Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement opens applications for the fourth round of the Dairy Runway Entrepreneurship Program in New York. This free program, funded through the New York State Dairy Promotion Order, supports food innovators in developing value-added dairy products. Participants undergo a six-week online course, followed by access to Cornell’s food processing facilities for prototype development and personalized business coaching. Applications close on January 6, 2025.
Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA) is inviting applications for the fourth round of the Dairy Runway Entrepreneurship Program, aimed at food innovators with ideas for value-added dairy products. Funded through the New York State Dairy Promotion Order, this free program focuses on customer discovery and provides training in prototype development to support the growth of the dairy industry in New York.
The program begins with a six-week online course that introduces participants to the customer discovery process, including the development of a Business Model Canvas. This course combines self-directed online learning with Zoom-based class meetings and personalized instructor check-ins. Participants will engage in virtual sessions featuring discussions with industry experts from marketing agencies and established retailers.
Jenn Smith, CREA’s Director of Food and Ag Startup Programs, highlighted the importance of supporting value-added innovation in New York’s agricultural economy, stating that education and training through Dairy Runway enable producers to meet the increasing demand for high-quality dairy products. The program has already produced several success stories, and Smith looks forward to supporting the upcoming cohort.
Upon completing the virtual course, participants advance to the Kitchen Incubator phase, where they gain fully funded access to Cornell’s food processing facilities for prototype development, guided by dairy specialists and food technicians. This stage also includes one-on-one business coaching with a Cornell Entrepreneur-in-Residence.
Since its launch in partnership with the Northeast Dairy Foods Research Center (NDFRC) in 2023, the Dairy Runway program has hosted three cohorts, featuring products ranging from alcohol-infused fudge to nutritional supplements. In the past 18 months, 24 teams have completed the entrepreneurship course, and 12 teams have successfully gone through the Kitchen Incubator phase. The latest cohort, consisting of seven teams, has recently progressed to this advanced stage.
Dr. Samuel Alcaine, director of the NDFRC and associate professor at Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, emphasized the critical need for dairy farmers and food producers to access training and education that transform innovative ideas into valuable products, ensuring a sustainable future for the dairy industry.
Applications for the Dairy Runway program will close on January 6, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET. CREA will host three information sessions for interested food innovators to learn more about the program’s requirements and benefits.
For more information about the Dairy Runway program and to apply, visit www.dairyinnovation.org/dairy-runway-program.
To learn more about the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Dairy Promotion Order, visit https://agriculture.ny.gov/dairy/dairy-promotion-order.
For details about the Northeast Dairy Foods Research Center, visit www.cals.cornell.edu/northeast-dairy-foods-research-center.
