Entrepreneurs from across New York State recently celebrated the conclusion of the Upstate Founders program, an unparalleled opportunity offered through Clarkson University’s Shipley Center for Innovation.
The program was made possible by the Reimagine Workforce Centers grant allocated by New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul to help people return to the workforce post-COVID through entrepreneurship activities.
Three other such grants were distributed, two to the New York City Area and one to Buffalo, leaving Clarkson with the daunting task of recruiting entrepreneurs from the rest of the state, including participants from Syracuse, Binghamton, and the Hudson Valley, in addition to the North Country. Through a long list of partnerships with organizations throughout the state, Clarkson was able to connect with and accept more than 400 new and early-stage entrepreneurs into the program.
The participants brought a great deal of diversity in background, industry, and stage of business development. Some started with no more than an idea that they were interested in pursuing, while others came into the program with an established business they wanted to expand. No matter where they fell on this spectrum, Upstate Founders matched them with resources to guide them through the next steps of their entrepreneurial journey.
To make this happen, Clarkson’s Shipley Center provided three types of support.
First, a completely new series of online entrepreneurship courses was created specifically for this program, offering participants the chance to learn about key topics such as customer discovery, business models, business plans, marketing, accounting, and intellectual property. These Clarkson Entrepreneurship Training (CET) courses were presented through Moodle, Clarkson’s online educational platform. Together, they covered various soft and hard skills that are essential to any entrepreneur looking to start or grow their business. Upon completion of these courses, participants were awarded a professional Certificate of Completion that demonstrates their mastery of the subject matter, as well as a digital micro-credential from Clarkson University.
The second core element of the program was the formation of group Mastermind sessions that provided a safe, intimate environment for participants to get support from their peers. Hosted by InFounders, an international Mastermind facilitation company, participants were matched together and placed in small groups of five to 10 individuals with similar business traits. Every two weeks for nine months, these groups met virtually to bounce ideas off each other and ask for advice on any challenges they were facing.
“Entrepreneurship is a very lonely journey,” said Program Manager David Thurlow on why they chose to implement these Masterminds. “People on the outside don’t usually understand what goes into it. It’s incredibly valuable to have the support of others who are going through it with you.”
Finally, Upstate Founders worked with more than 30 partner organizations across New York State to connect participants with additional resources and individual expert assistance. This included live topic-based sessions and virtual “office hours,” in-person workshops, and referrals to organizations offering mentorship and funding. These partnerships strengthened relationships with voluntary contributions from New York’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), angel investment group Point Positive, university incubator and accelerator programs from Rochester to Albany, and many local and regional economic development agencies, financial institutions, and chambers of commerce.
In addition to supporting New York business owners, this program offered direct, real-world experience to a team of Clarkson students who helped to implement the program and who sat in on dozens of Mastermind sessions with participants to contribute and ensure all ran smoothly. This experience complemented opportunities offered by Clarkson Ignite, a program that provides experiential opportunities for students interested in entrepreneurship, which works closely with the Shipley Center for Innovation on projects such as these.
To celebrate the completion of the Upstate Founders program, an in-person End of Program Party was held on September 30, allowing participants to meet each other face-to-face for the first time after meeting virtually since the beginning of the year. The event was a chance to celebrate each person’s accomplishments during the program and reaffirm the friendships that were made along the way.
In addition to the presentation of graduation certificates and awards, the event included a showcase of products from participant’s companies and featured a variety of networking activities to connect participants with similar minds outside of their Masterminds, as well remarks from Clarkson’s president, Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D., P.E., to commemorate the occasion.
The Upstate Founders program was a one-time opportunity for 2023, however the online Clarkson Entrepreneurship Training courses will continue to be made available through 2024. People interested in registering for these courses can learn more at ClarksonETraining.com.