Get up to $100k in pre-seed funding and mentorship for your startup

Startup companies accepted into Cultivator receive nine months of dedicated mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs. The program is split into two phases. After completing Phase 1, companies pitch to an internal advisory board, which determines whether the company is ready to enter Phase 2. If accepted into Phase 2, companies may be eligible to receive a $100,000 pre-seed investment and free co-working space within UB’s incubators.

All companies that participate in Cultivator receive:

• Weekly mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs
• Guidance on customer and market discovery
• Marketing and revenue growth strategy
• Fundraising preparation support
• Connections to investors, customers, and talent
• Access to other UB startup programs and incentives
• Support from other founders going through the program

Companies accepted into Phase 2 of Cultivator also receive

• Up to $100k in pre-seed funding
• Free co-working space

Companies that advance into Phase 2 of Cultivator can be eligible for an investment of $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. You will meet with your client manager and entrepreneur-in-residence for an hour each week, who will provide strategic guidance based on your specific objectives. In addition to weekly coaching calls, founders are expected to attend two, one-hour meetings per month with their peers; one remote, and the other in person at our incubator in downtown Buffalo.

No, we accept teams into Cultivator on a rolling basis. While Cultivator is not cohort-based, you will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with other founders and startup teams going through the program at the same time.

When filling out an inquiry for Cultivator, please provide a clear explanation of the product you’re building. It also helps when applicants can show they’ve given thought to the kinds of customers they’re serving. Finally, if you’re not currently based in Western New York, please provide a clear explanation of how and when you plan to move; companies must be based in WNY or imminently moving to the region before being considered for Cultivator. 

No, Cultivator participants are NOT required to have any prior affiliation to UB. By taking part, Cultivator companies gain access to a full suite of startup support from UB, including tax incentives, access to talent and research experts, affordable office and coworking space, legal services, additional investment opportunities, and much more. 

To be considered for participation in Cultivator, companies must have a presence in at least one of the five counties in Western New York (WNY), which includes Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties. The strongest candidates for Cultivator have both their headquarters and at least one equity-holding co-founder in the region. However, we do not require that companies have any prior affiliation to UB. 

The best company fit for Cultivator is a Western New York-based, scalable startup that is past the idea stage, but is still in its earliest stages of business, looking for initial investment to validate its idea. Most Cultivator companies have at least two co-founders, or a single co-founder seeking a business partner. Often, at least one co-founder is working full-time in the business, or aims to do so by the completion of Cultivator. While Cultivator does not serve one particular industry, companies developing products or platforms that aim to serve national or international markets are the best fit, such as software or consumer products.

Scalable businesses are those developing products or platforms that aim to serve national or international markets. Cultivator seeks medium- to high-growth companies that have the potential for annual recurring revenue of $1M to $10M within five years of starting the business.

To be eligible to receive investment from Cultivator, your entity must be a C-corp or a B-corp taxed as a C-corp. You can register in any US state, but remember to also register to operate as a foreign corporation in NY. Teams may be accepted into Cultivator before they have established a C-corp, as long as they commit to doing so before receiving investment. 

Cultivator supports WNY startups in some of their earliest stages, which can range from being a few steps beyond idea stage to their first revenue. While many Cultivator companies have at least a Minimum Viable Product (or MVP) at the time of entering the program, it is not a requirement.  

Most of these types of businesses have a local or regional focus. While they play an important and valuable role in our community, they are not a fit for Cultivator. We seek scalable businesses that aim to serve national or international markets. Small business owners with an idea to scale their business are welcome to inquire. For example, a coffee shop with an idea for an online, subscription-based coffee bean delivery service may inquire about joining Cultivator to scale its subscription model. However, the coffee shop itself would not be eligible for Cultivator. 

Cultivator serves scalable startups, meaning those that aim to serve national or international markets. If you’re not sure what that means, please review the FAQs above. If you feel your company is a fit based on the answers to these questions, you may inquire about Cultivator.