Programs

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

Fall opportunities at the LaunchPad

four people standing together

We are looking forward to welcoming new and returning members to Syracuse University Blackstone LaunchPad, located on the first floor of Bird Library, this coming 2023 – 2024 academic year! This fall features a series of events with amazing guest speakers.

Syracuse University Blackstone LaunchPad offers collaborative space, mentorship, programing, and more, all of which is open to all Syracuse University students, alumni, and staff, with more details below.

Collaborative Space
Flexible and accessible space at Bird Library for ideation activities, co-working, team meetings, workshops, classes, training sessions and more.


Mentorship
Personalized coaching from an expansive and diverse network of peers, alumni and subject matter experts who can help you build personal and professional development skills, as well as shape your path to venture creation.


Programming
Technical assistance workshops, guest speakers, professional service providers, demonstration days, talent recruitment fairs, networking events, innovation challenges with leading companies, idea festivals, pitch competitions, innovation grant programs and more. View events calendar

Personnel Changes
Welcome Traci Geisler ’90, MBA/JD, the LaunchPad’s new director, who joined in March 2023. Traci has 25+ years of business and legal experience with expertise in assisting start-ups and entrepreneurs with venture development.

About Syracuse University Blackstone LaunchPad

The Blackstone LaunchPad connects Syracuse University’s resource-rich ecosystem with a global network. We provide technical assistance, programming and personalized mentoring within a supportive community for aspiring creators, inventors and entrepreneurs. The LaunchPad serves faculty, staff, students and recent alumni from every academic discipline interested in research and discovery, building innovation career pathways and learning principles of venture creation. The multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural program inspires and empowers future global innovation leaders who want to be trailblazers in an entrepreneurial world.

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

‘Cuse Market

Each semester, the LaunchPad hosts ‘Cuse Market, a student pop-up shop and market bazaar that displays some of the most exciting products, services and tech made by SU students. Check events page for dates.

E-Meetups

The LaunchPad hosts E-Meetups as an opportunity for faculty, staff, and students across campus to mix and mingle, idea jam, and meet innovative ventures being developed at SU. Check events page for dates.

Business Assistance Days

Lawyers, accountants, the SBA, SBDC and SCORE are among the expert professionals who volunteer at the LaunchPad to help entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. Check events page for dates.

Symposiums and Speakers

Each semester the LaunchPad hosts experts, entrepreneurs, resource providers and “big thinkers” for interactive discussions and workshops with faculty, staff, students and alumni. Check events page for dates.

Global Entrepreneurship Week

GEW is a weeklong cross campus celebration in November featuring networking events that connects SU entrepreneurs with innovators, funders, and visionaries who bring ideas to life. Check events page for dates.

Global Fellows Program

Students eager to learn first-hand about startups and grow the entrepreneurship community at SU may apply to become a paid Global Fellow during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Entrepreneurship Roundtable

The LaunchPad coordinates monthly networking meetings of faculty, staff, mentors and connectors who are part of the SU innovation ecosystem to share ideas and collaborate.