The YU Innovation Lab Yeshiva University Contact Us Artificial Intelligence Biotechnology Computer Science Cybersecurity Data Analytics and Visualization Digital Marketing and Media Mathematics Occupational Therapy Physician Assistant Physics Speech-Language Pathology ABOUTEstablished in 2019, the YU Innovation Lab has evolved into a dynamic NYC-based hub dedicated to fostering the economic growth of startups accessing the US markets. With the support of the Economic Development Administration since 2020, the Innovation Lab has united three vital communities: the Israeli startup sector, Upper Manhattan's business community, and Yeshiva University's rich human capital, including students and faculty, into a powerful ecosystem that supports innovation, collaboration, and economic development. Key Accomplishments 90 startups from Israel and NYC received support from Innovation Lab programming 33 events produced by Innovation Lab for education & networking 1000+ students, mentors, judges, and instructors participated in Innovation Lab courses and events $32 MM+ capital raised by participating startups RECENT EVENTS Innovation Challenge and Pitch Night Competition Open to all YU students, this competition invites teams of budding campus entrepreneurs to vie for a top cash prize sponsored by the Shevet Glaubach Center for Career Strategy and Professional Development (SGC), awarded to the most viable startup at the program’s culminating Pitch Night. HIVE in the Heights The YU Innovation Lab hosts 'HIVE in the Heights' events, bringing together local Washington Heights entrepreneurs to network and learn about resources and best practices to grow their businesses. Washington Heights Workshops In the Spring of 2024, the Innovation Lab hosted a series of workshops led by YU faculty, specifically designed to enhance essential skills for small business owners in Washington Heights. The program included a comprehensive multi-part training on Digital Advertising Strategies, a session on Building Effective Teams titled, and previously a session on practical applications of AI for small businesses. This pilot program was crafted to showcase the university's auxiliary capability in empowering founders with crucial skills for business growth. WHAT WE OFFER Student InnovationThe Innovation Lab has been fostering student innovation through a blend of courses, experiential learning opportunities, and competitions. Students engage directly with startup clients, applying their academic knowledge to real-world challenges. These hands-on experiences are integrated into the curriculum, allowing students to work on critical issues facing early stage and growing businesses. EDUCATION Strategy & Entrepreneurship Major (Undergraduate): Students in the Sy Syms School of Business gain hands-on experience with venture investing and venture development frameworks, applying these skills to solve real-world business challenges. Workshops & Clinics: The Innovation Lab hosted multiple workshops and clinics for students and startup founders, featuring industry leaders in areas of venture financing, marketing insights, product development, regulatory risks, technological innovation, and cultural integration between the US and Israeli startup ecosystems. ENTREPRENEURSHIP Innovation Challenge: A campus-wide competition open to all YU students, where participants develop and pitch their startup ideas to a panel of professional investors during a Pitch Night event. The most viable startup is awarded a top cash prize sponsored by the Shevet Glaubach Center for Career Strategy and Professional Development. Pre-Competition Training: A six-week program takes the students through an entrepreneurial journey of ideation, team formation, concept validation, and pitch presentation, guided by professional mentors and instructors. Post-Competition Opportunities: Many participants continue their entrepreneurial journeys after the competition, securing internships and jobs in growth industries in Israel and NYC. CAREER ADVANCEMENT Internship Opportunities (Undergraduate): The YU Israel Summer Internship Program, in collaboration with the Innovation Lab and the Shevet Glaubach Center for Career Strategy and Professional Development, provides students with hands-on startup experience in Israel. Student Consulting for Startups (Graduate): Graduate students offer consulting services to startups during the academic year and in the summer, focusing on areas such as market research and validation, digital marketing, data analysis, and AI, helping these businesses grow and succeed. Business AccelerationBy leveraging the expertise of Innovation Lab leadership, the Innovation Lab developed a scalable model for providing business, technical, go-to-market, and marketing expertise to startups in the US and Israel. ISRAELI STARTUPS Student Consulting for Startups: The Innovation Lab provides tailored consulting services through undergraduate and graduate courses, helping Israeli startups with marketing strategies, market assessments, and content development to prepare for the US market. Workshops & Networking: The Innovation Lab hosts industry panels and facilitates networking events for Israeli founders including investor pitch nights, connecting Israeli startups with US investors and founders. WASHINGTON HEIGHTS BUSINESSES Tailored Business Consulting: The Innovation Lab provides customized consulting services to local small businesses in Washington Heights, helping them develop customer acquisition strategies to accelerate their growth. Workshops: Local entrepreneurs benefit from workshops on essential business skills like digital marketing, team formation, and AI. Networking & Community: The HIVE in The Heights is a biannual networking event that has become a key platform for local business, cultural, and political leaders to connect and collaborate. This event fosters partnerships between local businesses and larger NYC organizations, offering pro bono business advisory services, while opening new opportunities for growth and collaboration. WHATS NEXT FOR THE INNOVATION LAB? As we embark on the next phase of the Innovation Lab, we are incredibly proud of the successes we've achieved and the impact we've had on students, startups, and the broader community. Building on these accomplishments, we are eager to expand our program, enhance our offerings, and explore new opportunities to foster a strong entrepreneurial mindset among students by equipping them with the education, tools, resources, and mentorship needed to advance their career and entrepreneurial goals.Simultaneously, we are committed to supporting startup businesses developed by YU alumni, Washington Heights entrepreneurs, and Israeli startup founders, by providing strategic resources and opportunities that can help fuel their growth in US markets.Through the expanded Innovation Lab program, we seek to create a dynamic ecosystem where students and businesses can thrive and contribute to broader economic development. We Love FeedbackWe welcome your suggestions and input to help us create an even more effective and valuable program for the university, our students, and the business communities both locally and in Israel. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or requests for support—we look forward to collaborating with you. CONTACT US Keep Up with the Innovation Lab! INNOVATION LAB IN THE NEWS Startups, Marketing and Everything In-Between For our 2nd Workshop in the YU Innovation Challenge we hosted VP of Marketing of AIDOC Medical, Ariella Shoham for a fireside chat!Read more about the event here! Startups, Marketing and Everything In-Between Inaugural YU Innovation Challenge The Innovation Lab and the Shevet Glaubach Center are partnering to host the inaugural YU Innovation Challenge!Read more about the challenge here! Inaugural YU Innovation Challenge Powerful Lessons from Successful Entrepreneurs Our students learned so much from these three inspiring entrepreneurs as they each shared their personal entrepreneurial journey!Read more about the event here! Powerful Lessons from Successful Entrepreneurs From the Modern Battlefield to the Startup World We had a fantastic turnout to our first in-person event with Roy Peled of Ballista Ventures!Read more about the event here! From the Modern Battlefield to the Startup World The Fall 2021 Semester Has Begun! We welcomed our new cohort of startups!Read more about the event here! The Fall 2021 Semester Has Begun! YU Innovation Lab Celebrates 2nd Birthday! We've come a long way since Spring 2019Read more about our progress and future plans YU Innovation Lab Celebrates 2nd Birthday! Founder Bootcamps One-day intensive dive into the most important founding decisions that tend to go awry, alternating between YU’s I-Lab location and an equivalent one in Israel. Founder Bootcamps Marketing 101 for Startups/Growth Hacking Sprint Two-day workshop for Israeli and YU affiliated startups with leading marketing experts and growth hackers. (Coming Soon) Marketing 101 for Startups/Growth Hacking Sprint Cultural-dictionary workshops and publications for international and American entrepreneurs to learn... Continue reading Cultural-dictionary workshops and publications for international and American entrepreneurs to learn about the other culture. Business culture and flow, “reading between the lines,” public speaking and debating, negotiation and presentation skills. (Coming Soon) Innovation Lab’s First Class of Startups and Students Get to Work Yeshiva University’s Innovation Lab is up and running... Continue reading Innovation Lab’s First Class of Startups and Students Get to Work Yeshiva University’s Innovation Lab is up and running, providing a space for Israeli startups to collaborate with YU students, alumni and faculty alike. Launched in May 2019, the Lab works in conjunction with Yissum, the technology transfer company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.The Innovation Lab operates independently as a hub for startups, and also integrates various courses offered at YU’s Sy Syms School of Business and Katz School of Science and Health. The Lab assigns teams of YU students — along with a faculty member — to work with one of the 11 participating startups. It also includes specialized workshops, office space, legal counsel and personalized guidance from senior high-tech and business professionals acting as mentors.Read the full article here. Startups, Marketing and Everything In-Between For our 2nd Workshop in the YU Innovation Challenge we hosted VP of Marketing of AIDOC Medical, Ariella Shoham for a fireside chat!Read more about the event here! Startups, Marketing and Everything In-Between Inaugural YU Innovation Challenge The Innovation Lab and the Shevet Glaubach Center are partnering to host the inaugural YU Innovation Challenge!Read more about the challenge here! Inaugural YU Innovation Challenge Powerful Lessons from Successful Entrepreneurs Our students learned so much from these three inspiring entrepreneurs as they each shared their personal entrepreneurial journey!Read more about the event here! Powerful Lessons from Successful Entrepreneurs From the Modern Battlefield to the Startup World We had a fantastic turnout to our first in-person event with Roy Peled of Ballista Ventures!Read more about the event here! From the Modern Battlefield to the Startup World The Fall 2021 Semester Has Begun! We welcomed our new cohort of startups!Read more about the event here! The Fall 2021 Semester Has Begun! YU Innovation Lab Celebrates 2nd Birthday! We've come a long way since Spring 2019Read more about our progress and future plans YU Innovation Lab Celebrates 2nd Birthday! Founder Bootcamps One-day intensive dive into the most important founding decisions that tend to go awry, alternating between YU’s I-Lab location and an equivalent one in Israel. Founder Bootcamps Marketing 101 for Startups/Growth Hacking Sprint Two-day workshop for Israeli and YU affiliated startups with leading marketing experts and growth hackers. (Coming Soon) Marketing 101 for Startups/Growth Hacking Sprint Cultural-dictionary workshops and publications for international and American entrepreneurs to learn... Continue reading Cultural-dictionary workshops and publications for international and American entrepreneurs to learn about the other culture. Business culture and flow, “reading between the lines,” public speaking and debating, negotiation and presentation skills. (Coming Soon) Innovation Lab’s First Class of Startups and Students Get to Work Yeshiva University’s Innovation Lab is up and running... Continue reading Innovation Lab’s First Class of Startups and Students Get to Work Yeshiva University’s Innovation Lab is up and running, providing a space for Israeli startups to collaborate with YU students, alumni and faculty alike. Launched in May 2019, the Lab works in conjunction with Yissum, the technology transfer company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.The Innovation Lab operates independently as a hub for startups, and also integrates various courses offered at YU’s Sy Syms School of Business and Katz School of Science and Health. The Lab assigns teams of YU students — along with a faculty member — to work with one of the 11 participating startups. It also includes specialized workshops, office space, legal counsel and personalized guidance from senior high-tech and business professionals acting as mentors.Read the full article here.
