Columbia Entrepreneurship

Virtual SBIR/STTR Intensive Workshop
2021-06-15 - 2021-06-16
Join Columbia Technology Ventures’ live Virtual Classroom for an interactive, 2 day SBIR/STTR workshop, led by experts from BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting. The workshop will review the basics including program purpose; eligibility; and sources of funding. Then the workshop will provide proposal prep essentials of the NIH, NSF and DOE programs.
In addition to up-to-date information on the SBIR/STTR programs, the workshop will cover:

NIH and NSF grant mechanisms and where to find them
How to find the program officers, how to approach them, what questions to ask
How to do research using the web tools available (eReporter, SBIR.gov, etc.)
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them, and much more.

RSVP at https://cfbsbirtrain2021a.eventbrite.com
Registration fee: $25.00 (the fee may be waived for Columbia teams based on a license or option to Columbia IP – please contact your CTV licensing officer for more information).

Leading Creative Team Collaboration
2021-06-08 12:00 - 15:00 UTC
Enroll today here.

Program Overview
Creativity is a necessary team capacity as organizations respond to change. This interactive program provides an overview of techniques that leverage the innate creative potential of your team. You will learn how to establish norms that promote well-tested creative behaviors like divergent thinking, associative thinking, and problem reframing. The program will also introduce tools to manage the creative process of teams working remotely and in person. Lessons are equally applicable for leaders driving innovation and leaders who are simply looking to add a creative boost to their team.
The program taps into the thought leadership and unique resources of the Columbia Entrepreneurship Design Studio, which helps entrepreneurs, professionals, students, faculty, and alumni approach business challenges and opportunities in a more entrepreneurial, collaborative, and creatively confident way.
Learning Outcomes
✓ Learn three creative behaviors: divergent thinking, associative thinking, and problem reframing
✓ Understand how creative norms shape team output
✓ Acquire tools for generating and sharing ideas for in-person and remote teams
Topics

Introduction to Creative Behaviors
Creative Techniques
Team Norms
Collaborative Technologies

Third Thursday: Mix & Mingle End of Semester Social
2021-05-20 12:00 - 13:00
RSVP
Open to the entire Columbia community (including Barnard and Teachers College)
Join your fellow entrepreneurs, alumni and current students for this special networking event. This is a chance to get to know your entrepreneurial community. Come with a question you need help with from fellow entrepreneurs and be prepared to offer your advice to others.

Third Thursday is a recurring open forum and networking session for the Columbia University entrepreneurship community. It provides students, faculty, staff, and alumni the opportunity to hear ideas from across campus, form teams, and explore career options.

NSIN Propel
2021-05-19
Applications

Technology companies new to the defense sector are now invited to apply to participate in NSIN Propel, a program delivered by Newlab, Decisive Point, and the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN). NSIN Propel program enables the development of next-generation applications of emerging dual-use technology for government and defense. Apply today. NSIN Propel is collaborating with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Information Directorate (AFRL)—the premier research organization for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) and Cyber technologies—to recruit companies new to the defense sector with technology solutions that can be adapted to address the needs of both the AFRL and the broader DoD community. We are seeking applications from technology companies working in areas including: smart cities, urban tech, mobility, agriculture, industrial automation, manufacturing, next-gen connectivity, logistics, and supply chain management.

Ignition Grants
2021-05-14
Ignition Grants are financial grants to assist Columbia University students in launching new businesses, social and not-for-profit ventures. Ignition Grants support the initial stages of early venture development from formation, IP protection, and incubation to building prototypes and creating proofs of concept.
Teams must have at least one SEAS founding member to be eligible for grants. Judges will decide the level of funding (ranging from $5k-$15k) for teams based on their applications.
Apply here

New York Defense Innovation Summit
2021-05-12
RSVP
The focus of this (virtual) summit will be on increasing the impact of NY startups, universities, and industry on Department of Defense missions by identifying strategic initiatives and partnerships that enhance collaboration across the community.
Keynote Address (10am)

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Q&A facilitated by James Hendon, Commissioner, NYC Department of Veterans’ Services

Fireside Chat on Unicorn Startups (1030am)

Nick Beim, Venrock and Council on Foreign Relations

Panel Discussion with Early Stage Ventures (1100am)

Brian Streem, Vermeer – satellite and drone simulation, visualization, and control
Gordon Crovitz, NewsGuard Technologies – countering disinformation
Noel Goddard, Qunnect – quantum internet
Ryan Litt, 3AM Innovations – first responder tech
Tommy Hendrix, Decisive Point

Defense Innovation Partnerships (1130am)

Bryant Wysocki, Air Force Research Laboratory
Charles Green, AIS
Satish Rao, Newlab
Dan Clark, NYC Economic Development Corporation

NY and Defense Innovation (1200pm)

Mike Hayduk, Air Force Research Laboratory

[Break for lunch 1215pm]
State of NY Defense Innovation (1245pm)

Dan Madden, National Security Innovation Network

DoD Future Needs (1pm)

Air Force Research Laboratory core technical competency leads

Lee Seversky – autonomy, command and control, and decision support
Alex Aved – processing and exploitation
Nate Rowe – connectivity and dissemination
Sarah Muccio – cyber science and technology

Colonel Pat Mahaney (ret.), National Center for Urban Operations

New Partnership Models (130pm)

Karen Roth, Air Force Research Laboratory
Leonard Braverman, former chair, Army Science Board
Tommy Hendrix, Decisive Point
Matt Watson, NY Empire State Development

Collaboration Workshops (200pm, 5 parallel breakout sessions)

AI
Data and Analytics
Communications and Distributed Information Systems
Cybersecurity
Urban Tech and Public Safety

Workshop Summary (300pm)
Closing Remarks (320pm)

Janneke House, Office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Dan Madden, National Security Innovation Network

[Event ends 330pm]
Additional participants from:

Columbia University
New York University
Army Cyber Institute
Easy Aerial

Summit Background Information

Columbia Alumni Virtual Accelerator (CAVA)
2021-05-11
CAVA’s mission is to enhance Columbia Business School alumni’s early-stage startups through resources and mentorship. Applications for its Summer 2021 cohort are now open until May 11.

Columbia Alumni Virtual Accelerator (CAVA) Info Session
2021-05-07 12:00 - 12:45
CAVA’s mission is to enhance Columbia Business School alumni’s early-stage startups through resources and mentorship. Applications for its Summer 2021 cohort are now open until May 11.
An information session will be held on May 7 to discuss the program and applications.

Nucleate Bio Info Session
2021-05-04 18:00
RSVP Here
Nucleate Bio is a nonprofit, non-dilutive entrepreneurship program for aspiring biotech startup founders. The program is advised by George Church and Robert Langer, among 100+ world-class innovators/startup founders and investors hailing from Lux Capital, Flagship Pioneering, Polaris Partners, Alexandria, Pfizer Ventures, Bayer, and many more.
Nucleate Bio is launching in Fall 2021 in New York. Participating teams will be early-career scientists and business-minded graduate students with an ambitious biology-driven vision. Teams will meet potential co-founders, receive one-on-one mentorship, and gain opportunities for non-dilutive funding and perks valued at $200,000. See attached for additional information and brief answers to frequently asked questions.
The info session on Tuesday, May 4th at 6 PM ET is an opportunity to meet the Nucleate Bio team, learn more about the program, and prepare for the application process.

NSIN Propel Information Session
2021-04-28 12:00 - 12:30
Information Session
Applications

Technology companies new to the defense sector are now invited to apply to participate in NSIN Propel, a program delivered by Newlab, Decisive Point, and the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN). NSIN Propel program enables the development of next-generation applications of emerging dual-use technology for government and defense. Apply today. NSIN Propel is collaborating with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Information Directorate (AFRL)—the premier research organization for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) and Cyber technologies—to recruit companies new to the defense sector with technology solutions that can be adapted to address the needs of both the AFRL and the broader DoD community. We are seeking applications from technology companies working in areas including: smart cities, urban tech, mobility, agriculture, industrial automation, manufacturing, next-gen connectivity, logistics, and supply chain management.

Kickoff: Start Me Up Bootcamp Spring 2021
2021-04-26
Apply here, rolling admission
Open to Columbia (and Barnard and Teachers College)) faculty, staff, postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate student researchers.

Join Columbia Engineering’s Lean Launchpad virtual course to test your idea in the market! Participants in this free, two-week course will receive entrepreneurship training and mentor support as they virtually talk with customers to identify the best product-market fit using the lean launchpad methodology. Faculty, staff, postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate student researchers may apply with a team of one to three people. Applicants are expected to be available for all short-course sessions. Teams that successfully complete this bootcamp may become eligible to apply for the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps Teams program, which includes a $50,000 grant. Application Deadline: rolling; first come, first serve. Bootcamp Dates: April 26, 27 and May 5, 12.

2021 Columbia | IBM Launch Accelerator Virtual Demo Day
2021-04-23 10:00 - 13:00
RSVP here

You’re invited to the 2021 Columbia | IBM LAUNCH Accelerator Virtual Demo Day on Friday, April 23rd from 10AM – 1PM EST! The cohort of 9 early-stage teams are focused on a wide range of deep tech applications and have made incredible progress over the 12-week educational bootcamp leading up to this culminating event. The virtual session will feature pitches from each cohort team and a keynote address from the Chief Technology Officer of Global Industries, IBM Global Markets, Dr. Mahmoud Naghshineh.

Data Science Day 2021
2021-04-21 10:00 - 13:00
Open to the public
Register here

Data Science Day provides a forum for innovators in academia, industry, and government to connect. We hope you will join us in April for the keynote address, an interactive virtual poster session, and lightning talks by Columbia University researchers on their latest work in data science. Learn more at datascienceday.net.
The Keynote will be delivered by Pat Bajari, a Chief Economist at Amazon and Vice President of Amazon’s Core AI team. His team of software engineers and scientists in machine learning, statistics, operations research, and econometrics has helped to build scalable systems for supply chain, transportation, pricing, automated marketing, robotics, forecasting, human resources, and more.

CAVA: Spring 2021 Demo Day
2021-04-15 10:00 - 12:00
RSVP here

Launched in the fall of 2019, CAVA is a 12-week program providing promising Columbia Business School alumni-founded companies with mentorship and resources from CBS. The Spring 2021 cohort has 10 companies across the globe from Singapore to London and contains 2 recent winners of our Lang Fund Competition for alumni. The startups are typically looking to raise between $1M and $5M.
Demo Day is a great opportunity to view deal-flow from the CBS alumni network and to build relationships with talented entrepreneurs.

APPLY: Columbia Startup Lab (Deadline April 14)
2021-04-14
Grow your venture with tailored programming, subsidized space, and a vibrant community of Columbia entrepreneurs – applications are now live for the Columbia Startup Lab! We’re looking for alums who have graduated by June 1, 2021 and are ready to work on their venture full time.

Columbia Venture Competition Tournament of Champions
2021-04-13 15:00 - 17:00
RSVP Here
Open to the Public

More than 100 alumni judges from around the world ranked Columbia founders and their startups during six tracks of the 2021 Columbia Venture Competition. Now comes the moment of truth. Who is the outstanding Columbia early-stage venture for 2021? RSVP to watch it happen!

Almaworks Demo Day
2021-04-09 16:00 - 18:00
Open to the Columbia community including Barnard and Teachers College.
RSVP HERE

Columbia’s startup accelerator Almaworks is hosting its Cohort XI Demo Day on Friday, April 9 from 4-6pm. Come hear Almaworks’ incredible startups pitch to and interface with some of the top VCs across NYC. Register via Eventbrite and tell your friends! Please contact almaworks@columbia.edu with any questions.

Deadline: SUNY's 5th Annual Medical Device Innovation Challenge
2021-04-01
Learn more about eligibility and applications here.

The 5th Annual Medical Device Innovation Challenge (MDIC) hosted by SUNY Upstate Medical University’s CNY Biotech Accelerator (CNYBAC) is accepting applications through April, 2021.
The CNYBAC MDIC is an Empire State Development grant-supported 6-month program which has graduated companies such as EndoGlow, CathBuddy, Halomine, ZEPHYRx and many others. These teams have won competitions, received FuzeHub Commercialization Competition and Manufacturing grant funding, completed I-Corps courses, applied to student capstone programs, and received commercialization services through the Innovation Law Center, College of Law at Syracuse University, a key MDIC collaborative partner.

Spring 2021 Design Challenge: Upcycling out of Microplastics
2021-02-19 13:00 - 15:00
Join the Spring Design Challenge, focused on Upcycling out of Microplastics. Columbia students (including Barnard and Teachers College) are invited to join the challenge, learn about the issues in polymer use, pollution, and recycling, and to propose creative solutions. Prizes will be awarded to the best student team projects.
Sign up here
Timeline:

February 19th: Kick off, 1-3pm EST on zoom
February 20th: Team building session with course assistant
Fridays in between: Meeting with faculty leads on topics such as plastic imaging, sorting, and chemical processing. You will also hear from experts in industry and policy.
Weekly: Check in sessions with course assistant
April 2: Final meeting with student team presentations

Third Thursday - Pitch Practice
2021-02-18 12:00 - 13:00
Hosted by Columbia Engineering, this Third Thursday will feature pitch coaches, mentors, students and faculty to help you deliver the best pitch. This is a great opportunity to practice your pitch for CVC 2021!
RSVP Here

Deadline: Tamer Fund for Social Ventures
2021-02-15
Open to Columbia University students, alumni, faculty or researchers, or be advised and have significant involvement by Columbia University faculty or researchers (including Barnard and Teachers College affiliates).
APPLY HERE

The Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School is now accepting applications for the Tamer Fund for Social Ventures.
This fund provides seed grants of up to $25,000 to nonprofit, for-profit, and hybrid early-stage social and environmental ventures. Ventures must be led by Columbia University students, alumni, faculty or researchers, or be advised and have significant involvement by Columbia University faculty or researchers. Tamer Fund seed grants will be made to approximately seven ventures each year.
Normally, application deadlines are the same dates every year, August 15 and March 1. Due to the pandemic, we have shifted the spring application deadline to February 15.

Deadline: Columbia-Corning Advanced Materials Prize
2021-02-15
APPLY HERE
Open to all researchers at Columbia University (faculty, PhD students, postdocs, undergraduates) developing translational research projects in the advanced materials space. Learn more about eligible projects in the areas of life sciences, ceramics, quantum, battery technologies, photonics and display technologies, advanced coatings and paints, and more here.

Are you working on translational research/a startup in the advanced materials space? Apply by February 15 for the inaugural Columbia-Corning Advanced Materials Prize. Winners will receive up to $50,000 and mentorship from Corning and CTV’s entrepreneurial teams.

Deadline (Extended!): 2021 Columbia Venture Competition, First Round
2021-02-12
Registration for the $300,000 Columbia Venture Competition is now open! Visit StartupColumbia.org for rules, descriptions, and eligibility. New this year: Total prize pool of $300,000 * Announcing the addition of the Alliance Social Enterprise Challenge * We’ll select a “2021 Columbia Data Science Institute Startup of the Year * We’ll hold a final “Tournament of Champions” round to determine the “2021 Columbia Venture Competition Grant Champion”
DEADLINE is Feb 12th.

Deadline: Design Your Future
2021-02-10 22:00
The future can feel uncertain, so we’ve created Design Your Future as a two-session program where students learn to apply design to their careers and life after graduation. The goal of this program is to help you to better navigate your career and life choices in the face of uncertainty. The tools we cover are ones you can continue to apply whenever you find yourself personally “stuck.”
Dates and times (online via Zoom):
Wednesday, February 17th — 6:30pm to 9:00pm ET
Wednesday, February 24th — 6:30pm to 8:30pm ET
If you are interested, fill out the application below!
Please respond by 10pm on Wednesday, February 10th.
We will contact all applicants by 12pm by Friday, February 12th.
If you have any questions, email adam.royalty@columbia.edu
https://forms.gle/bxdND7aohTHBrnfg6

Kickoff: Columbia Business Design Challenge
2021-02-07
The Columbia Innovation & Design Club, a student-led organization at Columbia Business School, is organizing the inaugural Columbia Business Design Challenge. This competition will :
– introduce students and other participants to some of the most innovative companies in the country
– facilitate a robust learning experience by emphasizing the principles of human-centered design and design thinking
– foment fresh ideas in areas important to the future of work and business
– gain real-world, hands-on experience tackling some of the most salient issues facing society today
The Columbia Business Design Challenge is open to cross-disciplinary teams to facilitate diversity of thought, experience, and solutions. We hope you will consider being involved in judging the participating teams and/or facilitating a workshop for competition participants.
Participating Companies:
Fahrenheit 212
Bionic
Designit
Dates:
February 7, 2021 Challenge Kickoff Event
Competition overview, application assignment & prompt reveal
February 8, 2021 Team Registration Deadline
Registration and application assignment submission by 11:59 pm
March 19, 2021 Challenge Pitch Day
Team presentations, judging & award ceremony, & networking event
Prize:
1st prize is $2,000!

Social Enterprise Conference, Capital for Good Series: ESG Investing & Sustainable Farming
2021-02-05
Open to the Public
RSVP HERE

Deadline: Lang Center Funding for CBS Alumni Founders
2021-02-02
APPLY HERE

The first time in its 20+ year history, The Lang Fund is opening up a selection process for early-stage, alumni-founded startups from Columbia Business School. The Eugene M. Lang Entrepreneurial Initiative Fund (“The Lang Fund”) provides early-stage funding (typically $25-50K) to qualifying startups. The Lang Fund is looking for CBS alumni-founded ventures that fit the following criteria:
– Pre-seed or seed stage companies, ideally post-revenue with 6 months of customer data
– At least one member of the founding team must be a CBS alum
– The founding team must all be working full-time on their venture
– The venture must be raising, or looking to raise a round within the next 12 months
– The Lang Fund is geographically and sector agnostic

The deadline to apply is Feb 2.
Questions? Contact langcenter@gsb.columbia.edu.

Important Dates

1/11/21 – Alumni Submission Window Opens – Apply Here
2/2/21 – Alumni Submission Window Closes – Companies will be selected on a rolling basis
2/24/21 – Selected Alumni Ventures Pitch to Screening Committee
3/12 – Final Round Pitch, investment decisions are made by Lang Fund Investment Committee

CGI University 2021
2021-01-29
Open to students

The Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) program gives students access to a global community of young leaders, a social impact curriculum, personalized mentorship, seed funding opportunities through partners like Verizon and IBM, and an invitation to our student-only virtual summit in partnership with Howard University.

Almaworks
2021-01-27
Open to all Columbians, including Barnard and Teachers College.
APPLY HERE

Columbia’s student-run startup accelerator Almaworks is now accepting applications for its Spring 2021 cohort.
Please visit alma.works to learn more about our program and apply at alma.works/apply. Feel free to contact almaworks@columbia.edu with any questions. We hope you will join us!

CSL Talks: Your Life, Your Planet with Donna Sanders
2021-01-22 12:00 - 13:00
Open to the public.
RSVP HERE
Donna Sanders is founder and CEO of Virimodo, a Columbia Startup Lab and Techstars alum, on a mission to create a liveable future and helping city residents lead a low-carbon lifestyle. In this CSL Talk, Donna will walk us through carbon footprint ramifications and help us turn inward to take a look at daily life and how each personal decision matters, from the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep. Attendees will walk away knowing what simple behaviors we can change to reduce our carbon footprint in a meaningful way.
