Pre-Seed Workshop - New York
Pre-Seed Workshop - New York
Pre-Seed Workshop - New York

“This workshop is essential and fits well with the integrated approach New York State is taking to supporting entrepreneurship in the state."

Peter Pritchard
Program Manager
Center for Economic Growth, Albany


The Founders

Several years ago, a few committed individuals in Rochester recognized the confusion that inventors in the universities face regarding business matters versus the enormity of business talent in the community. They surmised that if the right resources were brought together for an intensive, hands-on, two day workshop to analyze and explore the start-up potential of new inventions, the result could potentially be (as one of our sponsors called it) “magic.”

So in response to an expressed need, the founders of the PSW, backed by an advisory panel of committed university and community stakeholders, created the Pre-Seed Workshop during the summer of 2004. The PSW was designed as an effective and efficient methodology to determine if university inventions had commercial value and could serve as the basis for new start-ups companies

The first PSW was held in Rochester in September 2004 and was a great success. The workshop spread rapidly and virally throughout New York State, into Indiana, and most recently into Europe.  The PSW has become a regular annual event in the communities who have adopted the program.

Mark Wilson
PSW Founder and Facilitator
Rochester, NY
(585) 281-2995
For Mark’s Bio, click here
Judy Albers
PSW Founder and Facilitator
Rochester, NY
For Judy’s Bio, click here