Partnerships

Techstars global accelerators now accepting applications for spring

Six Syracuse University student startups and one alum team have gone through Techstars accelerators to build impressive success stories.  Could you be next?  If you are a disciplined and driven startup, chat with the Syracuse LaunchPad about Techstars and explore accelerators now accepting applications.

Techstars accelerators have one goal: To help entrepreneurs succeed. During the immersive three-month accelerator programs, Techstars surrounds companies with the best mentors and an unrivaled network investors, corporate partners and alumni founders. It provides early stage startups with:

  • Bespoke accelerators with niche-specific education
  • Access to capital and unmatched fundraising opportunities
  • Small class sizes and tailored 1:1 mentorship
  • Our global network

Techstars is a proven model that’s helped build thousands of successful companies, all over the world. 

Interested? Applications are now open for the first Spring Term of this new schedule. The opportunities for dynamic entrepreneurs this term are immense: 

  • 20 programs in 15 cities across four countries. Three programs are fully remote so founders can participate virtually, from any location around the world. 
  • Six programs will be powered by Techstars corporate partners including Equitech, The Ohio State University, Build in Tulsa, and several others, who bring industry-specific expertise to founders.
  • Six programs will run in partnership with J.P. Morgan through their Advancing Cities fund, focused on giving underrepresented entrepreneurs greater access to capital and opportunities. 

After applications close, Techstars will review applications for about seven weeks, and spend time getting to know even more about your team, market, progress and idea. The goal is to notify the final group of companies being accepted within eight weeks from the application closing date.

Check out Techstars accelerators accepting applications. 

Learn more about Techstars here.

Before you apply, be sure to chat with the LaunchPad team in Bird Library for advice on what makes for a successful Techstars candidate and for assistance with an application.

Syracuse student students who have gone through a Techstars program include:

  • Josh Aviv, Techstars Boston
  • AJ Damiano and Michael Paris, Techstars Atlanta
  • Kelsey Davis and Brendan O’Keeffe, Techstars LA
  • Shawn Gaetano, Techstars LA Music
  • and one more to be announced next week!

Syracuse alum Sandra Appiah Babu-Boateng recently completed Techstars Boston

FuzeHub now accepting applications for its 2023 Commercialization Competition

Applications are now open and closes August 10, 2023 (at 4 p.m. EST).  Apply on-line here:  https://fuzehub.com/commercialization-competition/.

As part of the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, FuzeHub will hold a New York State Commercialization Competition on October 16 and 17, 2023 in Saratoga Springs, NY, with an opportunity to win up to $150,000. This competition is intended to help small-to-medium size manufacturing and technology companies strengthen their “go-to-market” strategies as they move from new product/production method to marketplace.

FuzeHub is entering its seventh year hosting the Commercialization Competition, part of the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund. The $450,000 Commercialization Competition will feature a pitch competition showcasing innovative early-stage companies, panel discussions and networking opportunities.

Last fall, LaunchPad teams Farm to Flame Energy, Inc., and Envision Biopolymers, LLC, took home top prizes in the 2022 FuzeHub Commercialization Competition with our assistance. SparkCharge and other LaunchPad companies have also won these grants in the previous competitions.

(SparkCharge Founder Josh Aviv ’15, G’17 pictured above, far left).

FuzeHub’s Commercialization Competition was developed to support pre-revenue businesses and to target to a specific phase in a company’s product development. Funds must be used to produce, or improve upon, a working prototype or beta phase to enable the applicant to pursue additional investment and customers, leading to the commercialization of their product concept.

The Jeff Lawrence Manufacturing Innovation Fund, consisting of $1 million annually for five years, supports a set of activities designed to promote technology development and commercialization across New York State, including Manufacturing Innovation Grants, a Commercialization Competition, challenges, strategic memberships, training programs, and other resources serving small and medium sized manufacturers and companies.

FuzeHub is administering this fund as part of its role as the Empire State Development (ESD)-designated statewide Manufacturing Extension Partnership center. For more information about the Jeff Lawrence Manufacturing Innovation Fund, visit https://fuzehub.com/manufacturing-innovation-fund/.

About Jeff Lawrence

During his more than 20 years at the Center for Economic Growth, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) affiliate in the Capital Region where he served as executive vice president, and MEP Center Director, Jeff Lawrence directed programs of direct assistance to manufacturers and technology companies to increase their competitiveness. He is remembered for being an invaluable and generous mentor to many in the area’s business community and a tireless advocate for manufacturing innovation throughout New York.

Join Entrepreneurial Mindset Bootcamp with the LaunchPad at the University of Texas at Austin, applications due by Friday, May 26

Join the Launchpad at the University of Texas at Austin for an Entrepreneurial Mindset Bootcamp (EMB). It’s a four-week virtual bootcamp (meets once a week) to help undergraduate and advanced students to learn an entrepreneurial approach to work and life.

This bootcamp is for both students wanting to start their own businesses and those wanting to cultivate entrepreneurial skills for the modern workforce. Check out this 3-min video to learn more!

This event is FREE and open to all undergraduate and advanced students at any school in the Blackstone LaunchPad network.

WHY PARTICIPATE?

  • Develop your confidence as an entrepreneurial leader
  • Learn tangible skills such as how to approach solving a business problem, pitching, prototyping, etc.
  • Find a community of like-minded students across the United States

WHO IS IT FOR?

  • Undergraduate or advanced student at any university within the Blackstone LaunchPad Network
  • Any major and background
  • Curious and open to learning about entrepreneurship skills
  • Open to collaborating with peers and participating in workshop exercises – this is not a lecture-based experience! 

DETAILS

  • Deadline to Apply: Friday, May 26th, 2023 at 11:55 PM ET
  • Program Dates (Thursdays): July 6, July 13, July 20, July 27
  • Program Time: 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET 
  • Program Location: Virtual 

Learn more here.

Photo credit: LaunchPad at UT Facebook

Innovation Connectors

A coalition resource providers, #InnovateCNY connects the greater regional innovation ecosystem, and leverages support for startups. Follow the group and find area events at uvc.org/Syracuse

Student Entrepreneurship Clubs

The E-Club networks with high profile entrepreneurs, connects with local businesses, and pitches ideas weekly as a way to grow the number of successful student startups at Syracuse University. Vision for Entrepreneurs is an Adobe-sponsored club that works with students across campus. Women in Leadership catalyzes action and empowerment for young women leaders.

Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship

The Newhouse-based center develops and provides courses, coaching and connections for student entrepreneurs who wish to pursue media careers with a sense of entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.

Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship and Couri Hatchery

Dream > Believe > Pursue is the motto of the Falcone Center, the outreach arm of Whitman’s Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises department. The program supports the Couri Hatchery, WISE Women’s Business Center and the South Side Innovation Center.

Student Sandbox

The Student Sandbox, part of the iSchool’s IDS program, is an opportunity for student entrepreneurs to grow their ventures at an accelerator program located in the LaunchPad and in downtown Syracuse.

Global Game Jam

Global Game Jam (GGJ) is the world’s largest game jam event (game creation) taking place around the world. Think of it as a hackathon focused on game development. Check events page for dates.