The campus field guide
University of Rochester
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Inside this ecosystem · 2 linked sources
University of Rochester is a private R1 research university in Rochester, New York, founded in 1850. Its entrepreneurship ecosystem is centered on the rochester-ain-center (led by Vice Provost Dr. Duncan Moore), which coordinates all programming including the rochester-mark-ain-competition ($13.5K fall business model competition), rochester-forbes-competition (engineering-focused, $6K/$3K/$1.5K, running since 1989), rochester-e5-program (tuition-free fifth-year fellowship), and rochester-ain-incubator at NextCorps.
The rochester-ur-ventures tech transfer office reports 124 invention disclosures, 40 patents issued, $2.3M in licensing income, and 29 license agreements. The ecosystem is further strengthened by UR-affiliated NextCorps (70+ startups incubating, $733M raised since 2018, $10M expansion underway) and Excell Partners (UR-affiliated seed/early-stage venture capital fund).
Include. University of Rochester has a mature, multi-layered entrepreneurship ecosystem centered on the Ain Center. Multiple well-documented competitions (Mark Ain $13.5K, Forbes $6K), a unique tuition-free fifth-year fellowship (e5), an active tech transfer office with real metrics ($2.3M licensing income, 40 patents), and deep regional connections through UR affiliates NextCorps (70+ startups, $733M raised) and Excell Partners. The Forbes Competition's 35+ year track record demonstrates longevity. material, active startup and commercialization infrastructure.
How we know this: the figures on this page come from the linked sources (last verified 2026-06-23); what those sources do not state is left unknown.
At a glance
Indexed programs
6
All currently active
Top direct funding
$13,500
Mark Ain Business Model Competition
Equity
Mixed equity terms
Program mix
5
Entrepreneurship Center · Incubator · Pitch Competition
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
6 programs indexed
Pitch Competition
Charles and Janet Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition
Pitch CompetitionAlso: Forbes Pitch Competition
$6,000
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-04-23
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
$13,500
funding range
- Last activity
- 2025-11-08
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
Incubator
$0
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-03-01
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
Entrepreneurship Center
$0
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-06-23
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students +more
- Verification
- Verified
Tech Transfer
$0
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-06-23
- Participants
- Faculty, Researchers +more
- Verification
- Verified
From students
Be the first student from University of Rochester to post a startup.
Post a startupFunding and Equity
UR offers multiple non-dilutive funding sources: Mark Ain Competition ($13,500 total), Forbes Competition ($10,500 total, $6K max), and e5 Program (tuition waiver). UR Ventures manages the Technology Development Fund for researcher commercialization (amounts not disclosed). Excell Partners provides equity investment to UR-affiliated startups. Licensing through UR Ventures may involve cash or cash-plus-equity terms.
Recent Activity
- 1989-present: Forbes Competition continuous operation (35+ years).
- 2007-present: Mark Ain Competition continuous operation.
- 2025-2026: e5 Program active with fall/spring cohorts.
- 2025: NextCorps announces $10M expansion (mid-2026 opening).
- April 2026: Forbes Competition winners (MuLinx, DroneGurus, Guidus Medical).
- November 2025: Mark Ain Competition winners (Scyntek, VivoFlux, Convort).
- March 2026: Student incubator Final Pitch Night at NextCorps.
- Ongoing: UR Ventures active with 124 disclosures, 40 patents.
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
Convort
3rd place
placement
University of Rochester · Charles and Janet Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition
2025 Rochester Mark Ain Business Model Competition third place.
DroneGurus
2nd place
placement
University of Rochester · Charles and Janet Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition
2026 Rochester Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition second place.
Glucose Guardian
1st place
placement
University of Rochester · Charles and Janet Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition
2025 Rochester Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition first place.
Guidus Medical
3rd place
placement
University of Rochester · Charles and Janet Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition
2026 Rochester Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition third place.
MeDescover
3rd place
placement
University of Rochester · Charles and Janet Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition
2025 Rochester Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition third place.
MuLinx
$6,000
prize won
University of Rochester · Charles and Janet Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition
Engineering venture and first-place Forbes Competition winner (2026, $6K) at the University of Rochester. Founded by Hossein Abolhassani.
Scyntek
1st place
placement
University of Rochester · Charles and Janet Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition
2025 Rochester Mark Ain Business Model Competition first place.
VivoFlux
2nd place
placement
University of Rochester · Charles and Janet Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition
2025 Rochester Mark Ain Business Model Competition second place.
Historical winners (research notes)
- MuLinx (Hossein Abolhassani) — Forbes 1st 2026.
- DroneGurus (Guruansh Kohli, Nate Bogdan) — Forbes 2nd 2026, 2nd 2025.
- Guidus Medical (Tim Guida) — Forbes 3rd 2026.
- Glucose Guardian (Alexa Trzpis) — Forbes 1st 2025.
- MeDescover (Gurcan, DeVries, Farnam) — Forbes 3rd 2025.
- Scyntek (Karthik Ramakrishnan) — Mark Ain 1st 2025.
- VivoFlux (Chen, Linares, Sharipol) — Mark Ain 2nd 2025.
- Convort (Hashem Alomari) — Mark Ain 3rd 2025.
Research gaps & things to verify
Missing Information
- TDF grant amounts and recipient list.
- Student incubator cohort size and specific startups.
- Excell Partners fund size and UR-specific portfolio.
- TEAM Master's enrollment and outcomes.
- Historical Mark Ain prize distribution (1st/2nd/3rd amounts).
- e5 program venture outcomes and alumni startups.
More about this ecosystem
University of Rochester
News & articles
2 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at University of Rochester.
2 sources
Official sources(2)
Ain Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Official Pages
University of Rochester
University of Rochester
Ain Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Official Pages
Five captures: Ain Center home page, Forbes Competition page (2026 winners, prizes, schedule), Mark Ain Competition page ($13.5K, 2025 winners, revenue restriction), e5 Program page (tuition-free fifth year), and Ain Center student incubator at NextCorps.
Read on University of Rochester
University of Rochester
UR Ventures Official Site
Single capture of UR Ventures website documenting tech transfer metrics (124 disclosures, 40 patents, $2.3M licensing income, 29 agreements), process, and resources (TDF, SBIR/STTR, I-Corps, Excell Partners, NextCorps).
Read on University of Rochester
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