The Center for Technology Licensing (CTL) is Cornell University's technology transfer office. We manage technology for Cornell's Ithaca campus, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell Tech, and Cornell AgriTech in Geneva.

Women Innovators Initiative

 

Women Innovators Initiative (WI2)

The Women Innovators Initiative is a Cornell initiative to Engage, Empower, and Grow women faculty, staff, and graduate students in the path toward technology innovation and entrepreneurial leadership.

 

Goals:

  • Introduce women faculty, staff and students to technology innovation and commercialization, and help increase their participation in inventorship.
  • Support their interests and exploration in entrepreneurship and leadership roles.

Programs:

  • WI2 Event series
    • A series of seminars, webinars, and networking events.
    • Learn from inspiring women inventors and entrepreneurs
  • WI2 Mentor program
    • Match mentors (seasoned women innovators, entrepreneurs, and/or investors) with mentee (aspiring and novice inventors and entrepreneurs).
    • Cultivate the next generation of leaders with the help of our volunteering alumnae.

Details:

 

  • WI2 Events
    • June 2020: Webinar “Women Inventors at Cornell – Creating and Growing an Ecosystem of Innovation”.
      Read about the webinar and the speakers here.
    • September 2020: Webinar “Investing in Women Entrepreneurs”.
      Read about the webinar and the panelists here.
    • February 2021: Webinar
    • June 2021: Webinar

 

  • WI2 Mentor program
    • Duration: Commitment of a year.

 

Eligibility criteria / Requirements

Mentors Mentee
Who Alumnae volunteers who are willing to provide advice and perspectives on technology innovation, commercialization, startups and other related activities. Cornell Faculty, Staff (post-doctoral fellows), and Grad students who are interested in technology, commercialization and new ventures and wish to learn from experienced women leaders
Background Experienced in technology commercialization, and Startup creation Conducting research at Cornell
Process Review a list of pre-selected candidates Express a substantiated interest in the program
Match Select up to three mentees per year One designed mentor
Commitment At least two meetings per mentee in a year.
Willing to share email with mentee.		 At least two one-on-one meeting with mentor per year
Respectful of mentor time
Responsive to mentor’s emails

For Mentees:

 

Application process:

  • Submit online application here.
  • The team at CTL will screen the application and will propose them for review to the mentors.
  • Once selected, mentees are introduced to their mentor through a virtual introduction.

For more information, please contact Lynda Inseque at Lci2@cornell.edu

 

For mentors:

 

If you are interested in serving as a mentor, please contact Lynda Inseque at Lci2@cornell.edu.

 

Related Opportunities & Events

Opportunity for Weill Faculty members:

  • Weill Women Innovators investment opportunity
    • The BioVenture eLab, which is part of Biopharma Alliances & Research Collaborations, is collaborating with AmplifyHer Ventures on a competition open exclusively to Weill Cornell Medicine associated companies, led or founded by a woman.
       
      Up to $50,000 will be founded in a startup.
      Applications Due: January 15, 2021
      Winner Presentations at Startup Symposium: February 25, 2021
       
      Download the announcement and application instructions here.

Opportunity for Faculty members:

  • Organized by our counterpart at Washington University in St. Louis, Equalize is a virtual mentor program and a pitch competition to empower academic entrepreneurs.