IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator

The IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator is an initiative designed to transform bold ideas into real-world applications. In a space that moves quickly, we aim to bring “proof of research” and rigorous discipline to the next wave of companies in the space.

Meet the Inaugural Cohort

  1. SpaceComputer is a satellite-based consensus system for secure computation. It builds on top of Cryptosat, providing TEE-like functionality with physically tamper-proof satellite nodes.
  2. Sparsity is described as the first universal acceleration layer, enabling dApps from any blockchain run in real-time with unlimited throughput (no migration needed).
  3. BitGPT is an AI agent network built to onboard the next billion web3 users. The founders were also the driving force behind web3 startups Decentraland and SingularyNET.
  4. AgentBall is building infrastructure for an onchain economy of autonomous AI agents. The team was awarded the “Most Innovative Use of CDP SDK” from CoinbaseDev at ETHGlobal Bangkok.
  5. Prinx is an exchange for tokenized pre-IPO shares. It buys shares from secondary markets, tokenizes the rights, and pools them on Uniswap.

If you want to get in touch with the teams, please fill out this short form!

Program Eligibility

The IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator is geared towards early-stage projects that are pre-product market fit. Teams should at minimum have a validated idea (through interviews and deep market research), or have significant progress in their academic research. At least one member with a technical background and an affiliation to IC3 or Cornell is required to be eligible and participate.

A Legacy of Innovation & Research

IC3 and Cornell have a proud history of fostering some of the blockchain industry’s most influential projects. Alumni and research from our ecosystem have led to the creation of companies like Chainlink Labs, Ava Labs, Offchain Labs, Flashbots, Gyroscope, Oasis Labs, and many others.

Our commitment to advancing blockchain R&D is stronger than ever. This inaugural year of the IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator will be led by a dedicated team of IC3 members, Cornell students, and alumni, continuing our tradition of innovation and excellence. We are grateful for Stanford Blockchain Accelerator’s support in helping us launch this initiative.

Program Incentives

Participants in the IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator will benefit from:

  • $10,000 in seed funding for up to two projects that meet specific criteria
  • Mentorship from IC3’s extensive network of faculty, PhD students, and industry leaders from Ava labs, Chainlink Labs, Paypal, Coinbase, and many others
  • Research support to help navigate complex challenges and accelerate project development
  • Access to a global network of blockchain builders and innovators
  • Exposure to the industry’s top investors such as Pantera Capital, Dragonfly Capital, and a16z, who are actively supporting early-stage projects
  • Recruitment assistance to support job placement post-accelerator

Be Part of the First Cohort

Applications are now open for the first cohort of the IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator. Apply here. The deadline is January 15, 2025.

Leadership

Team Members

Oana Gherman – Program Manager

Eric Hu – Accelerator Lead

Reva Jariwala – Student Accelerator Lead

Alexander Lin – Accelerator Lead

Danielle Nicholson – Accelerator Lead

Yousuf Qaum – Student Accelerator Lead

Gil Rosen – Accelerator Lead

Jay Yu – Accelerator Lead

Accelerator Mentors

John Wu – President @ Ava Labs, Cornell alum
Gengmo Qi – Partner @ Dragonfly Capital, IC3 & Cornell alum
Alex Lin – Co-founder and Managing Partner @ Reforge, Ex-Shima Capital
Steven Willinger – Ex-Coinbase Ventures, GP @ Blockchain Builders
Kun Peng – Founder @ Stanford Blockchain Accelerator, BASS

Faculty Advisor

prof. Ari Juels – Weill Family Foundation and Joan and Sanford I. Weill Professor @ Cornell Tech, Co-founder and Co-director of the Initiative for CryptoCurrencies and Contracts (IC3), Chief Scientist @ Chainlink Labs

FAQs

Expand for details

Who can apply for the IC3-Cornell Blockhain Accelerator program?
The team must have at least one member affiliated with IC3 or Cornell (i.e. students, alums, etc) and at least one technical member. The project should be pre-product market fit.

What will make our project stand out and be considered for the program?
Our accelerator leads will be looking for projects that have more than one member, demonstrate technical innovation, and meet an industry need. Projects considered will help drive blockchain adoption and enable new use cases.

How long is the IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator program?
The program will be 14 weeks.

Who reviews the applications?
The accelerator leads.

Can I apply as an individual or do I need to be part of a team?
You can apply as an individual as long as you have a technical background. At least one member of a team, or the individual applying, needs to have technical expertise.

When will I find out if my project has been accepted?
We will notify all teams within two weeks after the application deadline.

What does the accelerator program entail?
This pilot version of the IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator will be 14-weeks long. There will be bi-weekly meetings with accelerator leads, one-on-one mentor sessions, educational bi-weekly webinars with industry professionals that accelerator participants can attend, in-person networking events, a demo day during the Cornell Blockchain Conference, and more.

How much of a time commitment is required?
It will depend on the needs of the selected teams, but given the activities scheduled throughout the duration of the program, it will require a minimum of 1-hour per week.

Does the program offer mentorship?
Yes, the teams will be introduced to our mentors, and they will decide who to work with based on their needs.

Can I still work on my academic research while participating in the accelerator program?
Yes, the program activities shouldn’t interfere with your academic work.

Is the program offered to those outside of IC3 or Cornell?
Not at the moment.

Does your accelerator program take equity from startups?
We do not take equity.

What are the next steps after I submit my application?
A committee will review the applications on a rolling basis. After the application period ends, you will be contacted by a member of the leading team with the decision. If you are selected, an interview will be scheduled for the week of January 20-26, 2025. The final decisions will be announced on January 27, 2025. If you are selected for the accelerator, the program will run from February 3 to May 11, 2025.

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