Ignite Connect 2026 Accelerating Impact

Welcome to Ignite Connect 2026: Accelerating Impact

About the Event

Join us at Ignite Connect 2026 for a groundbreaking experience. This event is the convergence point for the most innovative technologies and fresh venture ideas born from the Ignite gap funding program and Cornell’s dynamic innovation ecosystem.

Get ready to engage with a diverse network of industry pioneers, savvy investors, and visionary entrepreneurs. Our event is more than just a meeting of minds; it’s a platform where partnerships are forged, and future technologies take flight.

Join us on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at noon, on this one-of-a-kind virtual connection.

Pitch Presentations

Track 1
Digital
Presenters

IC Digital track icon

Sudhin Shah
Cognitive Signals

Nikolaos Bouklas
Neural Solids

Kendra Batchelder
Medara

Track 2
Engineering Innovations
Presenters

IC Engineering track icon

Ilayda Samilgil
Llume

Thomas Tapen
EchoICs

Terry Bates
Quantera Analytics

Austin Hickman
Soctera

Track 3
MedTech
Presenters

Digital Health icon

Amir Mokhtare
IV Sonance

Hayford Perry Fordson
Objective pAIn

Jason Blain
NLC Ventures

Mohammed Fouda
Cranofacial extender technology

Track 4
Therapeutics & Drug Delivery
Presenters

Helix icon for biotech

Linda Tempelman
Persista Bio

Kirsten Flowers
Chiara Biosciences

Jonathan Villena-Vargas
Cell therapy innovation

Li Gan
Aeton Therapeutics

Ignite External Committee Members

 

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Ignite Committee Members and Technology Advisors who generously volunteered their time and expertise to carefully evaluate the proposals submitted by applicants. We highly value your willingness to share your technical and market knowledge, which has greatly benefitted both the program and the selected projects. Your remarkable skills and dedication have enabled us to identify and guide projects that required funding to overcome critical barriers and achieve significant advancements toward de-risking the technologies. Your unwavering support is sincerely appreciated, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with you as we strive to make a positive impact in advancing Cornell’s innovation and growing entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Learn more about Ignite Committee Members and Technology Advisors here.

Partners

Praxis logo
CLSV logo
Jacobs logo
rev logo

Accelerate Cornell Innovation.
Ignite Commercialization and Venture