Business Incubator Association of New York State Inc

Overview

The Business Incubator Association of New York State Inc. is a nonprofit trade association established in late 2005. Its mission is to bring together a community of program leaders from incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces across New York State. This association plays a crucial role in fostering a dynamic and successful startup ecosystem throughout the state.

Governance

The organization is governed by a nine-member board of directors elected by its general membership. Despite this, there is no recorded list of current board members available in public databases[4].

Activities and Services

BIANYS engages in several key activities aimed at supporting its members and advancing the state's startup environment:

• Networking Events: These include an annual meeting and other gatherings designed to facilitate collaboration among incubator leaders.
• Training and Webinars: The association offers training for incubator managers and staff, as well as relevant webinars that focus on topics pertinent to the incubation process.
• Advocacy: BIANYS advocates for policy issues related to business incubation both at the state level in Albany and at the federal level in Washington, D.C.
• Program Development: It develops programs such as Soft Landings and pre-incubation education to support early-stage companies.
• Publications and Membership Highlights: The association publishes a monthly newsletter that highlights member achievements and activities[1][2].

Membership and Scope

BIANYS has over 110 dues-paying members, representing the majority of active business incubators in New York State. These members operate various types of facilities, including general purpose, technology, microenterprise, and wet-lab bioscience incubators. Members are affiliated with both public and private universities, regional nonprofit economic development organizations, and for-profit incubators[1][2].

Future Plans

The organization is focused on promoting pre-seed and seed-stage investing in New York State. It aims to leverage the state's strategic position as a gateway to global trade and commerce. Additionally, BIANYS is developing a legislative policy agenda to enhance support for business incubation and to highlight its role in de-risking private investments in early-stage companies[1].

Partnerships and Impact

BIANYS works closely with seed-stage venture firms and the angel investor community in New York State. Through these partnerships, it seeks to emphasize the importance of professionally managed incubation programs in nurturing successful startups[1].