Bozzuto Center
Contact
Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship
22 Castle Street, Geneva, N.Y. 14456
Directions to the Bozzuto Center
Email: talmage@hws.edu
OPEN HOURS
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
The Power of an Idea
Have an idea that could make something better? The Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship helps HWS students turn ideas into action through hands-on learning, mentorship, collaboration and access to resources. Whether it’s a business, nonprofit, social innovation, technology, arts project, community initiative, policy intervention or something entirely new, this is a place to explore, test and advance ideas.
Signature Programs
The Pitch
March 3, 2027 | Vandervort Room | 7 p.m.
Proposals due November 6, 2026
Win up to $10,000 in startup funding through the HWS’ Shark Tank-inspired competition.
IdeaLab
September 9 - October 7, 2026 | Stern 103 | 7 p.m.
A five-week creative problem-solving experience where students turn problems and possibilities they care about into ideas they can test, refine and pursue.
Elevator Pitch Competition
October 14, 2026 | Bozzuto Center | 7 p.m.
A 90-second pitch competition with prizes awarded.
Opell SeeD Funding
December 3, 2026 | Bozzuto Center
Opell Seed Funding is a program that is meant to resemble a venture capital investment model for early-stage entrepreneurial ventures.
The Bozzuto Center
Students present their market research as part of their senior capstone course in the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship at 22 Castle Street.
Semifinalists in the HWS Pitch Contest meet in the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship with Entrepreneurial Fellow Ed Bizari.
Professor of Economics Thomas Drennen and Entrepreneurial Fellow Ed Bizari co-teach in the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship.
Visiting Instructor of Entrepreneurial Studies Drury MacKenzie '03 conducts class at the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship.
Former Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chairman and Co-Founder of The Bozzuto Group Thomas S. Bozzuto '68, L.H.D. '18 Zooms with students.
Students present a sustainability plan for the Castle Creek area of Geneva as part of their Sustainable Community Development Capstone in the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship.
Marilla Gonzalez, founder and owner of Waste Not, meets with Assistant Professor Craig Talmage's entrepreneurial capstone students for a project update at the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship.
At the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship, students present a sustainability plan for the Castle Street Corridor in downtown Geneva as part of their Sustainable Community Development Capstone.
Participants spanning across 8 teams posed at the completion of the fourth annual Centennial Center for Leadership's 24-hour Hackathon.
Completing coursework inside the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship.
Students present their projects at the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship.
Michael L. Opell ’59 visits the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship. Michael L. Opell ’59 and Ellen Levine Opell ’60 established the HWS Student Entrepreneurship Fund to support current and future programs, workshops and student initiatives in entrepreneurship at HWS.
Dedication of the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship with Honorary Thomas Bozzuto '68, L.H.D. '18, chairman and co-founder of Bozzuto Group.
Former Chair of the Board of Trustees Thomas S. Bozzuto '68 L.H.D. '18 addresses the crowd at the new Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship at 22 Castle Street.
Professor of Economics Thomas Drennen introduces a lesson on customer discovery.
Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies Craig Talmage teaches students in the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurial Fellow Ed Bizari guest lectures about angel investors in Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies Craig Talmage's capstone seminar at the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship.
Students work on a group project at the Bozzuto Center For Entrepreneurship.
Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies Craig Talmage introduces The Prisoner's Dilemma card game during Economic Principles.
HWS hosts Young Alum Happy Hour in the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship.
The Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship allows for students to meet local entrepreneurs.
A Young Alum Happy Hour at the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneruship.
Students talk with Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies Craig Talmage and Richard Madia following their senior capstone course in the Bozzuto Center for Entrepreneurship.
Meet With Us
Have an idea, problem, project, or possibility you want to explore? Let’s talk.
You do not need a business idea — or even a fully formed idea — to meet with us. The Bozzuto Center works with students from across HWS to brainstorm possibilities, strengthen ideas, identify resources and figure out what comes next.
Meet with us for help with:
- Idea generation, problem framing, and brainstorming
- Understanding who your idea serves and why it matters
- Testing, researching, and refining an idea
- Business, nonprofit, social innovation, creative, and community projects
- Budgets, business models, markets, and implementation
- Pitching and communicating your idea
- Finding funding, mentors, collaborators, and other resources
- Making connections across HWS, Geneva, the Finger Lakes, and our alumni network
Not sure what you need? That's okay. Start with a conversation.
Entrepreneurship News
AlumniBank of America CEO Brian Moynihan to Deliver 2026 Anderton Symposium
The Chair and CEO of Bank of America will share insights on leadership, the economy and the future of global business during Hobart and William Smith's annual Anderton Economic Policy Symposium.
EntrepreneurshipCharles ’27 Wins Pitch Finals
Duke Charles II ’27 receives $10,000 to develop a streetwear discovery app during the 2026 Todd Feldman ’89 and Family Pitch Competition.
EntrepreneurshipStudent Entrepreneurs Take the Stage Thursday in HWS Pitch Finals
Four students have advanced to the final round of HWS’ Shark-Tank style pitch competition, set for Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m. in the Vandervort Room.