Partners

RIT houses a wealth of resources that may be accessible by Venture Creations companies, including:

• Battery Development Center
• Brinkman Machine Tools and Manufacturing Lab
• Printing Applications Laboratory

Golisano Institute for Sustainability

RIT is also home to the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, which consists of a diverse set of academic programs, applied research centers, sponsored programs, and initiatives that focus on industrial collaboration on the deployment of new technologies for more efficient and sustainable products and processes.
Learn more about GIS

Student Engagement

One of the most significant and unique benefits of Venture Creations is the ability of incubator companies to work with RIT students as part of our Student Engagement Program. Opportunities are available to integrate Venture Creation company challenges with coursework at Saunders College of Business, including the Executive MBA program. Student engagement can take many forms, including:

Co-op assignments: RIT's cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation. A co-op experience provides students with real world experience in their field of choice and provides companies with a cutting edge. Every RIT undergraduate is required to complete one or more co-op blocks where they are on full-time assignment with a company. For more information on engaging RIT students or alumni for co-op, internship, or employment opportunities, contact Maria Richart at the Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services at 585-475-5479 or mjroce@rit.edu.

Saunders Student Consulting: Venture Creations companies can receive low-cost consultation on a variety of business issues including competitive analysis, market analysis, business plan development, and more. For information, go to https://saunders.rit.edu/undergraduate/overview/career-services-co-op/.

Start-Up NY is a New York state program that offers new and expanding businesses the opportunity to operate tax-free for 10 years on or near eligible university or college campuses in New York state. As a supporting university, RIT will seek to establish partnerships through the program with high-tech, high-growth potential, job-generating companies that are aligned with RIT's academic, research and economic development priorities.
Learn more about Start-Up NY

The goal of the NYS Innovation Hot Spot program is to help create and grow early-stage companies by providing them with necessary support and services. Support at individual centers may vary but generally include: physical space; shared administrative staff; access to capital, coaching, and mentoring; networking connections; prototype development; and access to other technical services. In addition, client businesses of the Innovation Hotspots have access to tax benefits to further assist early stage businesses start and grow their business.
Learn more about the NYS Innovation Hot Spot

NextCorps is a nonprofit catalyst for entrepreneurship and innovation-based economic development. We apply business expertise and network connections to aid in the formation and profitable growth of companies in the Rochester area and the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York. NextCorps provides a suite of services, including technology commercialization for very-early-stage opportunities, business incubation for high-growth-potential startups, and growth services for existing manufacturing companies seeking to improve their top- and bottom-line performance.
Learn more about NextCorps