Incubator seeks alumni partners

The Fredonia Technology Incubator is developing an alumni network of founders, entrepreneurs, economic development personnel and investors to formally involve alumni as mentors, speakers, supporters and internship hosts at the incubator.

The incubator, an economic development and community engagement program established by SUNY Fredonia in 2009, is a significant economic driver in the region and state.

A rural, mixed-use business incubator focusing on arts, food-related, and technology-based start-ups, it provides entrepreneurs access to work-ready space, and paths to funding, as well as highly qualified mentors. It also offers clients the ability to obtain business consulting, mentoring and training, tax incentives, legal and accounting services, assistance with business formation, networking opportunities, access to faculty and student interns. The incubator, located in Dunkirk, is a collaborative hub for entrepreneurship, economic development, and community engagement.

Overall, the incubator has facilitated the success of businesses startups, created jobs and established a one-stop economic development center through partnerships with leading economic development agencies including Chautauqua County’s planning and economic development entities.

The incubator has helped recruit students to SUNY Fredonia and retain local college graduates through educational programs, internships and the jobs it creates. The incubator is also a significant applied learning center for Fredonia students with its makerspace — the Innovation Design Studio, the Summer Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program, a well-established internship program, and an annual student business competition. The incubator has been a place for the development of innovative courses such as Professional Sales, Music Video Production and Podcasting.