Entrepreneurship at Cornell

Startup Hours
2025-10-09 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Startup Hours is a student-run event supported by most of the entrepreneurship groups on campus where you can come by to work on your projects, meet with VCs and mentors for funding, find out about startup resources, and catch up with other builders and early-stage investors.
This week, we are hosting a special speaker with ENT. Dr. Jonathan Rich has had a 40+ year career in industrial and technology companies. He is the retired CEO and chairman of Berry Global, a Fortune 500 packaging company. He was also the CEO and chairman of Lumileds, a leading global producer of light emitting diode semiconductors, and president and CEO at Momentive, a specialty chemical company headquartered in Albany NY from 2007 to 2010. He currently serves as an advisor to Apollo Global Management and is a board member of Novolex LLC, a current portfolio company. He also is a member of the Red Bear Angels investment group where he has invested in several Cornell related startup companies.
We will have free Dos Amigos catering for the event – please fill out this form by 5pm Wednesday so we have a proper headcount.

Networking@Rev: Food and Agriculture Innovations
2025-10-09 18:00 - 20:30
Discover the latest innovations from food and ag startups with insights into sustainable farming and cutting-edge food tech.

Join Jenn Smith, Director of Food & Ag Innovation Programs at the Center for Regional Economic Advancement, Todd Schmit, Faculty Director of the Cornell Agricultural Marketing Research Program, and Maureen Ballatori, Founder and CEO of Agency 29, a creative agency for food, beverage, and agriculture brands, for a fireside chat about agriculture innovation as a strategy for economic development. After the discussion, enjoy elevator pitches and tabling by top food and ag startups from New York State.

Network with 2025 Grow-NY Food & Ag Business Competition finalists and Rev member Agritech startups. Connect with innovators, collaborate, and explore opportunities within Rev: Ithaca Startup Works’ entrepreneurial ecosystem while staying up to date with the food and agriculture sector.

NSF I-Corps Information Session
2025-10-08 12:00 - 12:45
Are you a STEM researcher interested in making an impact with your technology innovation? The National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program can provide you with professional training, mentoring, and up to $50,000 in funding for customer discovery.

Hosted by the Interior Northeast I-Corps Hub (IN I-Corps), the virtual NSF I-Corps Information Session on Wednesday, October 8 (12:00 – 12:45 p.m. ET) is designed for busy graduate students, postdocs, and faculty interested in learning more about I-Corps regional and national programming. NSF I-Corps instructors and alumni will be in attendance to share their experience and answer questions.

The NSF created I-Corps (Innovation Corps) to bridge the gap between fundamental research discoveries in science and engineering and the commercialization of technologies, products, and processes with the potential to benefit society.

Hospitality Business Plan Competition Information Session
2025-10-07 18:00 - 19:00
Do you have a hospitality business idea or early-stage startup? This is your chance to compete for up to $25,000 in prize money through the 2026 Hospitality Business Plan Competition!
Join us on October 7th for the virtual Information Session to learn more about how you can participate, the competition process, and key resources available to help you succeed.

Startup Hours
2025-10-02 19:30 - 21:00
For Cornell builders, aspiring VCs, and startup enthusiasts
Startup Hours is a student-run event supported by most of the entrepreneurship groups on campus where you can come by to work on your projects, meet with VCs and mentors for funding, find out about startup resources, and catch up with other builders and early-stage investors.
Startup Hours is funded by the university-wide Entrepreneurship at Cornell program, hosted by Cornell Entrepreneurship Club, and supported by club members from campus orgs like Ventures Accelerated, Epsilon Nu Tau, and Cornell Venture Capital, along with VCs like Contrary Capital, Dorm Room Fund, .406 Ventures, Discipulus Ventures, and General Catalyst.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Workshop: Beachhead Market Selection
2025-10-01 11:45 - 13:00
As an entrepreneur, your beachhead market is the foundation of your startup. Founders initially focus on one specific target market with accessible customers and minimal competition. In this free workshop, you’ll learn how to select your beachhead market and the benefits of this approach.
Moderated by Cornell Entrepreneur in Residence Julie Eagle, the panel discussion will feature:
Adele Smolansky, founder and CEO of AI-Learners
Kristen McClellan, founder and CEO of SnappyScreen

Big Idea Competition Applications OPEN
2025-09-29 08:00 - 2025-10-28 23:59
The Big Idea Competition at Cornell is designed to provide undergrad students with early-stage ideas to compete for cash prizes!

More importantly, participating students will gain access to the Blackstone LaunchPad program on their campus, to get the support on their entrepreneurship journey and skill-building.
The signature program supports Blackstone LaunchPad’s goal in de-risking entrepreneurship, broadening accessibility, and diversifying engagement with a focus on recruiting underrepresented and under-resourced students to participate.
To apply you must be…

A current undergraduate student.
The creator or co-creator of the idea.
In the idea phase!

If you are already in business with your idea or created a legal entity for the business, then you do NOT qualify. This is an “ideas” competition not a “business” competition.

Jiang Fellows Now Accepting Applications for 2026
2025-09-29 08:00 - 2025-10-15 17:00
Application for the Summer 2026 cohort
The Jiang Fellows Program is modeled after the Kessler Fellows Program, which concluded with the 2024 summer cohort. You may wish to familiarize yourself with the work done by past fellows prior to completing your application. You may review past cohorts here.
Eligibility
Any junior at Cornell University with an interest in entrepreneurship is encouraged to apply. Competitive applicants will have completed one of the following prerequisites or be positioned to complete the requirement concurrently during the spring semester:
NBA 3000: The Business of Entrepreneurship
ENGRG 4610: Entrepreneurship for Engineers
AEM 2220: Dilemmas in Entrepreneurship
AEM 3249: Entrepreneurial Marketing and Strategy
NBA 5070: Entrepreneurship for Scientists and Engineers
Occasionally offered:
ENGRG 2270: Introduction to Entrepreneurship for Engineers
AEM 4200: Dilemmas in Founding New Ventures
AEM 3380 Social Entrepreneurs, Innovators, and Problem Solvers
Information Session
Want to learn more about the program? We are holding a virtual information session on Wednesday, October 8, from 4-5pm ET.
Have questions? Email jiangfellows@cornell.edu
Applications close: October 15, 2025 5:00pm ET
