What IncubatorWorks does

IncubatorWorks is a nonprofit business incubator established in 1992 and headquartered in Elmira, New York, serving entrepreneurs, students, and small businesses across 11 counties in New York's Southern Tier region. The organization operates three physical locations—in Elmira (318 Madison Avenue), Painted Post (109 Canada Road), and Alfred (200 North Main Street, a 30,000 sq ft facility affiliated with Alfred University's Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology)—offering co-working offices, wet and dry labs, manufacturing space, and a makerspace equipped with two single-color 3D printers, a multicolor 3D printer handling four filament types, a Glowforge laser cutter, a Cricut machine, a computerized embroidery/sewing machine, and a T-shirt station. Its program portfolio comprises the licensed Co.Starters Business Accelerator Class (12 sessions), a Business Plan Class as a follow-on, the Summer Youth Entrepreneurship Program for Elmira High School students entering 10th or 11th grade, collegiate competitions with five regional universities, and recurring networking events co-hosted with regional chambers of commerce.

The organization has cumulatively served 178 entrepreneurs and supported the launch of 83 businesses, with a reported 87% five-year business survival rate (NBIA benchmark) and 98% completion rate for the Summer Youth Entrepreneurship Program. It is funded through grants from Chemung County, NYSTAR, New Energy New York, Springboard, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, plus corporate sponsorships (Corning Credit Union, Siemens Energy, Maple City Savings Bank, Hilliard, Ljungström, University at Buffalo), facility rental income, and modest program and event fees ($50 Co.Starters fee; $5–$10 event fees; youth program free). A small staff of roughly 1–10 led by Executive Director Ashleigh Madison (since 2022) delivers the programming, supported by an Entrepreneur in Residence and a board drawn from regional corporations, educational institutions, and economic development organizations.

IncubatorWorks pursues a community-led go-to-market approach, generating awareness and enrollment primarily through regional partnerships with three chambers of commerce (Chemung County, Corning, Watkins Glen), five regional colleges (Alfred State, Alfred University, Corning Community College, Elmira College, Houghton University), the Alliance for Manufacturing and Technology, the Southern Tier Startup Alliance, and word-of-mouth referrals from program graduates. Marketing channels include Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, an email newsletter, and earned regional media. The organization is not venture-financed; its structure as a grant-and-sponsorship-funded nonprofit aligns with its regional economic-development mission and indicates continued reliance on public-sector and corporate funding rather than equity capital.

Name

IncubatorWorks

Legal name

IncubatorWorks

Website

https://incubatorworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IncubatorWorks is a 1992-founded nonprofit business incubator serving 11 counties in New York's Southern Tier, delivering the Co.Starters accelerator, Business Plan and Youth programs, a makerspace, co-working rentals, and collegiate competitions across three locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Incubation Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Services (611), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC), Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC)

Keywords

• Business incubator services
• Entrepreneurship training programs
• Makerspace prototyping services
• Coworking space rental
• Small business mentoring

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Revenue from Co.Starters business accelerator course fees ($50 per participant) and other educational programming
2. Space Rental: Rental income from co-working spaces, offices, wet labs, dry labs, and manufacturing space at their three facilities
3. Grants and Funding: Funding from grantors including Chemung County, NYSTAR, New Energy New York, Springboard, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York to support programs and operations
4. Event Fees: Registration fees for networking events and workshops, such as $5 for Chamber members and $10 for non-members at chamber after-hours events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IncubatorWorks is a nonprofit business incubator that supports entrepreneurs and small businesses in New York's Southern Tier through cohort-based educational programs (Co.Starters Business Accelerator, Business Plan Class, Youth Entrepreneurship Program, Collegiate Competitions), networking events, on-site Makerspace prototyping facilities, and co-working/lab/manufacturing space rentals across three locations.

Product overview

IncubatorWorks is a business incubator offering a portfolio of programs and services designed to support entrepreneurs from ideation through launch and growth. The core offerings include the Co.Starters Business Accelerator Class (a licensed 12-session program for business idea validation), the Business Plan Class (a seven-week follow-on course for business plan development), the Summer Youth Entrepreneurship Program (a 7-week summer employment program for high school students), and a Makerspace facility equipped with prototyping equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, and embroidery machines. Additional programs include Collegiate Competitions for student entrepreneurs, Networking Events, and Co-Working Spaces for rent. The organization serves 11 counties across New York's Southern Tier with three physical locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Co.Starters Business Accelerator Class A 12-session, facilitator-led business accelerator program designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs turn business ideas into viable ventures, covering customer identification, value proposition, competitive differentiation, pricing strategy, and pitch development; participants compete for a $500 best pitch prize.
• Business Plan Class A seven-week in-person course teaching participants how to create strong, effective business plans tailored to their goals; available to Co.Starters graduates as Part 2 of the business course series.
• Summer Youth Entrepreneurship Program A 7-week summer employment and learning opportunity for Elmira High School students (10th-11th grade) providing tools, mentorship, laptops, field trips, and real-world entrepreneurial experience.
• Makerspace On-site prototyping facility equipped with 2 single-color 3D printers, a multicolor 3D printer (four filament types), Glowforge laser cutter, Cricut machine, computerized embroidery/sewing machine, and T-shirt station, with expert guidance available for entrepreneurs to test ideas and build prototypes.
• Collegiate Competitions Startup collegiate competitions providing students hands-on experience developing business ideas using the Business Model Canvas, with industry and academic mentorship to prepare pitches for cash and in-kind prizes.
• Networking Events Networking opportunities for entrepreneurs to share ideas, build relationships, and find new opportunities through real conversations with fellow small business owners; includes Chamber co-hosted events ($5 members / $10 non-members).
• Co-Working and Rental Spaces Rental space options including wet labs, dry labs, office space, and co-working facilities at multiple Southern Tier locations (Elmira, Alfred, Painted Post) for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% five-year survival rate for businesses nurtured in business incubators (NBIA)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• University at BuffalosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity sponsor providing support and potential collaboration for regional entrepreneurship initiatives
• Alfred UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution with business development programs; hosts the Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology affiliated with IncubatorWorks Alfred facility
• Alliance for Manufacturing and Technology (AMT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaborator curating resource lists for entrepreneurs; provides manufacturing and technology expertise to incubator clients
• Alfred State CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollegiate competition participant providing students for startup competitions and business development programs
• Corning Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollegiate competition participant providing students for startup competitions
• Elmira CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollegiate competition participant; board member representation from Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Business School
• Houghton UniversitysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollegiate competition participant providing students for startup competitions
• Chemung County Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host of Patio Party and Tri-County Chamber Business After Hours networking event
• Corning Area Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host of Patio Party and Tri-County Chamber Business After Hours networking event
• Watkins Glen Area Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host of Patio Party and Tri-County Chamber Business After Hours networking event
• Southern Tier Startup AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports entrepreneurial incubators across eight counties; Brad Treat serves as Executive Director and board member
• Corning IncorporatedsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member representation (Dr. A. Boh Ruffin, Senior Research Manager) contributes expertise and corporate connections

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• gener8tor: Nationwide accelerator network running cohort-based programs for startups and entrepreneurs. Operates a similar accelerator/incubator model with cohort curricula and milestone-based programming.
• Rev1 Ventures: Regional venture development organization offering startup programs, coworking, and capital connections. Comparable regional incubator model with mixed program/revenue structure.
• SCORE: National nonprofit providing free mentoring, education, and resources to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Comparable mission and community-driven delivery model for early-stage entrepreneurs in underserved regions.
• MassChallenge: Global nonprofit accelerator offering cohort-based programs for early-stage entrepreneurs. Comparable in mission-driven accelerator design and entrepreneur-focused curriculum.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC): Nationwide SBA-affiliated network offering no-cost business consulting, training, and resources to entrepreneurs. Closely comparable to IncubatorWorks in mission, audience, and program structure.
• 1871: Chicago-based nonprofit tech hub providing coworking, makerspace, mentorship, and accelerator programs to entrepreneurs. Highly comparable in combining physical workspace, programming, and community ecosystem.
• The Venture Center: Regional entrepreneur support organization hosting accelerators, coworking, and education programs. Comparable in offering accelerator programs and physical space to support early-stage ventures.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Large global accelerator running mentor-driven cohort programs for early-stage startups. Overlaps in accelerator methodology and curriculum structure, though at much larger scale and typically equity-funded.

Others

• NYSTAR (NYS Division of Science, Technology & Innovation): New York State agency providing innovation support and grants to incubators and tech entrepreneurs. Listed as a peer because it is a direct funding partner of IncubatorWorks and operates comparable statewide programs.

Regional players

• Made in NY: NYC's Manufacturing Initiative: NYC-based manufacturing and entrepreneurship support network. Comparable in combining maker/light manufacturing space with entrepreneur programming, though geographic focus differs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@incubatorworks444
• Facebookfacebook.com/IncubatorWorks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/incubatorworks
• Instagraminstagram.com/incubatorworks
• Xx.com/IncubatorWorks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IncubatorWorks