For the First Time Ever, BIANYS Brings Its Annual Summit to the Hudson Valley

We’re thrilled to share that the Business Incubator Association of New York State (BIANYS) is bringing its Annual Conference to the Hudson Valley for the very first time! Mark your calendars for June 12–13, 2025, when innovation leaders from across the state will gather in White Plains, New York for two days of programming, connection, and inspiration.

If you’re unfamiliar with BIANYS, it’s the statewide membership organization representing New York’s incubators, accelerators, and entrepreneurial support programs—including nearly every ESD-backed asset in the state. Each year, BIANYS hosts a summit to unite this powerful network of entrepreneurship professionals, economic developers, funders, and founders. In years past, we’ve traveled from Buffalo to Long Island—but this is the first time the conference will land right here in our region.

The Hudson Valley has the opportunity to showcase the local innovation ecosystem, from homegrown startups and scaleups to the robust programs and talent driving our entrepreneurial growth. This is more than a conference—it’s a moment. A chance to welcome innovation leaders from across the state into our backyard and show them just how powerful and promising the Hudson Valley startup ecosystem really is.We hope you’ll join us in White Plains this June.

What to Expect at the 2025 BIANYS Annual Conference

The event will feature rich educational content, peer learning opportunities, and strategic conversations about the future of innovation in New York. While the full agenda is still being developed, here are a few sessions we’re especially excited about:

💡 Designing for Impact: Building Effective Cohort-Based Accelerator Programs

Led by Heidi Davidson, Ph.D, she’s answer what really makes a cohort-based accelerator thrive? In this session, Dr. Heidi Davidson will walk us through the core design principles that lead to founder success and program cohesion. From structuring the right mix of participants to avoiding common pitfalls, this session is a must-attend for anyone running—or planning to launch—an accelerator.

💰 Building Sustainable Funding Models for Innovation: Exploring Public-Private Partnerships and Alternative Approaches

With federal funding often uncertain, how can we build durable support systems for innovation? This panel will look at proven models like Pennsylvania’s Ben Franklin Technology Partners, insights from IMBIA’s national survey of incubators, and explore how a place-based investment fund might work here in the Hudson Valley. We’ll dig into practical strategies for creating a sustainable, regionally powered funding ecosystem.