Inspiring innovative impact.
Welcome to the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) – where ideas come to life! Since 2007, we’ve been leading the charge as UConn’s hub for all things entrepreneurial, building on the groundbreaking efforts started by the Wolff Family back in the mid-1980s.
We’ve come a long way since then, evolving our programs to spark bold ideas, nurture new ventures, and fuel innovative thinking. At CCEI, it’s all about the people — our vibrant community, our knack for effective collaboration, and our shared passion for growth and learning.
Together, we’re creating a culture of entrepreneurship that resonates across UConn, Connecticut, and beyond.
Ready to make an impact? Whether you’re brimming with a game-changing idea or want to help champion the next wave of innovators, we’re here for you. Let’s shape the future of entrepreneurship and innovation together!
READ OUR 2024-25 IMPACT REPORT
CCEI IN THE NEWS
- Michelle Cote Named Interim Director of UConn’s Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation October 31, 2025UConn Today – As UConn continues to expand opportunities for students to explore innovation and entrepreneurship, Michelle Cote has been named interim director of the Peter J. Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Read articleScott Slater III
- Wolff Competition Awards Grand Prize to Company Using Seaweed to Replace Plastic October 30, 2025UConn Today – SeaSol Technologies, a startup that is converting seaweed into compostable food packaging to replace plastic, was the grand prize winner at the Wolff New Venture Competition last week. CEO Yidan Zhang, a UConn Ph.D. candidate, was exuberant at receiving the top award, which includes $30,000 prize and $5,000 in pro-bono services from... […]Claire Hall
- Retired Army Major Wins EBV Alumni Event Pitch Competition October 17, 2025UConn Today – If you ask U.S. Army Major (Ret.) Henry H. Washington III ’21 EBV about the experiences that set him up for success as a youngster, he will credit three things: loving parents, a never-miss-church-on-Sunday ethic, participation in every sports team available, all which kept him busy, tired, and out of trouble and... […]Claire Hall
"To gain the advice of expert mentors who are in the consumer products industry was incredible. Some of the best advice I received is that people connect with people, not things. Although a product should be great, people are largely influenced by the story behind it as well. I am still working on incorporating storytelling into the brand, but I’ve realized the importance of this through CCEI's Summer Accelerator."
RAINA JAIN
Founder, Queen Bee + HiveGuard
Wolff New Venture Competition Finalist '21
“The EBV program really was life changing. I came into it knowing just enough about starting a business to be dangerous. The EBV program helped me to connect the pieces of what I’d learned. The average person who has a great business idea doesn’t think about the cash-flow analysis and attracting the right stream of customers through a targeted marketing plan. I felt like I earned a mini MBA.”
JASON OTRIN
Founder, On Course Drones
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans '17
"I encourage and recommend anyone looking at starting a business to apply to CCEI’s offerings. The programs were rigorous and really challenged our company to ‘pressure test’ our business model, which is not always comfortable. By the time we left the accelerator, we had regulatory consultants, legal counsel, accounting services, and a structure on how to make a really solid grant."
NICOLE WAGNER PH.D.
Co-Founder, LambdaVision
CCEI Summer Accelerator ‘16
“[EBV] dips your toes into the water in every area of business, ensuring that we all have a solid foundation in which to start, and reference back to as needed. From patents, accounting, bookkeeping, how to present our business, mental health, sales, marketing and IT; the course is comprehensive, well-choreographed and well-executed. In just a week, we were confident we had gained the footing every entrepreneur is desperately searching for.”
TONY AUDETTE
Founder, Audette Motorcycles
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans
“The EMP results gave me a clear picture of my current mindset, and helped me identify what my strengths and weaknesses are as an entrepreneur. I have become more self-aware and realistic with my capabilities, which helped me work to improve certain skills. Also, this assessment helped me identify the key characteristics needed in potential team members that would complement my skillset within my business.”
CHRISTINA PHILLIPS
Founder, Puure
Wolff New Venture Competition Finalist '23