Couri Hatchery
Couri Hatchery Student Business Incubator
Whitman’s Couri Hatchery Business Incubator helps Syracuse University students and alumni turn ideas into businesses. Open to founders from every school and college, the Hatchery connects founders with Whitman’s nationally recognized entrepreneurship faculty, successful alumni founders, investors, and business leaders while providing mentorship, workspace, and funding opportunities from idea to launch and growth.
Since 2018, the Hatchery has supported more than 6,000 students and alumni, helped launch 290+ companies, and supported founders who have raised more than $294 million in investment capital. Participants also have access to more than 150 mentors and approximately $250,000 in annual funding opportunities through university-wide pitch competitions and grants.
There is no cost to join the Couri Hatchery. Named in honor of John Couri ’63 (A&S), co-founder of Duty-Free International and president of the Couri Foundation.
Couri Hatchery Alumni
Businesses that have been initiated within the Couri Hatchery include:
- Dream Water
- Golden Gear
- ExPrep
- Brevite
- ThunderCakes
- Funk ’n Waffles
- Wholesale Jewelry Liquidators
- Brand Yourself
- EB Active and many others.
Entrepreneurship News and Profiles
Whitman EEE Major’s Playbook for Athlete Networking: Clique Sports
Will Lewandowski ’27
Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises
- Undergraduate
The people at Whitman have played a huge role in my journey, and the environment has been incredibly supportive, I believe this is what sets Whitman apart from other business schools.
Will Lewandowski ’27 has always had two passions: sports and business. At the Whitman School of Management, he’s found a way to bring them together.
A rising junior majoring in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises, Lewandowski is the founder of Clique Sports, a new app designed to connect college athletes with professional players. The idea behind the app is to help athletes build relationships, find mentors and stay informed as they navigate the constantly evolving world of collegiate and professional sports.
“I’ve always had a passion for sports and business, and Clique Sports allows me to collide those two worlds,” he says.
Lewandowski, who is from Lockport, New York, traces his entrepreneurial mindset back to being an athlete. “Mark Cuban once said that ‘Business is the ultimate sport’, and that really resonated with me. There’s strategy, competition and constant change. For me, business is like a sport,” he says.
That mindset fuels his work at Clique Sports. As a dedicated sports fan, Lewandowski says the app has given him the chance to not only connect collegiate and professional athletes but also build a business.
The app already has five verbal commitments from NFL players. In the future, Lewandowski hopes to expand it across all college sports. His long-term vision is to make Clique Sports a key tool for athletes navigating Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities and post-collegiate careers.
“Mentorship is one of the most valuable tools an athlete can have. Clique Sports is designed to create those mentorship opportunities between college and professional athletes, so younger players can learn, grow and prepare for what’s ahead,” he says.
Lewandowski credits Whitman’s Couri Hatchery for playing a key role in his journey, especially the mentorship and advice he’s received from Program Manager Indaria Jones, who has helped him refine and grow Clique Sports from the ground up.
“What sets Whitman apart is that it offers more than just coursework. It’s about being part of a place that really encourages students to take action,” he says.
He’s also formed close relationships with Executive Dean Mike Haynie and Interim Dean Alex McKelvie, who have helped him navigate the early stages of starting and scaling a company.
“The people at Whitman have played a huge role in my journey, and the environment has been incredibly supportive,” he says. “I believe this is what sets Whitman apart from other business schools.”
By Bo BenYehuda