Get up to $100k in startup funding, mentorship & more

Startups grow faster with pre-seed investments and dedicated mentors from UB's Cultivator program.

We pair early-stage startup founders with experienced entrepreneurs who roll up their sleeves to help you take your business to the next level.

Inquire about Cultivator today, at the form below. We strongly encourage historically underrepresented founders to apply.

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We help you build a customized path to success with:

  • Up to $100k in early-stage funding
  • Mentorship from entrepreneurs-in-residence and subject matter experts
  • Co-working space
  • Connections to investors, customers and talent
  • Market and customer discovery
  • Marketing and revenue growth strategy
  • Fundraising preparation

See other support available to WNY startups at UB.

We’re in the business of building stronger businesses, like these:

Startups gain clarity with Cultivator

"The focus we achieved in Cultivator set us up for a breakout year with our first sales and customers."

Suzanne London
Co-founder, Circular.eco

Startups accelerate with Cultivator

"Cultivator mentors guided us through key decisions that led to our first $1M raise and 20x customer growth."

Jerod Sikorskyj
Co-Founder, Dentite

Akruti Babaria, Kulture Khazana.

Startups scale with Cultivator

"With Cultivator's support, I more than doubled my company's revenue, expanded into new retailers, and grew my team."

Akruti Babaria
Founder and CEO, Kulture Khazana

ARBOL

Early support propels growth for fintech startup

Buffalo-based entrepreneurs David Gonzalez and Favio Osorio joined UB’s Cultivator program with an idea. A few months later, with help from dedicated mentors and a $100,000 pre-seed investment, they launched their startup company, Arbol—a financial wellness platform that helps colleges and universities reduce student dropout. Since completing Cultivator, Arbol has raised additional investments and is piloting its platform with several universities. 

Read more about Arbol
Arbol receives $100,000 check from Cultivator.

Does my startup qualify?

counties map.

Participating startups are not required to have a previous affiliation with UB, but must be located in Western New York—Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus or Allegany counties. We strongly encourage historically underrepresented founders to apply.

Cultivator works with medium- to high-growth startups serving national or international markets, like software or innovative manufactured goods. Small businesses with a local or regional focus (e.g. most brick and mortar stores, restaurants) are not a fit.

For more information about eligibility, see our FAQs.

Inquire about Cultivator

Please fill out and submit the form below. You will hear from us within the next few weeks.
No previous affiliation with UB is required.