INSPIRING A CULTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION THROUGHOUT UCONN
Since our inception in 2007, we are dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and innovators, creating a vibrant startup ecosystem, and contributing to the overall economic development in Connecticut. Through a comprehensive array of programs, resources, mentorship, and funding, we aim to empower UConn students, faculty, and alumni to transform their ideas into successful ventures. We also support veterans and local business owners.
While Entrepreneurship. Starts. Here. We certainly know it is just one step.
CCEI IN THE NEWS
- Camaraderie, Enthusiasm Punctuate Wolff New Venture Competition October 8, 2024UConn Today – A novel treatment for long-term pain management that could revolutionize post-operative care and eliminate the need for opioids for many, won the first-place, $30,000 grand prize at the Wolff New Venture Competition last week. Professors and esteemed UConn Health researchers Lakshmi Nair, Ph.D. and Yusuf Khan, Ph.D. say they were both surprised... […]Claire Hall
- UConn Alumni, Car Fanatics Creating Marketplace for Second-Hand Auto Parts September 30, 2024UConn Today – When they were college students at UConn, Kyle Mayers ’13 (BUS) and Wally Namane ’13 (BUS), ’18 MBA both drove identical older, red BMW coupes. Friends used to confuse them as they zipped around campus, until one of them finally connected the two men on Facebook. Mayers and Namane had a great... […]Claire Hall
- Medical Startup Soleia Biosciences Aims to Eliminate Severe Pain–Without the Opioids September 25, 2024UConn Today – Surgeons perform almost 800,000 total-knee replacements, and more than a half-million hip replacements, in the United States each year. And while those procedures are typically life- and mobility-enhancing, the initial post-surgical pain can be very unpleasant for some patients. Opioids remain among the most popular prescription medication to combat orthopedic post-surgical pain,... […]Claire Hall
UPCOMING EVENTS
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Feb
6
Info Session: CCEI Summer Fellowship Accelerator 12:00pm
Info Session: CCEI Summer Fellowship Accelerator
Thursday, February 6th, 2025
12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
CCEI Summer Fellowship is UConn’s startup accelerator. Open to student, faculty, staff and alumni founders, this eight-week intensive entrepreneurial experience helps founders develop the skills needed to bring new products, services, and technologies to market.
Join us for a virtual info session on Thursday, February 6, 2025 from 12-1pm.
Register here: https://lu.ma/a9u6x3taIf you cannot attend and would like a recording sent to you, please email alycia.chrosniak@uconn.edu.
CCEI’s Summer Fellowship Accelerator takes place June 2, 2025 through July 31, 2025 with selected startups spending three days a week over eight weeks taking a deep dive into their business with the support of mentors, industry experts, and experienced entrepreneurs. These sessions help educate program participants on how to define their business, build their brand, and launch their venture, all while building a community with the other entrepreneurs participating in the program.
The highly-competitive program only selects 10 startups to participate each year. As part of the program, these startups receive:
$15,000 (non-equity, non-diluting) in funding for business development; up to $5,000 (per student) can be used to pay a member of the team (current UConn student or recent UConn graduate).
Pro-bono legal, accounting, product development and branding services, and waived bank fees to assist in the proper establishment of your business and deciding how you want to structure your venture.
One-on-one mentoring and guidance from industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs.
Expert-led sessions covering all scaling fundamentals – go to market strategy, pitch compilation, sales and fundraising, to name a few.
End-of-program demo day, where five teams advance to CCEI’s Wolff New Venture Competition to compete for $115,000+ in funding.
CCEI Summer Fellowship alumni have gone on to raise over $316 million in follow-on funding, have been selected to participate in accelerators like Techstars and Mass Challenge, have been named Thiel Fellows, and more.
Learn more about CCEI’s Summer Fellowship Accelerator: https://ccei.uconn.edu/programs/summer-fellowship/
If you have questions, contactalycia.chrosniak@uconn.edu.