ABOUT
Empire Corps, led by the City University of New York (CUNY) Industrial and Applied Research (IAR) Division and powered by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program, is New York State’s centralized SBIR/STTR support system for technology entrepreneurs.
What is Empire Corps?
Empire Corps is a statewide initiative supporting early-stage innovators across New York State in applying for federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding from any of the 11 participating agencies. Through entrepreneurship training, mentorship, education, and tailored resources, Empire Corps empowers entrepreneurs to translate cutting-edge research into viable, scalable businesses.
Who is CUNY IAR?
The Industrial and Applied Research (IAR) Division is part of the CUNY Office of Research, dedicated to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development. Recognized as a national leader in training entrepreneurs, IAR is committed to expanding opportunities, playing a key role in driving New York City’s recovery economy. In addition to Empire Corps, CUNY IAR leads the NSF-supported New York I-Corps Hub and runs regional and national Innovation Corps (I-Corps) programming, providing research and technology teams with customer discovery funding to explore and develop viable business models. CUNY IAR is also offers tax incentives to eligible startups through the NYC Innovation Hot Spot program funded by Empire State Development’s Science and Technology Division (NYSTAR). Through these initiatives, IAR strengthens the connection between research, commercialization, and entrepreneurship, ensuring that CUNY remains at the forefront of innovation and economic impact.
What is SBA FAST?
The Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program is a funding initiative by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) designed to increase participation in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. FAST provides resources to state and regional organizations to assist women, socially/economically disadvantaged individuals, and small businesses—especially in underrepresented areas—by supporting SBIR/STTR proposal development, commercialization efforts, and mentoring networks.
The SBA awarded the CUNY IAR the prestigious FAST designation in 2024, marking the first time in eight years that New York State once again has a dedicated SBIR/STTR Assistance Center. CUNY IAR’s successful proposal for the FAST Center designation required collaboration with key state stakeholders, including a letter of endorsement from Governor Kathy Hochul, underscoring the importance of innovation in driving economic growth in New York.
Empire Corps Team
The Empire Corps team brings extensive SBIR/STTR expertise, spanning multiple roles within the innovation ecosystem. Our team includes active and prior SBIR/STTR awardees, providing firsthand experience in navigating the federal funding landscape, as well as experienced reviewers, offering deep insight into the evaluation criteria and best practices for crafting competitive proposals. Additionally, the Empire Corps team includes SBIR/STTR National I-Corps instructors who have trained numerous Phase I awardees in customer discovery, commercialization strategy, and grant readiness for Phase II, providing startups with the skills and knowledge needed to secure and maximize SBIR/STTR funding.