From accessible urgent care services to skill-based training centers in Indonesia, the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management is excited to unveil the diverse group of 25 startups that make up the 2023 Johnson Summer Startup Accelerator (JSSA) cohort.
JSSA is a 10-week summer intensive program that helps students pursue their entrepreneurship goals while continuing with their full-time jobs or internships. As most programming is conducted virtually, students are able to experience the benefits of the program from anywhere. While in JSSA, students develop their business plans, participate in weekly workshops, build connections through networking events and receive 1:1 mentorship and support from a dedicated Entrepreneur-in-Residence. The programming also includes a trek to New York City, where the cohort will have the opportunity to connect with founders, investors and the Cornell entrepreneurial community in the Big Apple.
Two-year MBA participants who choose to work full time on their startup over the summer and are entering their second year were able to apply for a stipend from the Vrinda Kadiyali Student Entrepreneur Fund. Stephen Smith ’91, MBA ’95, established the fund in honor of Vrinda Kadiyali, the Nicholas H. Noyes Professor of Management. Professor Kadiyali inspired Smith to launch his own startup, which ultimately became Naviance, the American college and career readiness software. Smith believes that the summer between the first and second years is a key time for MBA students who plan to launch their own businesses, prompting him to establish the fund to alleviate the financial burden on students who wanted to focus on entrepreneurial ventures instead of paid internships.
This year’s recipients of the Vrinda Kadiyali Student Entrepreneur Fund are Hailee Greene, MBA ’24, Christiani Sagala, MBA ’24, and Shao (Justin) Chen, MBA ’24.
Greene, co-founder of GreeneAcres Processing, is “looking forward to the mentorship opportunities that JSSA will provide us as we seek to sign letters of intent with growers and buyers.”
Meet the cohort:
The 25 startups participating in the 2023 Johnson Summer Startup Accelerator make up the largest cohort to date. Get to know the teams that compose this year’s accelerator:
AMARI: Creates wellness products that fit the environment and genetic requirements of a melanin-skinned demographic, founded by Harveen Bawa, M.Eng. ’23.
