The idea of business incubators arose in 1959 when Joseph Mancuso opened the very first one in Batavia, New York. Since that time, the number of incubators and entrepreneur startup resources has grown to 7,000 worldwide. There are 80 active small business incubators in New York alone.
Over the last five years, business incubator programs have flourished, and several new models have emerged around the globe. These new models include accelerator programs, industry-specific incubators, maker spaces, and coworking spaces. Their success and popularity continue to grow as they spur economic development, support innovative ideas, and foster collaboration with academic and industrial resources.
New York Business Incubators and Hot Spots by Region
In New York, Empire State Development has designated 10 Innovation Hot Spots and 20 Certified Business Incubators that provide a network of support across the state for manufacturing start-ups and beyond. Several other incubators offer specific entrepreneur startup resources services in various industry sectors in New York.
Capital Region
Innovate518
Type: Innovation Hot Spot; collaborative effort of incubators, accelerators, and entrepreneurial service providers
Manufacturing Sectors: All
Services: Funding assistance, tax incentives, mentorship, pitch prep, legal resources, student venture resources
Innovate 518 is the designated Capital Region Innovation Hot Spot. The program connects early-stage startups with financial, informational, and networking resources.
Biomedical Acceleration and Commercialization Center (BACC) | Albany Medical College
Type: Incubator with STARTUP-NY designation
Manufacturing Sectors: Biomedical
Services: Facilities, networking, education, tax incentives, access to industry executives and business service experts
BACC, located at Albany Medical College, provides an environment of support for entrepreneurs who are developing and improving biomedical innovations.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Innovation Hub
Type: NYS Certified Business Incubator
Manufacturing Sectors: Technology, engineering, science
Services: Funding assistance, business development assistance, economic development agencies, business professionals and other service providers
The hub at RPI focuses on connecting entrepreneurs with academic and industrial resources for networking and collaborative efforts.
The Manufacturing Incubator at Tech Valley Center of Gravity
Type: Incubator that provides tools and resources to encourage collaboration between makers, innovators, and entrepreneurs
Manufacturing Sectors: All
Services: Facilities, access to academic and industrial resources, networking, workshops and social events
The incubator at TVCOG boosts manufacturing innovation by providing businesses with access to prototype development resources and networking opportunities.
Central Region
Central New York Innovation Hot Spot
Type: Innovation Hot Spot that is part of the Tech Garden program
Manufacturing Sectors: All
Services: Access to early-stage funding, coaching and mentorship resources
This hot spot is a 21-member consortium that is a stepping stone to the STARTUP-NY program, which helps incubators take advantage of tax incentives and gain access to business development programming.
Central New York Biotech Accelerator
Type: Certified Business Incubator that is an affiliated partner with The Tech Garden
Manufacturing Sectors: Biotech
Services: Wet labs, services, mentorship, education, access to biotech equipment, and facilities, networking with biotech experts
CNYBAC, located in Syracuse, provides acceleration services and access to industry-specific development resources to growth-oriented companies.
Finger Lakes Region
Finger Lakes Innovation Hot Spot
Type: Innovation Hot Spot that provides growth services
Manufacturing Sectors: All
Services: Access to funding and consulting resources, business and product development services
This hot spot, led by High Tech Rochester (HTR) and the Rochester Institute of Technology (RTI), supports the growth of small to mid-sized manufacturers.
Long Island Region
Long Island Innovation Hot Spot | LIHTI
Type: Innovation Hot Spot and High-Tech Incubator
Manufacturing Sectors: Technology
Services: Research and development, business growth resources, networking, access to facilities and equipment
The Long Island High Technology Incubator (LIHTI) is a non-profit organization that supports and stabilizes early-stage, high-risk, high-tech businesses.
Stony Brook University NYS Certified Business Incubator | LIHTI
Type: Certified Business Incubator
Manufacturing Sectors: Technology
Services: Research and development, business growth resources, networking, access to facilities and equipment
The Long Island High Technology Incubator (LIHTI) at Stony Brook University has 40+ suites and a total of 62,000 square feet of space.
Entrepreneurship & Technology Innovation Center (ETIC) at New York Institute of Technology
Type: Business Incubator and Accelerator
Manufacturing Sectors: Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Energy and Green Technologies, Bioengineering and Medical Devices
Services: Testing and research labs, data center, maker space, incubator and workspaces, education, access to business and industrial resources, networking
ETIC’s mission is to be a catalyst for economic growth and to help regional businesses increase their competitive advantage.
Mid-Hudson Region
Mid-Hudson | BioInc @NY Medical College
Type: Hot Spot
Manufacturing Sectors: Biotechnology
Services: Business services, wet lab, research and development, shared workspaces, strategy services for conserving capital and getting funding
Hudson Valley’s BioInc@NYMC is the only biotechnology incubator in the region. The program has several services and resources for entrepreneurs and startups.
NYS Clean Tech Certified Business Incubator | iCANny
Type: Certified Business Incubator with commercialization and acceleration services
Manufacturing Sectors: Energy, Cleantech, Fintech, Medtech, Information Technology
Services: Mentoring and advising, business resources, development and commercialization services, funding, prototyping
iCANny supports both start-ups and mature enterprises by providing multiple business services, including a curriculum to commercialization.
The Accelerator Powered by the Orange County IDA
Type: Certified Business Incubator and Accelerator
Manufacturing Sectors: Fashion design and production, bottling, technology, artisan manufacturing and artisan foods
Services: Below-market occupancy costs, workforce training, mentoring programs, networking and social events, high-tech plug-and-play environment with SMARTT Pods and a host of other resources
The Accelerator, located in New Windsor at Stewart International Airport, focuses on bringing manufacturing to the mid-Hudson Valley. The facility has 10,000 square feet of office space with utilities included.
Mohawk Valley Region
Mohawk Valley | thINCubator
Type: Hot Spot / Business Incubator and Accelerator
Manufacturing Sectors: All
Services: Ideation boot camps, coworking facilities and incubator space, equipment, meeting space, networking and social events, business coaching, acceleration services
The thINCubator fosters creative collisions by providing workspace, resources, coaching, and a collaborative environment for entrepreneurs.
Mohawk Valley Farm & Food Business Incubator (FFBI)
Type: Business Incubator
Manufacturing Sectors: Farm and food businesses
Services: Business and planning services, legal support, education and networking, mentoring, product processing and development, access to capital
The incubator supports new and developing farm and food businesses by providing a variety of business and training resources as well as product development facilities.
Griffiss Institute Certified Business Incubator (GI)
Type: Certified Business Incubator and Laboratory Workspace
Manufacturing Sectors: All
Services: Coaching, business training, education and seminars, government contracting assistance, workspace and facilities support
GIBI, located in Rome, NY, partners with thINCubator and other regional resources to connect and support entrepreneurs in the local area.
New York City Region
New York City CUNY Hub for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Type: Innovation Hot Spot and Business Incubator
Manufacturing Sectors: All
Services: Networking, commercialization, mentoring, business services, assistance with funding
The CUNY Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship promotes faculty entrepreneurship and fosters collaborations with business and industry.
Brooklyn Biotech NYS Certified Business Incubator
Type: Certified Business Incubator with state-of-the-art facilities
Manufacturing Sectors: Biotechnology
Services: Wet lab, office space, specialized research facilities and equipment, networking, collaboration spaces
This incubator is an NYS tax-free zone that helps early-stage companies develop, test, and commercialize biotech innovations.
Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator | Pratt Institute
Type: Hub for Ethical Fashion and Design
Manufacturing Sectors: Fashion and Design
Services: Mentoring, small-run apparel production, no minimum knitting services, digital fabrication services, showroom space, retail sites, sustainable strategies consulting
The Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator helps designers turn their ideas into successful businesses.
Entrepreneur Space Incubator
Type: Business Incubator with commercial kitchen space
Manufacturing Sectors: Food
Services: Office space, commercial kitchen, business counseling, classrooms, networking, assistance with food inspections and licensing
This incubator helps food entrepreneurs with business creation services and marketing efforts in addition to providing affordable commercial kitchen space.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Type: Medical school with top-funded research institutes, centers, and laboratories
Manufacturing Sectors: Medical
Services: Business, research, and development support to help companies commercialize their products
The Icahn School of Medicine advances the art of medical research and care by providing an environment that encourages collaborative learning, social concern, and scholarly inquiry.
NYDesigns at LaGuardia Community College
Type: Economic Development Program with Business Incubator
Manufacturing Sectors: Design, fabrication, technology and maker spaces
Services: Private studio space, mentoring, networking, coworking spaces, prototyping, fabrication lab
NYDesigns is dedicated to helping design and hardware tech start-ups succeed. In addition to its other services, the program has a 5,000 ft² fabrication lab.
NYU Tandon School of Engineering Certified Incubator
Type: Certified Business Incubator with Future Labs
Manufacturing Sectors: Technology
Services: Collaborative workspaces, networking, business and administrative support services, access to talent
This program helps companies gain access to markets and customers through its close-working relationships with several valuable NYC-based organizations.
North Country Region
North Country Innovation Hot Spot
Type: Innovation Hot Spot
Manufacturing Sectors: All
Services: Centralized hub for business, ideation, and commercialization services
This hot spot utilizes the existing infrastructure in the region and provides a central point of resources and support for entrepreneurs in the North Country.
Southern Tier Region
Binghamton Incubator Program
Type: Business and Student Incubators
Manufacturing Sectors: Multiple programs focused on various manufacturing fields
Services: START-UP NY tax-free program, research and development, prototyping, specialized laboratories, business resources, access to talent through internships and co-ops, networking
Through its three incubator programs, Binghamton University provides start-ups and emerging companies with targeted resources and services.
Cornell Food Innovation NYS Certified Business Incubator | The Technology Farm
Type: Certified Business Incubator adjacent to the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station
Manufacturing Sectors: Food, Agriculture
Services: Access to research and development resources, networking opportunities with academic and industrial experts
The Technology Farm sits in the middle of a 72-acre apple orchard and has enough open space to support new buildings. This incubator has a very business-friendly “IP-Free Zone.”
IncubatorWorks
Type: Business and Manufacturing Incubators (multiple locations)
Manufacturing Sectors: All
Services: Ideation, testing, limited production, business resources, research and development, access to industry experts, networking, tax incentives, access to funding opportunities
IncubatorWorks is a part of START-UP NY and provides direct support and services from multiple universities across New York.
Rev Ithaca Startup Works
Type: Business Incubator and Workspace
Manufacturing Sectors: All
Services: Mentoring, workspace, start-up resources, Hardware Accelerator program, prototyping, networking with investors and contract manufacturers
Rev Ithaca is a partnership between Cornell University, Ithaca College, and Tompkins-Cortland Community. The incubator focuses on working with companies that have the potential to create new jobs in the region.
Southern Tier Startup Alliance
Type: Hot Spot / Alliance of multiple Business Incubators
Manufacturing Sectors: All with emphasis on Hardware and Clean Energy
Services: Workshops and programming, 1:1 mentoring, tax benefits, collaboration, acceleration, business resources, access to funding opportunities
In 2015, STSA helped 350 start-ups obtain a combined total of 10 million dollars in funding.
Western New York Region
Western New York | WIN: WNY Incubator Network
Type: Innovation Hot Spot
Manufacturing Sectors: All
Services: Networking, sharing best practices, mentoring, education, financial assistance, tax incentives, pitch prep, SBIR / STTR Assistance
WIN is a collaborative effort of incubators and entrepreneurial service providers that are managed via the University of Buffalo.
The Innovation Center at Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
Type: Organization of anchor institutions from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
Manufacturing Sectors: Medical, Biotechnology
Services: Access to world-class clinicians and researchers, networking, business resources, workspaces, mentoring, programming
The BNMC fosters communication and collaboration of academic, industrial, and community resources that are located on the 120-acre Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
Fredonia Technology Incubator (FTI)
Type: Certified Business Incubator
Manufacturing Sectors: Arts and Technology-Based Startups
Services: Administrative and business services, mentoring, networking, professional consulting, educational opportunities, access to capital, workspaces
FTI has assisted 20 start-ups that have created over 60 jobs in the Western New York region.
Need Entrepreneur Startup Resources for a NY Manufacturing Business?
FuzeHub assists small to medium-sized manufacturing and technology companies seeking to grow their business in New York State through industry events, networking with manufacturing industry experts, and funding.
Call us at 518-768-7030 or schedule a meeting with a member of our team to get started!