Accelerate Your Innovation from Concept into the Marketplace

SUNY Startup Summer School provides faculty, students, and staff with the knowledge and networks that will enable them to commercialize breakthrough technology.

Congratulations to our Class of 2026 Winners!

We're proud to support our S4 Class of 2026 Winners: VascuArch, Grip Power, BioQuoVadis, and CurrentView

These amazing teams are building impactful startups with even more impactful pitches. Interested in learning more about these teams and how S4 supported them? Check out this article!

About

Now in its eighth 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.

• Access to instructional webinars that provide the foundation of knowledge and learning aspiring entrepreneurs and new ventures need to be successful.

Depending on their experience, S4 participants will receive the following support:

• 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.

1,243

25 $24.8M+

44

Entrepreneurs trained

New companies formed

Non-Dilutive funding secured by s4 Alumni

Campuses Partcipated to date

66%

34%

Minority participation

Women participation

The SUNY Startup Roadmap: What You'll Learn

An intensive 10-week journey that transforms academic research into market-ready ventures. Our curriculum focuses on the critical pillars of business success.

Sessions will be held every Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Session 01 Entrepreneurship 101

What it Takes to Commercialize Your Tech

Tuesday, May 25, 2027

Session 02
Discover Customer Discovery

Tuesday, June 1, 2027

Session 03
Evaluation of the Opportunity

Patentability and Marketability Basics

Tuesday, June 8, 2027

Session 04
How to Win Grants

Mastering Non-Dilutive Funding Sources

Tuesday, June 15, 2027

Session 05
Mastering Startup Agreements & Exit Strategies

Tuesday, June 22, 2027

Session 06
Team Chemistry

Leveling Up Your Company

Tuesday, June 29, 2027

Session 07
Strategies for Unstoppable Success

Tuesday, July 6, 2027

Session 08
Selling and Telling Your Story

Tuesday, July 13, 2027

Week 9
Office Hours with SUNY Venture Advisors

Monday, July 19, 2027 - Friday, July 23, 2027

Week 10
Demo Day and Graduation:

Tuesday, July 27, 2027

2:00 - 7:00 p.m. EST

Speakers

Doug Benel

SUNY RF

Kathryn Cherny

Binghamton University

Peter Fallon

Team Chemistry Leveling up your Company

Discover Customer Discovery

SUNY RF

Ana-Maria Galeano

Evaluation of the Opportunity - Patentability and Marketability Basics

Galeano Law Firm

Team Chemistry - Leveling Up Your Company + SUNY Venture Advisor

Joy Goswami

SUNY RF

Evaluation of the Opportunity - Patentability and Marketability Basics

Kirk Macolini

Intelispark

How to Win Grants - Mastering Non-Dilutive Funding Sources

Rich Honen

phillips Lytle

Evaluation of the Opportunity - Patentability and Marketability Basics

Arel Moodie

REED Oak

Strategies for Unstoppable Success

Michael Lightman

HATE YOUR DECK

Telling and Selling Your Story

Olga Petrova

University at buffalo

Discover Customer Discovery

Allison Yacci

Data Cicada

Entrepreneurship 101 - What it Takes to Commercialize your tech + SUNY Venture Advisor

Garrett Smith

SUNY RF

Evaluation of the Opportunity - Patentability and Marketability Basics

Downstate Health Sciences University

$300K NIH STTR Phase I

University at Buffalo

$750K NSF STTR Phase II

SUNY Canton

Stony Brook University

$256K NSF STTR Phase I

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

$1.7M Air Force SBIR Phase II

$1.2M Air Force SBIR Phase II

$1.5M DOE SBIR Phase II

$1.5M Air Force STTR Phase II

Success Stories

Upstate Medical University

Stony Brook University

$256K NSF STTR Phase I

University at Albany

$1M NSF STTR Phase II

$250K NSF STTR Phase I

$1M NSF STTR Phase II

University at Albany

$306K NIH STTR Phase I

$274K NSF STTR Phase I

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

$255K NSF SBIR Phase I

$200K DOE SBIR Phase I

“Participating in S4 Demo Day was an incredibly valuable experience. It gave me the opportunity to showcase my work, connect with the innovation community, and receive meaningful feedback and mentorship from SUNY venture advisors. Their support and genuine investment in helping innovators succeed were unmatched. The event also expanded awareness of our work and opened doors to new opportunities. Thoughtfully organized, supportive, and inspiring, I highly recommend S4 Demo Day to fellow inventors and entrepreneurs.”

Gurtej Singh

Stony Brook UNiversity

Testimonials

"S4 is an excellent program for researchers looking to translate technologies they’ve validated in the lab into viable startups. In just a few weeks, S4’s industry experts equip you with the entrepreneurial tools needed to build a real company around your innovation."

Binghamton University

Jayson Boubin

"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."

Scott Tenenbaum

University at Albany

Startup founder/advisor, tech to market master, company builder

Creativity Advocate, motivator, Outside-the-box thinker

Nicholas Querques