2021 was another great year to be an Ithaca-based entrepreneur. Despite challenges including Covid-19 closures, staffing shortages, and supply chain delays, founders were quick to adjust their business models to fit the current state of the world. Even considering those difficulties, the Ithaca entrepreneurial community continued to flourish. Rev member companies persevered and were able to create new jobs, generate revenue, and raise capital, significantly boosting the local economy and aiding in economic recovery.
News
2021 in Review: Rev Members Continue to Grow Despite Difficulties
Introducing the inaugural BioEntrepreneurship MBA cohort
Cornell University’s BioEntrepreneurship Initiative recently introduced the first cohort of MBA students to take part in the innovative program. Designed to develop C-suite startup leaders in the life sciences, the program connects doctoral researchers across Cornell’s life sciences programs with graduate business students at the Johnson Graduate School of Management.
Five Women-led Climate Tech Companies Selected to Pitch for Investments, Prizes and Mentorship
Five women-led climate tech companies have been selected for the Diversity in ClimateTech program administered by CREA and Chloe Capital with support from NYSERDA.
Panel Discussion Addresses Diversity in Climate Tech
Earlier this summer, a panel of climate technology experts, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists convened virtually for “A Brighter Future: Climate Tech Innovation Fueled by Diverse Founders,” to discuss issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry and the importance of supporting diverse founders.
Entrepreneurship Sprint Offers Clean Energy Innovators Path from Lab to Market
In collaboration with the Cornell Energy Systems Institute (CESI), the Center for Regional Economic Advancement offered an Entrepreneurial Foundations and Skill Building Sprint for postdocs and graduate students. The mission of the sprint was to educate a diverse group of clean energy and ClimateTech researchers and innovators on how to commercialize their technology and take it from lab to market.
Kessler Fellows Secure Startup Internships for Summer 2021
Students in this year’s Kessler Fellows cohort have secured summer internship placements and are getting to work contributing to startups across the nation.The Kessler Fellows program is rooted in the College of Engineering at Cornell University and offers juniors across disciplines the chance to fully immerse themselves in the world of entrepreneurship.
Sales for Startups Pilot Helps Entrepreneurs Put Theory into Practice
Sales is one of the most critical steps in growing a startup, yet many founders lack sales experience and are unaware of the skills and tools available to make it easier. A new pilot program, Sales for Startups, is helping entrepreneurs put sales theory into successful practice.
New Program Will Support Diverse Founders of Climate Tech Startups
In collaboration with Chloe Capital, CREA has launched Diversity in ClimateTech with the purpose of recruiting, educating, inspiring and supporting capitalization in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and women founders developing startups with cleantech innovations.
W.E. Cornell Takes on Inequity in Entrepreneurship
The W.E. Cornell program, which aims to improve gender representation in entrepreneurship, is launching its spring cohort as industries reckon with the inequities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commercialization Fellows Help Bring Innovation to Market
The Commercialization Fellowship, which wrapped up its fifth cohort in December 2020, introduces Ph.D. candidates in Engineering to the process of turning their academic research into businesses that solve real-world problems.