered: connects and empowers upstate New York entrepreneurs with the resources for building high-growth companies

Notable Initiatives/Success Stories/Events: UNY50 Leadership Network, Upstate Unleashed Conference & Awards, UNY Event Calendar

Founder & Chairman: Martin Babinec
Cofounder & CEO: Nasir Ali

 

WISE Women’s Business Center

100 Madison St.

Syracuse, NY 13202

Phone: (315) 443-8634

Website: wisecenter.org

Year Established: 2003

Organization Type: consulting/training provider

Services/Resources Offered: Offers counseling, coaching, consulting, training, networking, and mentoring opportunities to women interested in launching or growing a business venture

Director: Meghan Florkowski