Helping founders find community and connections
A 6-month intensive accelerator at INSPYRE Innovation Hub in Syracuse for entrepreneurs who completed Start It! Business Basics, providing continued coursework, technical assistance, coaching, and peer community support.
New York State-funded accelerator that invests $5M annually in 5 seed-stage startups, each receiving $1M in exchange for 5% equity. Companies must relocate CEO and 50% of staff to Buffalo for 12 months. Includes free workspace at Seneca One Tower, mentorship, access to 1,000+ investor network, and quality-of-life programming. Founded 2014; 74 portfolio companies; $1B+ raised by alumni; unicorn (ACV Auctions) and publicly traded companies in portfolio.
Learn more →Pre-accelerator program at the University of Rochester equipping students with entrepreneurship fundamentals: systems thinking, customer discovery, strategy, and innovation. Uses Blackboard LMS for structured step-by-step guidance. Teams gain mentorship, access to a startup database, and a competition platform. Incorporated teams receive $5K investment.
Learn more →Columbia University's student-run 8-week startup accelerator for Columbia-affiliated founders. No equity, no fees, no IP taken. Weekly 3-hour Friday sessions plus workshops, mentor office hours, and speaker events. Mentors include multi-million dollar founders, VCs, and startup legal/finance experts. 70+ graduated companies raised $19M+; alumni accepted to Y Combinator and Techstars. Access to Columbia's $250K Venture Competition.
Learn more →BOC Network's implementation of the Ascend NYC program — a JPMorgan Chase-funded initiative connecting established Bronx-based minority-owned businesses with anchor institution procurement opportunities through a Money, Markets, and Management (3-M) framework.
Learn more →A cohort-based business growth accelerator in the Bronx for established minority-owned businesses, connecting them with anchor institution procurement opportunities, management education, and access to capital through a Money, Markets, and Management (3-M) model.
Learn more →JPMorgan Chase-funded collaborative that accelerates growth of local inner-city businesses through a holistic Money, Markets and Management (3-M) model. Developed by University of Washington Foster School of Business. Connects businesses to anchor institutions and helps localize supply chains.
Learn more →Summer student accelerator (formerly RIT Student Accelerator) for RIT student teams of all majors. Teams receive a $4,000 stipend per member, prototyping funds, mentorship from RIT advisers and industry experts, and culminate in a Demo Night pitch to investors. Founded 2011; rebranded 2025.
Learn more →A social equity incubator and accelerator program launched by Lantern to empower New York entrepreneurs from communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs to build successful cannabis businesses through educational programming, technical services, application assistance, and mentorship.
Learn more →A 9-month fellowship for established Bronx entrepreneurs ($75K+ total sales) providing $15K in non-dilutive funding, personalized coaching, mentorship, and peer mastermind groups to grow sustainable community-focused businesses.
Learn more →9-month fellowship for established Bronx entrepreneurs ($75K+ total sales, 1+ year in business). Fellows receive $15,000 in grant funding, personalized business development training (AI, digital marketing, financial management), 1-on-1 mentorship with M&T Bank advisors, and monthly events at key Bronx/NYC venues. Priority given to Black and Hispanic/Latino entrepreneurs.
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