UB CULTIVATOR
Funding and mentorship for early-stage startups in Western New York
UB Cultivator helps early-stage founders in Western New York build scalable companies through hands-on mentorship, expert startup support and up to $100,000 in pre-seed investment.
Build the next big idea in Western New York
Why Cultivator changes everything
Most early-stage founders face the same brutal reality: great ideas die without the right support. Cultivator exists to change that. Over a 10-month rigorous program, Cultivator pairs you with entrepreneurs-in-residence and subject matter experts who have built companies themselves — people who roll up their sleeves alongside you.
Built for founders who are ready to scale
Cultivator is designed for medium- to high-growth, early-stage startups building products or platforms for national or international markets including software, innovative consumer products or scalable manufactured goods. Is Cultivator right for you?
Great Fit
- Scalable software or tech platforms
- Innovative consumer or manufactured products
- Past idea stage, seeking first investment
- At least one equity-holding co-founder living in WNY
- Targeting $10M annual recurring revenue (ARR) within 5 years
- C-corp or willing to convert before investment
Not a Fit
- Local or regional small businesses
- Restaurants or brick-and-mortar retail
- Service businesses with no scalable model
- Companies outside the 5 WNY counties
- Purely idea-stage with no path to product
Note: A coffee shop with a scalable subscription model may qualify — the subscription business, not the shop itself.
What Cultivator provides: a founder toolkit
Cultivator is a hands-on partnership. Every participant receives a customized path to success built around their specific goals and stage.
Up to $100k pre-seed investment
via SAFE agreement for companies that graduate from Cultivator Phase I
Expert mentorship
Weekly 1:1 coaching from entrepreneurs-in-residence (EIRs) and subject matter experts
Free co-working space
Access to UB’s incubators in downtown Buffalo and near the university’s North Campus
Investor connections
Direct introductions to investors, customers, and top talent
Founder community
Events and connection to other founders building in the WNY area
Fundraising preparation
Pitch coaching, materials and readiness support for your next raise
Partner perks that accelerate your growth
Cultivator teams gain access to exclusive deals and discounts from top industry partners — tools designed to help you scale faster, reduce costs, and focus on growing your business.
Serving Western New York's five counties
To be considered, your company must have a presence in at least one of the five WNY counties: Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany. The strongest candidates have both their headquarters and at least one equity-holding co-founder in the region. No UB affiliation is required. We strongly encourage historically underrepresented founders to apply.
Not currently in WNY? You may still apply if you can demonstrate a clear, imminent plan to relocate to the region.
Cultivator spotlight: a growing alumni network
Since 2021, Cultivator has supported dozens of startups across industries — from AI and robotics to food, health, and consumer products. These are companies building real products for real markets, right here in Western New York.
Finta: Follow-on support for an AI fundraising platform
Finta is an AI-powered workspace that helps startups and private-market teams manage investor relationships, fundraising activity and deal execution. A Cultivator graduate, Finta has continued to grow with follow-on support from the Buffalo Innovation Seed Fund and investment connections that began through UB’s incubator network.
Edenesque: Plant-based dairy company grows from Buffalo
Edenesque makes plant-based dairy products with a focus on flavor, nutrition and real-world foodservice and retail use. After receiving support through UB Cultivator, the company moved its headquarters to Buffalo to be closer to manufacturing and distribution partners as it continues building retail and revenue traction.
Arbol helps colleges and universities support financially vulnerable students through personalized financial guidance and planning tools. With early support from UB Cultivator, investment from UB and access to the Incubator @ CBLS, the Buffalo-based company refined its model, secured paying customers and continued attracting follow-on investment.
Immersed Games: Game-based learning platform expands STEM instruction
Immersed Games helps students build STEM skills through game-based learning. Its platform, Tyto, gives students interactive ways to explore science and math concepts, and recent federal support is helping the company explore how AI can strengthen math instruction and expand the platform.
Cultivator graduates portfolio
From everyday consumer products and software platforms to healthcare and manufacturing, browse the diverse mix of local founders who have turned Cultivator’s mentorship and funding into over $15 million in outside investment.
Meet our team
Nita Bhatia
Senior Program Manager, Startup Ventures
Sophia Marshall
Senior Program Manager of Startup Ventures
Sandra Talley
Startup Program Assistant
Lauren Washington
Senior Associate Director of Startup Ventures
Entrepreneurs in Residence
Rohit Gupta
Managing Director, Future Communities Capital
Zachary Schneider
Founder at FIFTEEN
CULTIVATOR FAQs
Program FAQs
Cultivator supports early-stage startups through two phases of mentorship, validation and growth support. After Phase 1, companies pitch to an internal advisory board to determine whether they are ready for Phase 2.
Participants receive mentorship, customer discovery support, fundraising guidance, marketing and revenue strategy, and connections to investors, customers and talent.
Companies accepted into Phase 2 may also receive up to $100K in pre-seed funding and free coworking space.
Companies that advance into Phase 2 of Cultivator can be eligible for an investment of up to $100,000 via a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity). Our standard terms are a valuation cap of $2 million and a 20% discount. Under some circumstances, we can raise the valuation cap as high as $5 million.
Most companies spend about nine months in Cultivator: about three months in Phase 1 and six months in Phase 2.
Founders meet weekly with a client manager and entrepreneur-in-residence, and attend regular peer meetings with other startups in the program.
Yes. As of June 2026, Cultivator uses a cohort model to give founders more structure, peer support and opportunities to collaborate with other startups in the program. Applications remain open on a rolling basis, with deadlines announced for future cohorts.
When filling out an inquiry for Cultivator, we recommend clearly explaining what you are building, who your customers are and what problem you are solving. If you are not currently based in Western New York, please include your plan to move to the region.
Eligibility FAQs
No. Cultivator participants do not need any prior affiliation with UB.
Companies must be based in Western New York, or have a clear plan to move to the region (Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties).
Cultivator is designed for early-stage, scalable startups based in Western New York. Strong fits are usually past the idea stage and building a product or platform that can serve customers beyond a local market.
A scalable business can grow beyond one local market and serve customers nationally or internationally. Cultivator is best for medium- to high-growth companies with potential for annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $1M to $10M within five years of starting.
To receive investment, your company must be a C-corp or a B-corp taxed as a C-corp. Teams may be accepted before converting, if they commit to doing so before receiving investment.
A minimum viable product can help, but it is not required. Cultivator supports startups from a few steps beyond idea stage to first revenue.
Most local service businesses, restaurants and brick-and-mortar retail stores are not a fit. Cultivator is designed for companies that can grow beyond a local or regional market.
Ready to build WNY's next great company?
Cultivator is accepting applications on a rolling basis. If you’re an early-stage founder with a scalable idea and the drive to build something big, we want to hear from you. No UB affiliation required. Underrepresented founders strongly encouraged to apply.
Step 1 - Apply
Describe your product and target customers clearly
Step 2 - Meet with our team
Explore fit and discuss your startup's potential
Step 3 - Get accepted
Begin your 10-month journey to funding and scale
Stay connected
Additional resources for startup growth
StartingLine: Startup Essentials is a free cohort-based program from UB that’s designed to give aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs the skills, tools and fundamentals for building a start-up.
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