Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

What Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation does

The Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) is a non-profit, university-affiliated entrepreneurship support center housed within the University of Connecticut's School of Business. Founded in 2007, CCEI operates from a main office in Storrs, CT (2100 Hillside Road, within the School of Business) and a regional office in Hartford (100 Constitution Plaza), serving UConn students and faculty, post-9/11 veterans, alumni, and Connecticut small business owners. The center delivers a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified product: early-stage concept validation (Traction), NSF I-Corps customer discovery training (Accelerate UConn, with up to $4,000 per team), intensive eight-week summer acceleration (Summer Fellowship, $15,000 non-dilutive funding), pitch competitions (Get Seeded and the Wolff New Venture Competition, $25,000 prize), the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV, via Syracuse University's IVMF consortium), and a recently re-architected Family Business Program now operating as a year-round resource hub. Supporting infrastructure includes the Founder's Lounge co-working space at Storrs, a Student Ambassadors recruitment program, a Mentor Network, the BUILD Hartford experiential course, the Collaboratory/Timely Topics podcast series, and the Startup Bill Tracker downloadable tool. CCEI markets and distributes entirely through university channels, social media, community events, and a Connecticut ecosystem partner network (Connecticut Innovations, CTNext, CTSBDC, reSET, SCORE). It does not develop proprietary technology and explicitly markets no AI/ML products.

The organization's business model is institutional rather than commercial: programs are provided free of charge to participants, and operating revenue (not publicly disclosed) is sourced from University of Connecticut allocations, private giving from individuals and corporations, and grant funding — notably from the National Science Foundation for the I-Corps Site designation and from Connecticut Innovations. Since 2009, the EBV program has graduated 298 veterans who have launched 187 businesses, generated $150M+ in combined revenues, and created 430 jobs, establishing CCEI as a measurable economic-development actor in Connecticut. The center has earned third-party validation including Princeton Review Top 50 Undergraduate and Graduate Programs (2026), a Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) award, and a 2022 Certificate of Special Recognition from Senator Richard Blumenthal. Operationally, CCEI runs on a small core staff of 11–50 including Executive Director Jennifer Mathieu, Associate Director Rory McGloin, Assistant Director of Brand & Venture Development Alycia Chrosniak, Engagement & Outreach Coordinator Michaela Hartl, and Entrepreneur-in-Residence Leland Holcomb, supplemented by the Student Ambassadors program.

Name

Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Legal name

Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Website

https://ccei.uconn.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) is a UConn School of Business non-profit center that delivers free entrepreneurship programs — including Accelerate UConn, Summer Fellowship, the EBV veterans bootcamp, and the Family Business Program — to UConn students, faculty, post-9/11 veterans, and Connecticut small business owners, funded by university allocations, grants, and private giving.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University Entrepreneurship Support Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

University-Led Summer/Winter Schools (Credit/Non-Credit) (EDAIAIAA), Portfolio, Capstone & Project-Based Program Support (EDAMAKAD)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship education programs
• Startup incubation services
• Business mentorship programs
• Veteran entrepreneurship training
• Pitch competition funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding: CCEI operates as part of the University of Connecticut School of Business, funded through university allocations, private giving from individuals and corporations, and grant funding from organizations such as the National Science Foundation and Connecticut Innovations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CCEI provides entrepreneurship education, mentorship, co-working space, and non-dilutive seed funding programs to UConn students, faculty, alumni, post-9/11 veterans, and Connecticut-based family business owners. Offerings include the Summer Fellowship accelerator ($15,000 per team), the Wolff New Venture Competition ($25,000 prize), Accelerate UConn (NSF I-Corps Site with up to $4,000 grants), Get Seeded pitch nights, the Traction validation program, the EBV veterans bootcamp, and the Founder's Lounge co-working space, all delivered free of charge.

Product overview

The Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) is an educational resource center at UConn School of Business offering a portfolio of interconnected entrepreneurship programs and resources rather than a unified software product. The core programs include Accelerate UConn (NSF I-Corps Site providing customer discovery training with up to $4,000 grants), Summer Fellowship (8-week intensive with $15,000 non-dilutive funding), Wolff New Venture Competition ($25,000 prize), Get Seeded pitch competitions (up to $1,000), and Traction concept validation. Entrepreneurial education is delivered through BUILD Hartford Course and The Collaboratory featuring Timely Topics podcast. The Founder's Lounge provides co-working space for student startups. Veterans are supported through the EBV program with three-phase training. Additional programs include Student Ambassadors, Mentor Network, Entrepreneurship Internship, Family Business Program, and Student Podcast Production Internship. The Startup Bill Tracker is a free downloadable resource tool.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accelerate UConn (NSF I-Corps Site)

Quantifiable outcome

• 298 veterans graduated from EBV program, launching 187 businesses generating $150M+ in revenues and creating 430 jobs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Syracuse University D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009CCEI participates in the EBV consortium managed by Syracuse University's IVMF. The national program provides technical assistance upon completion of the residency, including mentor networks, resources, and national partners. UConn has been an EBV school since 2009.
• National Science Foundation I-CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCEI operates Accelerate UConn as the University's NSF I-Corps Site. The program catalyzes entrepreneurial teams whose technology concepts are likely candidates for commercialization. Teams learn first-hand about entrepreneurship and explore transition of ideas into the marketplace.
• Connecticut InnovationscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConnecticut's strategic venture capital arm that connects entrepreneurs with capital, expertise, and connections. Co-sponsors the Wolff New Venture Competition and provides funding pathways for CCEI startups.
• CTNextcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStatewide network connecting promising companies to mentors, collaborative work spaces, universities, vendors, suppliers and like-minded entrepreneurs. Provides Technology Talent Bridge funding for student interns.
• Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCTSBDC advisors work with CCEI to support startups and small businesses. Verge Consultants work with CTSBDC to consult 8-12 companies per summer. Family Business Program connects members to CTSBDC advisors.
• reSETsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial Enterprise Trust non-profit advancing the social enterprise sector. Listed as a Connecticut resource for entrepreneurs.
• SCOREsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSCORE mentors assist aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners with business coaching. Listed as Connecticut resource.
• Peter J. Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUConn's Werth Institute focuses on entrepreneurship education and innovation. Managing Director David Noble participated in CCEI's 15th Anniversary celebration. Both organizations support UConn student entrepreneurs.
• Hillside VenturessecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerUConn's technology commercialization and venture development entity. Listed as a university resource for entrepreneurs through CCEI.
• University of HartfordsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner in InsurTech Initiative designed to grow the next generation of entrepreneurs in the insurance industry and InsurTech space.
• UConn School of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCEI is housed within the UConn School of Business. Dean John Elliott participates in CCEI programming and events. The school provides institutional support and credibility for CCEI programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uconnccei
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/university-of-connecticut

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation