New York State Certified Business Incubators and Innovation Hot Spots
Through a competitive process, NYSTAR has designated 10 Innovation Hot Spots—one for each of New York's economic development regions—and 20 Certified Business Incubators, which receive funding to reach a greater number of early-stage companies.
This network of support has created a culture of innovation and success around the state, thanks to ground-level services that make a dramatic difference in a start-up company’s next steps.
Support may vary by location but generally includes: physical space; shared administrative staff; access to capital; coaching; mentoring; networking connections; prototype development; and access to other technical services. Innovation Hot Spots also coordinate regional entrepreneurial ecosystems, and can offer tax benefits to client businesses.
Capital Region
Biomedical Acceleration and Commercialization Center (BACC) | Albany Medical College
BACC is committed to discovering, developing and accelerating breakthrough biotechnologies that will dramatically improve patient experiences and outcomes while aiding in the economic growth of the Capital Region and beyond.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) NYS Certified Business Incubator
The RPI NYS Certified Business Incubator links numerous regional assets and business development programs into one unified program.
Tech Valley NYS Certified Business Incubator
The Tech Valley NYS Certified Incubator links numerous regional assets and business development programs into one unified program, with a focus on nanotechnology and biotechnology.
Capital Region | Innovate 518
Innovate 518, a partnership between the University at Albany, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Center for Economic Growth, helps to grow sustainable and scalable technology ventures.
Central Region
Central New York Innovation Hot Spot
This 21-partner consortium, headed by CenterState CEO at The Tech Garden, delivers innovative physical and virtual incubation and business development programming combining higher education resources with early-stage funding, coaching and mentorship.
Finger Lakes Region
Cornell Food Innovation NYS Certified Business Incubator | The Technology Farm
The Technology Farm campus is home to food and agriculture R&D and assists startup, food-based businesses in the Finger Lakes region.
Rev Ithaca Startup Works
Rev is an Ithaca-based, collaborative project with New York State, Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College to develop startups and grow regional economy and employment.
Finger Lakes Innovation Hot Spot
This regional consortium is led by High Tech Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology, and includes RIT's Center for Urban Entrepreneurship, the Upstate MedTech Park in Batavia and the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park in Geneva.
Long Island Region
LaunchPad Long Island
This incubator, co-working space and resource platform helps start-ups and early-stage companies build viable products, launch fast and prepare for growth – with locations around Long island, Stony Brook University and New York Institute of Technology.
Stony Brook University NYS Certified Business Incubator | LIHTI
The Long Island High Technology Incubator (LIHTI) at Stony Brook University connects numerous regional assets and business development programs into one unified support program to help new technologically innovative companies grow.
Long Island Innovation Hot Spot | LIHTI
LIHTI supports early-stage, high-tech companies to enhance their development and growth. LIHTI, affiliated with Stony Brook University and its hospital, has housed more than 70 companies, which have had a high survival rate thanks to the program.
Mid-Hudson Region
NYS Clean Tech Certified Business Incubator | iCANny
The Incubation, Commercialization and Acceleration Network of New York (iCANny) is the oldest continually operating business and technology incubator serving the Mid-Hudson Valley between Westchester and Albany, assisting clean tech-based businesses.
The Accelerator Powered by the Orange County IDA
Located at Stewart International Airport, with proximity to major interstates, this New Windsor incubator – powered by the Orange County Industrial Development Agency—focuses on bringing back manufacturing to the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Mid-Hudson | BioInc @NY Medical College
The region’s only biotechnology incubator offers shared resources, turnkey wet lab space and sponsored professional services to promising, high-potential entrepreneurs and start-ups. BioInc@NYMC helps members achieve development and funding milestones.
Mohawk Valley Region
Mohawk Valley Farm & Food Business Incubator (FFBI)
This partnership between SUNY Cobleskill and the Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship (CADE), provides a variety of services for clients, including food processing and commercial kitchens.
Griffiss Institute Certified Business Incubator (GI)
The Rome-based incubator, serving the Mohawk Valley partners with thINCubator and other regional economic development entities to combine numerous high-tech, information and cybersecurity assets with programs and services to support local entrepreneurs.
Mohawk Valley | thINCubator
This “home of innovative new companies,” in downtown Utica, serves the community and the region’s higher education institutions. The thINCubator drives innovation and entrepreneurship in collaboration with multiple area stakeholders.
New York City Region
Brooklyn Biotech NYS Certified Business Incubator
The incubator links numerous regional bio-based assets and business development programs into one unified program.
Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator | Pratt Institute
The BF+DA provides entrepreneurs, creative technologists and industry professionals with resources for success, including: mentorship; sustainable strategies consulting; materials sourcing; small-run apparel production; and digital fabrication services.
Entrepreneur Space Incubator
This Queens-based incubator, administered by the Queens Economic Development Corporation, helps emerging entrepreneurs build their businesses by providing affordable commercial kitchen space as well as business counseling and technical assistance.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
The Icahn School of Medicine provides comprehensive support for companies as they develop scientific discoveries into commercial solutions—bridging gaps between science, engineering and entrepreneurship.
NYDesigns at LaGuardia Community College
Since 2006, NYDesigns has been dedicated to the success of design and hardware tech startups in NYC, both onsite and through events and programs.
NYU Tandon School of Engineering Certified Incubator
This incubator helps NYC area start-ups through an individualized two-year program utilizing best practices and providing mentorship, access to programming, service providers, potential customers, investors and business-related services.
New York City CUNY Hub for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
The Hub, which can accommodate 25-30 startups (and 50+ people), offers tenants professional mentorship and a host of collaborative and supportive services—embracing entrepreneurship in science and engineering as well as in non-science based companies.
North Country Region
North Country Innovation Hot Spot
Clarkson University has developed a scalable model with a track record of success in the North Country through the Center for Advanced Materials Processing, the Shipley Center for Innovation and the Reh Center for Entrepreneurship.
Southern Tier Region
IncubatorWorks
IncubatorWorks operates incubators in the Southern Tier, with one facility in Corning and another at Elmira Corning Regional (ELM) Airport Park in Horseheads. An additional facility in Alfred is part of the Western New York Innovation Network (WIN).
Southern Tier Startup Alliance
This organization of business incubators supports people starting and growing companies in the region, led by a strong partnership between Binghamton University, Cornell University and Corning Enterprises.
Western New York Region
Fredonia Technology Incubator (FTI)
The Dunkirk-based FTI promotes economic growth in Western New York by supporting entrepreneurship and the development of new, innovative companies into successful business ventures -- with a focus on arts and technology-based startups.
Western New York | WIN: WNY Incubator Network
This incubator network, headed by the University at Buffalo, focuses on formation of investable, market-driven companies with innovative products meeting customer needs.
Contact Information
Contact NYSTAR for more information by emailing NYSTARSupport@esd.ny.gov or calling (518) 292-5700.