Join us for a conversation with UVM Innovations and the Director of Runway and Spinouts at Cornell University, Dr. Fernando Gómez-Baquero. Cornell Tech opened its Roosevelt Island campus in 2017 and, by the end of 2025, had generated 128 startups that collectively raised over $500M in venture capital and achieved valuations exceeding $1.3B. Through multidisciplinary, applied programs; early-stage funding and mentorship; cohort-based founder communities; and a culture focused on execution and real‑world impact, Cornell Tech reduced the traditional gap between research and commercialization. This lecture will examine the challenges, lessons, and best practices that enabled Cornell Tech’s success and how strong start-up ecosystems can be created in partnership with a university.