Entrepreneurship at Cornell is delighted to honor students, faculty and alumni with important eship ecosystem awards.  We annually confer the Student Business of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year awards and occasionally confer the Lifetime Achievement Award in Entrepreneurship Education and the Charles Feeney ‘56 Lifetime Achievement Award in Entrepreneurship and Humanity.

Entrepreneur of the Year

To complete a nomination for Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year click here.

  • 2025: John Bicket ’02, Samsara
  • 2024: Tim Barry ’93, VillageMD
  • 2023: Barry J. Beck ’90, Bluemercury
  • 2022:  Tiffany Norwood ’89, Tribetan
  • 2021:  Jessica Rolph ’97, MBA ’04, Happy Family and Lovevery
  • 2020: Steve Hindy ’71, MAT ’73, Brooklyn Brewery
  • 2019: Dr. Leonard Schleifer ’73, Regeneron
  • 2018: Niraj Shah ’95 and Steve Conine ’95, Wayfair
  • 2017: Robert F. Smith ’85, Vista Equity Partners
  • 2016: Leland Pillsbury ’69, Thayer Lodging Group
  • 2015: Robert Langer ’70, David H. Koch Institute Professor at MIT
  • 2014: Greg Galvin MS ’82, PhD ’84, MBA ’93, Rheonix
  • 2013: Ratan Tata ’59, B.Arch ’62, Tata Sons
  • 2012: John Alexander ’74, MBA ’76, CBORD Group, Inc.
  • 2011: Harris Rosen ’61, Rosen Hotels and Resorts
  • 2010: Lubna Olayan ’77, Olayan Financing Company
  • 2009: Jay Walker ’77, Walker Digital
  • 2008: Howard Milstein ’73, New York Private Bank & Trust
  • 2007: Kevin McGovern ’70, McGovern Capital LLC
  • 2005: Robert Toll ’63, Toll Brothers
  • 2004: Steve Belkin ’69, Trans National Group
  • 2003: Jules Kroll ’63, Kroll, Inc.
  • 2002: Rob Ryan ’69, Ascend Communcations; Entrepreneur America
  • 2001: Jeffrey Parker ’65, MEng ’66, MBA ‘70, CCBN
  • 2000: Jeffrey Hawkins ’79, Handspring
  • 1999: William Sanders ’64, Security Capital Group, Inc.
  • 1998: Robert Felton ’61, Indus International, Inc.
  • 1997: Linda Mason ’76, Bright Horizons Children’s Centers
  • 1996: David Duffield ’62, BEE ’63, MBA ’64, PeopleSoft
  • 1995: Arthur Gensler ’58, Gensler and Associates
  • 1994: Irwin Jacobs ’56, Qualcomm, Inc.
  • 1993: Donald Berens ’47, Hickory Farms Sales Corp.
  • 1992: Harvey Kinzelberg ’67, Meridian Group
  • 1991: Kenneth ’61, PhD ’67 & Marjorie ’62 Blanchard, Blanchard Training & Dev.
  • 1989: James McLamore ’47, Burger King Corporation
  • 1988: Julius Kayser ’47, Arthur Wolcott ’49, Seneca Foods Corporation
  • 1987: Alfred ’06, Charles ’33, John ’60 Mellowes, Charter Manufacturing Co.
  • 1986: John Mariani, Jr. ’54, Villa Banfi, USA
  • 1985: Christopher Hemmeter ’62, Hemmeter Investment Co.
  • 1984: Sanford Weill ’55, Citigroup, Inc.

Student Business of the Year

Check presented to the Student Business of the Year
  • 2025: STEAMpact Foundation
  • 2024: Aunt Flo’s Kitchen
  • 2023: Best Picnic Spots
  • 2022: CodeBozu
  • 2021: Vita Innovations
  • 2020: Competition not held
  • 2019: Badges United Foundation
  • 2018: Combplex
  • 2017: Wo No Ni Cosmetics
  • 2016: Equine Design
  • 2015: Produce Pay, Inc.
  • 2014: Worthy Jerky

For information and award application please visit our Student Business of the Year page.

Charles Feeney ‘56 Lifetime Achievement Award in Entrepreneurship and Humanity

In 2021, Cornell created a very special award for a very special entrepreneur, Charles Feeney ’56.  This award is conferred periodically under truly special circumstances.  We are delighted that Mr. Feeney was willing to be the first recipient and lend his name to the award itself.

  • 2021: Charles Feeney ’56

Lifetime Achievement Award in Entrepreneurship Education

  • 2019: Deborah Streeter, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
  • 2017: David BenDaniel, Johnson Graduate School of Management