Fellow for New Ventures
Internal — Cornell University only
Fellow for New Ventures supports entrepreneurial scientists and engineers with lab-based technology development and business training to turn Cornell intellectual property into new technology ventures.
Funder: Cornell University
Due Dates: November 2, 2026 (Applications open) | November 20, 2026 (Info session) | December 11, 2026 (Info session) | January 29, 2027 (Info session) | February 12, 2027 (Info session) | February 19, 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $120,000 per year for fellow compensation and experiment expenses; one-year program
Summary: Supports entrepreneurial scientific fellows developing Cornell intellectual property into new technology ventures through lab-based research and business training.
Key Information: Applicants need faculty-inventor endorsement and must commit full-time as Cornell employees during the fellowship.
Description
Fellow for New Ventures is one of three signature programs within Ignite: Cornell Research Lab to Market, managed by Cornell’s Center for Technology Licensing (CTL). Launched in 2022, it funds and trains Ph.D. and master’s degree holders with entrepreneurial outlooks to launch technology ventures based on Cornell intellectual property. Each fellow partners with a faculty inventor and works in the inventor’s lab on technology development, with access to Cornell’s incubator network for business development.
The program combines scientific work with preparation for incorporating and launching a spinout company. Its goals are to grow entrepreneurial scientists and engineers, advance technology commercialization, and create high-value startups. Ignite supports promising Cornell innovations with strong commercial potential that are still too early for licensing or investment.
