At 120 Hawley Street in Binghamton, NY...
the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator serves as a hub for startup activity in the region. 35,000 square feet of thoughtfully designed space that inspires individuals and companies to create and develop transformational, innovative products and ideas.
2024 Fast Facts
Koffman expansion
300 Plaza Grand Opening
In July, the Koffman celebrated the grand opening of its newest facility, Koffman on Plaza, at 300 Plaza Drive in Vestal. Designed for advanced-stage startups, this state-of-the-art space features executive-style offices and supports continued innovation with tailored mentorship programs. This expansion highlights Koffman’s commitment to strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Southern Tier.
Awards and grants
Black Entrepreneur Network Secures SBA‘s Growth Accelerator Fund
The Koffman received both Phase 1 and Phase 2 funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, totaling $100,000. These funds support the Black Entrepreneur Network (BEN), empowering Black and socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs. BEN provides training, prototyping resources, fi nancialliteracy and business development opportunities, fostering innovation in industries like battery storageand clean energy
Broome County’s $100,000 Investment Fuels Local Startups
Broome County invested $100,000 in three Koffman Incubator member companies: Agri-Trak, LiBama, and EnergyGuard. Agri-Trak received $50,000 to enhance its farm management software; LiBama Power was granted $30,000 to advance battery management systems for electric vehicles; and EnergyGuard obtained $20,000 to innovate smart home energy management. This initiative reinforces the county's commitment to fostering innovation and supporting high-growth businesses.
Community Foundation for South Central New York grant makes The Shoppes at 85 Clinton a reality
A grant from the Harriet Ford Dickenson Fund of the Community Foundation for South Central New York helped transform 85 Clinton Street into a vibrant vendor boutique. This space supports local artisans and minority entrepreneurs, providing opportunities for BIPOC vendors to increase visibility and market access for Black-owned businesses in Binghamton. Director for the Equity in Innovation Series at Koffman, Ebony Hattoh, worked with property owner Carolee Bishopon the rehabilitation of the space while coaching all eight vendors through a 12-week accelerator program to be ready to sell in time for the holidays.
Programming Success
ChargeUp Accelerator
The Koffman, in collaboration with New Energy New York (NENY), launched the inaugural ChargeUp Accelerator, the nation’s first accelerator program exclusively for battery and energy storage startups. ChargeUp is supported by a $4.5 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation. This provided funding tot he cohort companies as well as a full training and implementation of the program with staff of NextCorps Luminate, Scale for ClimateTech and Manufacturing Accelerator programs.The program selected four companies from 90 applicants for cohort 1. Each company received $25,000, mentorship and access to NENY’s partner network. The ChargeUp curriculum covered vital areas of business development to get each of their data rooms ready to support their pitches to investors.The six-month program culminated at a final pitch showcase of the four companies that participated in ChargeUp during Battery Week 2024 in Binghamton, N.Y.. Founders of Ateios Systems, Fermi Energy Inc., MITO Materials and Standard Potential Co. pitched their innovations to a battery and economic development focused audience.
Boutique Accelerator
This fall, the Koffman debuted the Boutique Accelerator as part of the Equity in Innovation Training Series. This 12-week program guided 12 entrepreneurs through key business principles like market validation, strategic pricing and revenue diversification. Participants create products such as apparel, beauty products, candles and home goods. The program culminated with the items being available for purchase at the newly renovated The Shoppes at 85 Clinton vendor boutique. The Equity in Innovation Training series at Koffman, supported by New Energy New York offers three trainings that are designed to empower small business owners of marginalized communities; Customer Discovery Crash Course, 12-Week Business Accelerator, MWBE Certification Readiness Course.
Digital Platform Accelerator
The Koffman’s Digital Platform Accelerator equips early-stage entrepreneurs with the skills and resources to develop impactful apps and websites. Participants receive $5,000 in Amazon Web Service (AWS) credits and can apply for up to $2,000 in development funding. The Summer 2024 cohort showcased a diverse mix of talent, featuring eight U.S.-based companies and two international startups.
Soft Landing New York
The Soft Landing New York program offers tailored resources and support to attract international businesses seeking to establish a foothold in the U.S., particularly in the Southern Tier of New York. The in-person Market Exploration Boot Camps held at Koffman hosted 11 companies in 2024. Since its inception, the program has guided 65 international startups from 34 different countries, fostering global innovation and regional economic growth.
NSF Interior Northeast Hub I-Corps
I-Corps is free to participate in and guides companies to execute vital customer discovery work, take a hard look at their current structure and make necessary pivots prior to full-scale production. In 2024, Koffman hosted five I-Corps courses as a part of the Northeast Interior I-Corps Hub. This included three virtual and two hybrid courses. The spring 2024 hybrid course of energy researchers concluded with a trip to the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in Dallas, Texas and the fall 2024 hybrid course for battery technology innovations included bringing 10 companies to The Battery Show in Detroit, Michigan.
NENY Student Startup Experience
The Koffman Incubator partners with NENY to offer students enrolled at an accredited New York State university or college the opportunity to work with clean energy startups in a paid internship program. The program is free for startups to participate in, as NENY covers the stipends for participating students who work in a variety of fields including chemistry, engineering, IT, marketing and customer discovery. The program has funded 250 student internships with 45 clean energy startups.
Startup Success Snapshot
Business Incubator Program
The Koffman’s Business Incubator Program supports early-stage entrepreneurs with mentorship, networking opportunities, and technical resources. With 22 member companies spanning diverse sectors, the program fosters innovation and business growth.
Shelley Elkovitch’s Portland-based startup, For Bitter For Worse, gained national acclaim by winning a $250,000 prize at the prestigious Grow-NY Competition. Renowned for its bold, non-alcoholic craft cocktails and innovative production methods, the company continues to redefine the beverage industry, setting a new standard for flavorful, alcohol-free options.
Binghamton University alumni Leighton Blackwood expanded his entrepreneurial ventures by acquiring and reopening Chroma Café and Bakery in downtown Binghamton. Building on his success with 2nd Heaven, a popular bubble tea shop on campus, Blackwood is transforming Chroma into a vibrant community hub. The café now offers a diverse menu and serves as a gathering place for students and locals alike.
Founded by Binghamton alumni Thomas Hackett, PLATFORM Golf is transforming training with its patented putting platforms. Used by Division I programs and pro golfers, the system simulates real-world conditions to refine skills. With recent funding and support from the Koffman Incubator, PLATFORM Golf is scaling globally, setting new standards for golf innovation.
Clean Energy Incubator Program
The Clean Energy Incubator Program supports 46 startups in clean energy and climate tech. Participants benefit from expert mentorship, networking opportunities, and state-of-the-art facilities, driving innovation in technologies like solar energy and energy storage.
KLAW Industries is transforming construction with Pantheon™, a concrete made from recycled glass. In 2024, 74 tons of Pantheon™ were used in the $21.2 million Route 11 bridge project in Whitney Point, NY, enhancing sustainability and infrastructure resilience. Additionally, KLAW received $400,000 in federal funding to develop a robotic sorting system for recycled glass, improving efficiency and expanding service capabilities.
LiBama Power is revolutionizing battery technology with its Advanced Metal Anode platform. In 2024, the company secured a $200,000 STTR award from the U.S. Department of Energy and a $30,000 investment from Broome County. These funds support LiBama’s mission to deliver safer, more efficient energy storage solutions for electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Switched Source is enhancing electric distribution with its Phase-EQ hybrid transformer. In 2024, the company secured $5 million from the DOE's MAKE IT Prize to expand its Chicago facility from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet. This growth aims to boost production to over 250 Phase-EQ units annually by 2027, supporting a more resilient and efficient power grid.
Student Entrepreneurship
At Koffman, we empower students to bring their entrepreneurial dreams to life. With free co-working spaces, mentorship, and internship opportunities, our university-supported incubator provides everything needed to launch and grow startups.
Class Offerings
Binghamton University’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships equips students with the tools to tackle real-world challenges through three dynamic entrepreneurship courses:
- UNIV 280F: Introduction to Entrepreneurship: Students learn to identify problems, develop sustainable solutions, and create high-growth business models using the Business Model Canvas. The course emphasizes hands-on learning and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- UNIV 280G: Social Entrepreneurship: This course explores how mission-driven ventures address complex societal issues like poverty and environmental degradation. Students engage in interactive workshops to develop systemic thinking and launch social-impact initiatives.
- UNIV 280D: Global Entrepreneurship: Focusing on cross-border ventures, this course examines how global factors influence entrepreneurship. Students gain practical skills to analyze and manage businesses with international dimensions.
Student Entrepreneur Spotlights
Binghamton University graduate student Mike Bronikowski is pioneering BuzzHive—a startup dedicated to translating honeybee communication into actionable data for beekeepers. Leveraging solar-powered sensors and advanced machine learning, BuzzHive monitors hive conditions, alerting beekeepers to potential issues. In May 2024, Bronikowski's innovative approach earned BuzzHive first place in the Software & Services category at the New York Business Plan Competition, securing $10,000 in funding to advance the project.
Roadmap, co-founded by Binghamton University students Clay Battle and Ever Goldin, along with Georgia Tech's Aaliya Jakir, is an AI-driven platform designed to assist individuals with ADHD. The application offers personalized strategies to enhance focus and productivity, adapting to each user's unique needs. In April 2024, Roadmap placed third in Microsoft's Imagine Cup, securing $50,000 and highlighting the app's innovative approach to mental health support. Roadmap officially graduated from the Koffman on November 1, 2024, marking a significant milestone in its development.
Get Involved
The Koffman Southern Tier Incubator fosters innovation, supporting diverse ventures and driving local economic growth. As part of Binghamton University, we connect with next-generation thinkers shaping our future. Our sponsors play a vital role in creating an ecosystem where entrepreneurs thrive. Learn more about partnering with us.