Past Events

The application process is now open for the Enterprise Innovation Catalyst Fund Proto Stage Awards and the Validation Stage Pre-proposals.

• Proto Stage Award will fund device and digital health projects and other early-stage projects on a rolling basis to validate preliminary proof-of-concept ideas and expedite the development of prototypes for commercial advancement. The Proto Stage award can provide funding up to $50,000 and projects must be completed within 12-months.
  
  

• Validation Stage Award, incorporating the Selma and Lawrence Ruben Validation Stage Awards, will benefit projects that have already demonstrated preliminary proof of concept, identified unmet need in the market and developed a plan for commercialization. This award will serve as a reimagining of the Daedalus Fund for Innovation, which was established in 2014 to support early-stage applied and translational research projects that have clear, near-term commercial potential. The Validation Stage awards can provide funding up to $200,000 for projects that can be completed in 12-24 months. There are two stages to the application process, short pre-proposals which will be reviewed and selected projects invited to submit a more detailed full proposal. The deadline for submitting pre-proposals is August 1, 2025.

All projects must have a related invention disclosure submitted to the Center for Technology Licensing (CTL).

Full details of the awards and the application process can be found here. If you have any questions, please send an email to: ei-catalystfund@cornell.edu. 

Looking for early-stage commercialization funding? Join a discussion by federal agency experts on their small business research commercialization funding programs, SBIR and STTR. During the program, the experts will review:

• General information on their agencies (NSF, NIH, and NCI) and how they work in the commercialization process
• General information on the commercialization-focused programs of their respective agencies
• The differences between SBIRs and STTRs
• Eligibility
• Phases
• How the applications are reviewed
• Funding mechanisms
• The CARE and TABA programs
• Recommendations for successful grants

Register now!

*For teams affiliated with business incubators.

In this virtual course (held July 28 - August 27), early-stage technology startup teams will learn how to conduct customer discovery interviews with potential customers, partners and industry stakeholders. The course goal is to gather evidence that your product or service could meet an important, unmet need for your customers and make a large impact in your target market.

You may apply with a team of 1-3 people. Teams may not split attendance between members. Please only include the members of your team that will be fully participating in the course. All team members are required to attend and participate fully in every course session and complete all coursework.

Apply here. Questions? Contact icorps@cornell.edu or visit https://www.in-icorps.org/regional-courses/. 

Join the Weill Cornell Medicine community in celebrating the culmination of the Biomedical Innovation Challenge — a premier, faculty-focused program advancing translational science and commercialization.

Over the course of this highly competitive 10-week program, participating teams engaged in expert-led seminars covering key elements of biomedical commercialization, including market and industry analysis, intellectual property strategy, R&D planning, regulatory pathways, business modeling, budgeting and fundraising, among other critical disciplines. Each team was also paired with experienced industry mentors to help shape their commercialization strategies and investor-ready pitches.

The evening will begin with live presentations from the finalist teams, followed by judging from a distinguished panel of venture capital and industry leaders who will select the winning pitches. Immediately following the pitch competition, join us for a networking reception at the Griffis Faculty Club. 

RSVP here to secure your spot!