SUNY Startup Summer School
SUNY Startup Summer School provides faculty, students, and staff with the knowledge and networks that will enable them to commercialize breakthrough technology.
Registration closes May 23, 2025!
About
Now in its sixth year, SUNY Startup Summer School (S4) offers virtual accelerated entrepreneurial education and training for participants to help them secure the initial funding needed to get their technology to market.
Depending on their experience, S4 participants will receive the following support:
• Access to instructional webinars that provide the foundation of knowledge and learning aspiring entrepreneurs and new ventures need to be successful.
• Proposal development support from experts with successful track records in helping research teams and startups secure grants and other non-dilutive funding.
• Customized I-Corps training, mentoring, and networking opportunities that are provided in a just-in-time format based on each participant’s needs and traction.
Depending on their experience, S4 participants will receive the following support:
• Access to instructional webinars that provide the foundation of knowledge and learning aspiring entrepreneurs and new ventures need to be successful.
• Proposal development support from experts with successful track records in helping research teams and startups secure grants and other non-dilutive funding.
• Customized I-Corps training, mentoring, and networking opportunities that are provided in a just-in-time format based on each participant’s needs and traction.
Curriculum
Weekly webinars are held from 10:30 a.m. - Noon on the dates indicated below.
May 28
Entrepreneurship 101
What It Takes To Commercialize Your Tech
What It Takes To Commercialize Your Tech
June 4
Discover Customer Discovery
June 11
Evaluation of the Opportunity
Patentability and Marketability Basics
Patentability and Marketability Basics
June 18
How To Win Grants
Mastering Non-Dilutive Funding Sources
Mastering Non-Dilutive Funding Sources
June 25
Mastering Startup Agreements & Exit Strategies
July 2
Team Chemistry
Leveling Up Your Company
Leveling Up Your Company
July 9
Strategies for Unstoppable Success
July 16
Telling and Selling Your Story
July 21 - July 25
Office Hours With SUNY Venture Advisors
July 30
Demo Day and Graduation
Speakers
Maureen Ballatori
Agency 29
Telling and Selling Your Story
Doug Benel
SUNY Research Foundation
Team Chemistry - Leveling Up Your Company
Kathryn Cherny
Binghamton Unversity
Discover Customer Discovery
Ana-Maria Galeano
GALEANO LAW FIRM
Team Chemistry - Leveling Up Your Company + SUNY Venture Advisor
Joy Goswami
SUNY Research Foundation
Evaluation of the Opportunity - Patentability and Marketability Basics
Rich Honen
Phillips Lytle
Mastering Startup Agreements & Exit Strategies
Felix Litvinsky
Abakama
How To Win Grants - Mastering Non-Dilutive Funding Sources
Michael Lightman
Hate Your Deck
Telling and Selling Your Story
Kirk Macolini
Intelispark
How To Win Grants - Mastering Non-Dilutive Funding Sources
Arel Moodie
Reed Oak
Strategies for Unstoppable Success
Olga Petrova
University at Buffalo
Discover Customer Discovery
Kelly Reardon
University at Albany
Discover Customer Discovery
Lance Reich
SUNY Research FOundation
Evaluation of the Opportunity - Patentability and Marketability Basics
Allison Yacci
Data CiCADA
Entrepreneurship 101 – What It Takes To Commercialize Your Tech + SUNY Venture Advisor
Success Stories
$300k NIH STTR Phase I
Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University
$256k NSF STTR Phase I
SUNY Canton
SUN
SUNY Canton
SUN
$1.6M NIH SBIR Phase II
Upstate Medcial University
Upstate Medcial University
$306k NIH STTR Phase I
$274k NSF STTR Phase I
University at Albany
$274k NSF STTR Phase I
University at Albany
$750k NSF STTR Phase II
University at Buffalo
University at Buffalo
$1.7M Air Force SBIR Phase II
$1.2M Air Force SBIR Phase II
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
SUN
$1.2M Air Force SBIR Phase II
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
SUN
$1M NSF STTR Phase II
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University
$255k NSF SBIR Phase I
$200k DOE SBIR Phase I
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
$200k DOE SBIR Phase I
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
$1.5M DOE SBIR Phase II
$1.5M Air Force STTR Phase II
Stony Brook University
$1.5M Air Force STTR Phase II
Stony Brook University
$250k NSF STTR Phase I
$1M NSF STTR Phase II
University at Albany
$1M NSF STTR Phase II
University at Albany
Testimonials
Brian Bischoff
University at buffalo
"I learned about summer school through the University at Buffalo, where my startup is a tech spinout. It was the perfect opportunity to sharpen my entrepreneurial skills and potentially compete for the Demo Day prize."
Jessica Russo
Fashion Institute of Technology
"S4 is a fast-track way to gain valuable knowledge and practical skills in a short period. Taking place over the summer, it's an ideal time to immerse yourself in these essential concepts and prepare for the next steps in turning your ideas into a successful venture. The program provides a solid foundation that will benefit both newcomers and those with some experience."
Scott Tenenbaum
University at Albany
"I initially thought the program would focus on basics for beginners, but it offered valuable insights for those further along as well. Every S4 presentation taught me multiple new things."
Tere Williams & Audrey Bernstein
Upstate Medical University
"S4 is the perfect resource for those interested in entrepreneurship. The subject matter is designed to get you thinking creatively about every aspect of the business--because the odds of your idea surviving truly requires thinking outside of the box. Importantly, the resource is fairly accessible and free, so you have everything to gain from these sessions."
Kambiz Ghazinour
SUNY Canton
"S4 is a great experience for faculty members to familiarize themselves with the basic concepts of entrepreneurship. It was an eye-opening experience for me to look at the commercialization process from a business perspective rather than the usual research process that I was used to."
Anurag Purwar
Stotny Brook University
"I highly recommend the S4 program to anyone considering technology commercialization. It’s an efficient way to get up to speed quickly, and with it being in the summer, it's the perfect time to learn these essential concepts."
Team
S4 is led by a close-knit team of passionate professionals who are working together with SUNY’s campuses and partners to build a world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem. They wake up every morning ready to crush it for the innovators they serve and truly believe entrepreneurship is a viable career path for SUNY students.
Nicholas Querques
STARTUP FOUNDER/ADVISOR, TECH TO MARKET MASTER, COMPANY BUILDER
Jessica Stanley-Updyke
MARKETING GURU, PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER,
COMMUNICATIONS JEDI
COMMUNICATIONS JEDI
Sara Goodman
RESOURCEFUL TROUBLESHOOTER, LOGISTICS LADY, CHAOS TAMER, RELATIONSHIP CULTIVATOR
Doug Benel
CREATIVITY ADVOCATE, MOTIVATOR, OUTSIDE-THE-BOX THINKER
Abigail Cevallos
OFFICE MAVEN, TASK MASTER, JILL OF ALL TRADES
Kyle Flood
STUDENT AMBASSADOR
Our Venture Advisors
Deb Burks
ForwardPhase Innovations
Ana-Maria Galeano
Galeano Law
Eric Gordon
Eric Gordon, LLC
Stephen Festin
AlpineBio Partners
Michael Lightman
Hate Your Deck
Mark Sperry
Sperry Energy
Allison Yacci
DataCicada
Contact
Have a question or comment to send our way?
The best way to get in touch is to email us at [email protected].
Or you can use the contact format on this page.
We read every message and do our best to respond quickly.
The best way to get in touch is to email us at [email protected].
Or you can use the contact format on this page.
We read every message and do our best to respond quickly.