The Summer 2026 session of the URI Innovations RISE-UP Ideation Studio concluded with another successful cohort of aspiring entrepreneurs transforming innovative ideas into viable ventures. In an intensive two-week startup pre-accelerator experience, participants explored customer discovery, business modeling, value proposition development, and venture sustainability while learning from accomplished entrepreneurs and industry experts. As teams continue refining their concepts over the summer, the program will culminate in Pitch Night this September, where participants will compete for implementation grants to advance their ventures to the next stage.
Save the date for the 2nd Annual URI Tech Showcase on September 22, 2026. Join researchers, innovators, industry partners, investors, and community members as we celebrate the groundbreaking research, technologies, and entrepreneurial activity emerging from the University of Rhode Island and connect with the region’s innovation ecosystem.
Netflix co-founder and former CEO Marc Randolph met with URI students, alumni founders, and startup teams during a campus visit hosted by URI Innovations and the URI Foundation, sharing insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, and building resilient companies.
Seventeen URI students, faculty, and alumni pitched startup concepts focused on real-world impact during URI Innovations’ Spring 2026 RISE-UP Ideation Studio Pitch Night. Winning ventures ranged from stadium delivery systems to contractor software and pharmaceutical intelligence tools.
