By Ananya Gambhiraopet From accessible urgent care services to skill-based training centers in Indonesia, the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management is excited to unveil the diverse group of 25 startups that make up the 2023 Johnson Summer Startup Accelerator (JSSA) cohort. JSSA is a 10-week summer intensive program that helps students pursue their entrepreneurship goals while continuing with their full-time jobs or internships. As most programming is conducted virtually, students are able to experience the benefits of the program from anywhere. While in JSSA, students develop their business plans, participate in weekly workshops, build connections through networking events and receive 1:1 mentorship and support from a dedicated Entrepreneur-in-Residence. The programming also includes a trek to New York City, where the cohort will have the opportunity to connect with founders, investors and the Cornell entrepreneurial community in the Big Apple. Two-year MBA participants who choose to work full time on their startup over the summer and are entering their second year were able to apply for a stipend from the Vrinda Kadiyali Student Entrepreneur Fund. Stephen Smith ‘91, MBA ‘95, established the fund in honor of Vrinda Kadiyali, the Nicholas H. Noyes Professor of Management. Professor Kadiyali inspired Smith to launch his own startup, which ultimately became Naviance, the American college and career readiness software. Smith believes that the summer between the first and second years is a key time for MBA students who plan to launch their own businesses, prompting him to establish the fund to alleviate the financial burden on students who wanted to focus on entrepreneurial ventures instead of paid internships. This year’s recipients of the Vrinda Kadiyali Student Entrepreneur Fund are Hailee Greene, MBA ‘24, Christiani Sagala, MBA ‘24, and Shao (Justin) Chen, MBA ‘24. Greene, co-founder of GreeneAcres Processing, is “looking forward to the mentorship opportunities that JSSA will provide us as we seek to sign letters of intent with growers and buyers.” Meet the cohort: The 25 startups participating in the 2023 Johnson Summer Startup Accelerator make up the largest cohort to date. Get to know the teams that compose this year’s accelerator: AMARI: Creates wellness products that fit the environment and genetic requirements of a melanin-skinned demographic, founded by Harveen Bawa, M.Eng. ‘23. Andrew Jacob Media: Creatively and effectively captures and promotes your brand's unique message through exceptional marketing, photography and video services, founded by Andrew Meade, Two-Year MBA class of 2024. ArteOpia: Provides virtual space in the art world, creating an ecosystem that celebrates inspiration and creativity, founded by Yihan Zhu, Two-Year MBA class of 2024. Buyer Force: Helps buyers save time and resources, ensuring they are buying the best product for their team while aiding business development teams with revenue creation and more accurate sales forecasting, founded by Ryan Collins, Two-Year MBA class of 2024. CampusGo: A socially responsible transportation and delivery platform designed specifically for college students, CampusGo offers rewards for completing deliveries, sharing rides and promoting community and sustainability, founded by Katherine (Xiaomin) Chen, Two-Year MBA class of 2024. Commons: Social networking and event management platform that helps event planners bring people together and engage them through interactive social activities, founded by Sidney Idemudia, Executive MBA Americas class of 2023. CryBaby: Equips new parents with knowledge, insights, comfort, and convenience during some of the most stressful moments of the most exciting phase of their lives, founded by Eric Engman, Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership class of 2023. Gig-Up!: Matches gig-workers to customers to-do-lists via AI, founded by Trishala (Trish) Dessai, One-Year MBA class of 2023. Glamesque: Reinvents beauty, makeup and glam, founded by Jacqueline Ochoa, Executive MBA Americas class of 2024. GreeneAcres Processing: The first Industrial Hemp processing company in the Northeast, fills the gap between growing hemp at mass scale to process and sell to companies wishing to produce every day goods based with hemp, co-founded by Kadiyali Fund recipient Hailee Greene and Danielle Falcon, both Two-Year MBAs class of 2024. Koffee Mission Possible (KMP): A unique and chic coffee truck that offers a wide range of coffee selections from around the world, catering to coffee lovers with refined taste, co-founded by May Yu and FeiFei Huang, both Executive MBA Metro NY class of 2022. Mom Majesty: A vector that connects pregnant women with doulas to provide emotional, physical, social and culturally appropriate support, founded by Dr. Nichele Nivens, Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership class of 2024. NaviGo: A travel booking platform that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to assign a deal score to every combination of flights and hotels, helping travelers quickly identify the best value for their trip, founded by Yuqi Bai, Two-Year MBA class of 2024. NextGen Gaming AI: Utilizes generative AI technology to assist game studios in creating scenes and assets, ultimately improving the efficiency and quality of game development, founded by Xufan Chen, Two-Year MBA class of 2024. Sperow: A space to grow, Sperow provides skill-based training centers for the good quality workforce of Indonesia, founded by Kadiyali Fund recipient Christiani Sagala, Two-Year MBA class of 2024. The Right to Warmth: Provides customers a means to accessible, premium fashion, founded by Kadiyali Fund recipient Shao (Justin) Chen, Two-Year MBA class of 2024. To Make More Money: Offers a multisided platform and consulting services to medium to large, diverse-owned businesses that desire to engage with one another to understand their business goals, identify gaps in the tactical execution towards these goals and find ways that each can help the other fulfill their respective strategic visions, founded by Tamika Money, Two-Year MBA class of 2023. Tomtech EV: Provides design engineering services for EV charging solutions for new or existing residential and commercial buildings, co-founded by Michelle Tomasian, Two-Year MBA class of 2024, with her sister, Marlow Tomasian. Tran-Franklin: Increases operational efficiencies at fertility clinics, co-founded by Gallop Franklin and Quynh Tran, both Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership class of 2024. Urgent Care Everywhere, LLC: Provides accessible urgent care services by leveraging tele-health while effectively reducing Emergency Room wait times and closing the communication loop with Primary Care Providers, founded by Ray Bey, Executive MBA Americas class of 2023. Varyance: Reinvents the way companies forecast and manage cash flows, founded by Adam Frenkel and Krishna Adusumilli, both Executive MBA Americas class of 2024. Waypoint: A patient navigation platform delivering greater control and community for chronic illness patients in their disease journeys, empowering them to better navigate the medical system, co-founded by James Wylie Deitch ‘23 and Julio Alex Albarracín, MPS-RE ‘23. We Buy Textile Waste!: Diverts textiles from municipal solid waste (MSW) by setting up collections in multi-story residential buildings, founded by Yusuf Kappaya, Executive MBA Americas class of 2023. Wholesome - Wellness Optimized: Provides a platform and a blueprint to demystify wellness across nutrition, fitness, sleep, stress management and life and relationship coaching, founded by Brandon Jernigan, Executive MBA Americas class of 2024. Zahk Properties: A registered Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, provides the US government with technology and equipment, founded by John Khazraee, Executive MBA Americas class of 2024. Chen, founder of The Right to Warmth and one of three Kadiyali Fund recipients, says, “I hope to solidify the foundation for this business through market research and risk analysis, as well as set up distribution channels before running production and warehousing inventory in late summer or fall of 2023.” Founder of Sperow and Kadiyali Fund recipient Christiani Sagala hopes to gain a community where she “can grow as an entrepreneur and be accountable for developing (her) start-up.” The teams are in the midst of the accelerator’s curriculum and meeting virtually for content sessions with industry experts and mentors. The program will conclude with a demo day event in Ithaca in September where teams will pitch their businesses and share their progress. Originally published in Around Cornell.
The 2023 Kessler Fellows have accepted internships and will spend the summer gaining firsthand entrepreneurial experience in industries ranging from renewable energy to quantum technology.
By Ananya Gambhiraopet Jonah Gershon ‘24, a hotel administration major in the Nolan School of Hotel Administration at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and the founder of Spekld, is the lone student finalist among the 10 selected for the inaugural Northeastern Dairy Product Innovation Competition. While making chocolate chip cookies last summer, Gershon realized that he always uses brown butter in his recipes, but that “it’s an extra step that takes 20 or 25 minutes”. This led to the creation of Spekld, a form of brown butter that could be purchased in a stick, similar to traditional butter. Gershon is not new to the food industry and started sharing his cookie baking skills on Instagram, which led him to participate in Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge in 2022. With Spekld, Gershon aims to educate more people about brown butter and help home cooks who want to try new food products. As a finalist for the competition, Gershon won $20,000 in participant support, as well as business incubation services like product prototyping and optimization and food safety and compliance training. Additionally, Gershon will receive individualized mentorship and guidance from experts in the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Food Science Department and SC Johnson College of Business, including access to Cornell’s Food Processing and Development Lab (FPDL). Gershon, along with all 10 finalists, will present Spekld to a committee of judges during a pitch competition on Aug. 8 at Cornell for the chance to win an additional $55,000. Up to three winners will be selected and given the opportunity to be featured at the Dairy Innovation Showcase at the 2023 Grow-NY Summit on November 14-15 in Binghamton, N.Y. Learn more about Jonah Gershon and Spekld. Featured image of Gershon competing on the Food Network's 2022 Christmas Cookie Challenge provided by Food Network.
By Leigh Toerper Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA) and the Northeast Dairy Foods Research Center (NDFRC) have announced the 10 finalists for the first-ever Northeastern Dairy Product Innovation Competition, an initiative that supports food innovators in launching products made from dairy ingredients produced in the Northeast. Funded by a $1 million grant from the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC), the competition provides finalists early-stage incubation assistance from Cornell’s food processing and business experts, access to the university’s food processing facilities, industry mentorship, and training on product prototyping. Along with these resources, finalists will receive $20,000, up to three winners receiving an additional $55,000, and a presence at the Dairy Innovation Showcase at the 2023 Grow-NY Summit in November. Laura Ginsburg of the NE-DBIC, said, “This initiative responds to a growing need for developing new value-added dairy products, a critical component to increasing milk value for farmers, supporting regional opportunities, and building energy around dairy.” Over 50 food entrepreneurs, including those making products on organic and small farms, applied to the competition from across the United States. A committee of dairy experts representing producers, industry, and research selected the 10 finalists based on product concept, innovation or improvement, viability, prominence of dairy ingredients, and consumer value. The 10 finalists are: Bell & Goose Cheese Co., New Hampshire. Marinated feta cheese. lu•lu ice cream, Vermont. Goat’s milk gelato. Maia Yogurt, Connecticut. Grassfed yogurt for kids. Maple Valley Farm, Vermont. Saffron maple yogurt. North Country Creamery, New York. Semi-hard, pasteurized cheese. Oakfield Corners Cheese LLC, New York. Mexican style cheese. Spekld, Connecticut. Pre-made, brown butter product. Terra Firma Farm, Connecticut. Ready-to-use, premium ice cream base. Naturally Golden Family Farms Co-op, Pennsylvania. All natural, dairy-based coffee creamer. Very Good Yogurt, New York. Sugar-free, savory yogurt. “The Dairy Innovation Competition builds a pipeline of entrepreneurs equipped to create and scale value-added products that address today’s consumer preferences. Growing these businesses is key to increasing the utilization of dairy ingredients produced in the Northeast, and strengthening our rural economy,” said CREA’s Director of Food and Ag Startup Programs Jenn Smith. From May until early August, finalists will receive industry mentorship and entrepreneurship coaching that will include support with pitch development, as well as technical training, and identifying industry networking and resource opportunities. Industry experts who are participating as mentors include: Brian Bailey founding co-owner and creator of Yancey’s Fancy, Inc. Cheeses, Marla Buerk of Dairy Management Inc., Tim Cooley of American Dairy Association North East, Steve Funk of Nelson-Jameson Inc., Judy Keenan of Dairy Management Inc., Sheila Marshman of SUNY Morrisville, School of Agriculture, Business & Technology, Pulari Nair of Rich Products Corporation, Gil Tansman of DSM, Jeff Warner of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Esperanza Wingard of HP Hood LLC, and Tristan Zuber-Hrobuchak of Chr. Hansen. “We are thrilled with the enthusiastic response to the dairy innovation competition and look forward to working with the 10 finalists by providing access to much needed technical and entrepreneurial resources. This competition positions the Northeast to create more product lines and business opportunities for our region’s dairy farmers,” said Dr. Samuel Alcaine, director of the NDFRC and associate professor at Cornell CALS. The competition culminates on August 8 at Cornell University’s Stocking Hall in Ithaca, New York, where finalists will pitch their products to a committee of judges. Finalists will be evaluated on: Dairy product concept and execution Dairy product innovation and improvement Viability of commercialization and business model Use of dairy ingredients Consumer value The competition’s committee of judges includes John Crishman, CEO of the American Dairy Association North East, Sue Miller, award-winning cheesemaker and co-owner of Birchrun Hills Farm, and Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets Anson Tebbetts. To learn more about the Northeastern Dairy Product Innovation Competition, visit: www.dairyinnovation.org/product-competition/ To learn more about the Northeast Dairy Foods Research Center, visit: www.cals.cornell.edu/northeast-dairy-foods-research-center To learn more about the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, visit: www.agriculture.vermont.gov/dbic
Teams from eLab, Cornell’s student accelerator, and Cornell Tech’s Runway Startups program shared their business ideas to an audience full of members of the West Coast Cornell community at the Student Startup Showcase, presented by Cornell Silicon Valley, on March 30 at the Autodesk Gallery in San Francisco.
Cornell MBA students, doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers focusing on clean energy and climate technology now have the opportunity to collaborate on real-world startup creation through a new fellowship and certificate program offered by the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.
Members of the Cornell entrepreneurial community gathered to celebrate a successful first year of the BioEntrepreneurship Initiative at the program’s culminating workshop on March 18 at Cornell’s academic space in Midtown Manhattan.
A cannabis product from Rev member Florist Farms was the very first one to be sold in New York, at the grand opening of the state’s first adult-use cannabis dispensary, Housing Works Cannabis Co.
New Dominion Enterprises, Inc. (NDE), a member of the Southern Tier Clean Energy Incubator at the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator, has been awarded two Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards from the Air Force’s AFWERX program for its battery additive technology. The San Antonio-based startup’s innovation improves the performance of lithium batteries.
