YOUR HUB FOR CLEANTECH SUPPORT​

The Southern Tier Clean Energy Incubator (SCI) has supported over 56 startups from across the world, offering a unique ecosystem of innovators. One of six NYSERDA-funded incubators, SCI leverages connections, mentors, and lab space to provide members the tools needed to build a successful startup or grow an existing venture.

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Members

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International Startups

Critical Resources

New York State is fast becoming a hub for clean energy research and business. Headquartered in Binghamton, NY’s Koffman Incubator, the Southern Tier Clean Energy Incubator (SCI) program advances climate-tech companies through key facilities, expertise and connections. SCI welcomes in-state, out of state as well as international members who wish to grow with a world-class set of resources supporting their progress.

Program Benefits:

Subject Matter Experts

Experts in clean energy, sales, legal, marketing, grants, research, manufacturing,  and more are eager to support your venture

Strategic Insight

Define your product-market fit, explore demand analysis, ensure commercial readiness and refine your technology with SCI support

Capitalization Vehicles

Gain insight and connections into available financial resources for your startup — investment, SBIR, NYSERDA PON’s, 76WEST and more

Adjacent Programs

Access programs offered by Binghamton University. XCEED provides you qualified interns and I-Corps guides customer discovery 

Space

Laboratory space, testing equipment, offices, co-working areas and a NY address/mail box are available to members

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Mentor networks, manufacturing guidance, grant support, industry connections, partner programs and more are available to members

Who SCI is for

Ideal applicants should be working on a venture in the clean energy, cleantech, or climatetech areas. This is broadly categorized as ventures seeking to reduce or remediate carbon emissions either directly or indirectly. Applicants should have interest in receiving mentorship and utilizing the pivotal resources offered by the program. Interest in New York State presence (via an office, hiring, manufacturing or sales) is highly encouraged. 

How to Join

Join a welcoming ecosystem of 25+ cleantech startups receiving hands-on mentorship and support. Interested applicants should connect with program administrator Emma Smith, or through the Koffman Incubator contact form. Consult the F.A.Q at the bottom of this page for information on costs and the application process. The SCI team is eager to hear what you are working on and look forward to connecting.

Dedicated Team Members.

 

The Clean Energy Incubator team has extensive experience and connections in the cleantech field and work with members one-on-one to guide progress and advance innovation.

Michael Jagielski

Program Director

Emma Smith

Program Administrator

emmas@binghamton.edu

Support Team

Marketing, Mentorship, More

Michael (Mike) Jagielski is a seasoned business executive and technology entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience working with CEO’s of companies ranging from SMB to Fortune 100. Mike was previously with Micatu Inc., which was the “grand prize winner” of the inaugural 76West Clean Energy Competition and served as the company’s Chief Operating Officer for the last 8 years. Mike is considered an SME (Subject Matter Expert) in the areas of Big Data Analytics, Solution Sales Methodologies and Business Monetization Strategies with a successful track record of bringing new technologies to market.

Mike utilizes his passion for mentoring entrepreneurs to rapidly expand the presence of clean energy businesses budding in the Southern Tier to ensure commercial success, create jobs and increase the critical presence of clean energy locally, nationally, globally.

Emma Smith provides extensive support to the Southern Tier Clean Tech Incubator, recruiting companies to the region and working directly with NYSERDA on grant milestones and the 76West program.

Emma works as a liaison between SCI member companies and other resources available. She coordinates access to the four other programs offered by the Office of Entrepreneurship and assists in office and lab acquisition.

Her multi-faceted talent pool is the perfect complement to a program with deep connections with surrounding manufacturers, universities as well as NYSERDA.

Additionally, she serves as a key coordinator in event planning and maintains the customer relationship management tool for the entire Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships.

Bring Your Team Members

Discover Member Startups

Common Questions

Ventures in the clean energy, cleantech, or climatetech areas. This is broadly categorized as ventures seeking to reduce or remediate carbon emissions either directly or indirectly. The program accepts members from across the nation. 

Program cost varies by space requirements. A majority of members are considered "virtual" and do not occupy space within the incubator. Members must, at a minimum, be "co-workers" of the Koffman Incubator. Learn more about costs here.

This program is primarily supported by the New York State Research and Development Authority, or, NYSERDA. The Koffman Incubator and its other programs are managed by Binghamton University's Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships. 

Yes, the SCI program has over 9 out-of-state members as well as some international. 

The Koffman Incubator's Laboratories are a favorite of SCI members. Large and small office space is available. Space on the Binghamton University main campus is selectively available for more advanced lab and equipment requirements.

Rich with a history of innovation and advanced manufactuing, the birthplace of IBM along with many iconic companies -- upstate, NY and the Southern Tier is fast becoming a preferred location to start a cleantech business. Learn more about the Southern Tier. 

No, SCI does not take equity in its members' ventures, making it unique among many large incubator programs. 

No, many members attend mentor meetings, member meetups, and gain insight into grants, competitions, and opportunities virtually. 

Yes, selectively. Testing equipment, personnel, adjacent programs, space, and more are accessible to SCI members and is assessed case-by-case.  

Yes, many members participate in adjacent programs offered by Binghamton University at the Koffman Incubator. These programs are free to SCI members. Two programs of note are the XCEED program, which provides qualified interns to clean energy startups. Another is the NSF I-Corps which provides a $3000 grant along with training to conduct customer discovery. 

Yes. Core to the mission of the SCI program is to support the development of your idea -- from legal to IP to R&D to pilot projects to customer discovery -- the program is designed to support startups in many stages of development. 

Reach out to learn more, we are happy to connect and answer any questions you may have. Contact Emma Smith or reach out through the Koffman Incubator contact form

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