Utica’s thINCubator formally opens new, larger location

UTICA, N.Y. — Utica’s thINCubator on Monday formally opened its new 8,500-square-foot space at 326 Broad St.

The new space is located across Bagg’s Square from its previous 1,300-square-foot space at 106 Genesee St., according to a news release from the Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC).

The thINCubator, which is short for “the home for innovative new companies,” is a business incubator and student accelerator.

The new space features two “breakout” rooms, a conference room, mobile workstations that provide several different types and sizes of seating, and a production space.

It also houses lockers, file cabinets, a 3D printer, wireless microphones, iMacs and PCs, and seating for more than 100 people.

The thINCubator expansion also provides a co-working space, which will allow small, existing companies can use the space “for a fee,” the MVCC said.

Designated as a New York “innovation hot spot” in 2015, the thINCubator has hosted four community “cohorts,” which included 43 teams or individuals pursuing new businesses.

Additionally, the thINCubator has provided consulting and “introductions” for more than 40 student and community entrepreneurs on topics such as entity formation, marketing, equity share, manufacturing, and protection of intellectual property.

The thINCubator holds community and business events, workshops, networking nights, and programs about entrepreneurship.

As the regional “innovation hot spot,” it has partnered with organizations including Wasabi Ventures, Upstate Venture Connect, Leadership Mohawk Valley, the Griffiss Institute, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, MVCC, Hamilton College’s Levitt Center, and the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties.

It held more than 25 events in the past year that attracted “hundreds” of attendees from students to small-business organizations to community leaders, the MVCC said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com