ITHACA, N.Y. — Rev: Ithaca Startup Works has launched applications for its 2025 Prototyping Hardware Accelerator summer-long program that guides entrepreneurs through developing physical product concepts to determine if they are commercial desirable, commercially viable, and economically feasible.
The program provides participants up to $2,000 in prototype-development funding and access to Rev’s purpose-built prototyping lab. The 10-week curriculum guides teams through three areas — feasibility assessment, proof-of-concept development, and prototype and pitch refinement. It culminates in Demo Day, where teams showcase and pitch their innovations to potential investors and community partners.
“Supporting early-stage entrepreneurs is one of the most exciting times in development, as prototypes and products can move very quickly when they are first coming to life,” Deanna Kocher, associate director of hardware programs at Rev: Ithaca Startup Works, said in an announcement.
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The program, which has supported hardware startups since 2014, offers four specialized tracks. The Classic Track is open to innovators in any field and provides foundational training across all industries. The ClimateTech track places climate-tech startups in a like-minded cohort and matches them with clean energy and clean-tech mentors. The AgTech track immerses agriculture technology startups in specialized training and connects them to experts and potential partners within the agriculture industry. The MedTech track, offered in partnership with Cornell Biomedical Engineering and Weill Cornell Medicine, is a new track that provides innovators developing medical devices access to specialized prototyping equipment, regulatory resources, and research and medical professionals in the field.
“Our program has a proven track record of helping innovators transform their ideas into viable businesses,” Ken Rother, director of Rev: Ithaca Startup Works, said. “The addition of our MedTech track, supported by a $2 million grant, further expands our ability to support specialized innovation in the health-care sector.”
The program is free and open to anyone with a physical product concept and entrepreneurial drive. Software applications alone are not eligible but may qualify when integrated with a physical product component. Teams do not need to have a legally formed limited liability corporation to participate.
Throughout the program, participants receive mentorship from successful entrepreneurs, access to industry-specific networks, a comprehensive workshop series, technical support from hardware engineers, and specialized pitch training. Upon completion, graduates are positioned to recruit team members, establish partnerships, initiate work with contract manufacturers, and engage with potential investors.
Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested parties can visit the Rev: Ithaca Startup Works web page on the program for more information or to apply.
Created in 2014 by a partnership between Cornell University, Ithaca College, and Tompkins Cortland Community College, Rev: Ithaca Startup Works is a business incubator and startup workspace in Ithaca that offers mentorship, training, and startup resources.
