IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator

The IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator is an initiative designed to transform bold ideas into real-world applications. In a space that moves quickly, we aim to bring “proof of research” and rigorous discipline to the next wave of companies in the space.

Program Eligibility

The IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator is geared towards early-stage projects that are pre-product market fit. Teams should at minimum have a validated idea (through interviews and deep market research), or have significant progress in their academic research. At least one member with a technical background and an affiliation to IC3 or Cornell is required to be eligible and participate.

A Legacy of Innovation & Research

IC3 and Cornell have a proud history of fostering some of the blockchain industry's most influential projects. Alumni and research from our ecosystem have led to the creation of companies like Chainlink Labs, Ava Labs, Offchain Labs, Flashbots, Gyroscope, Oasis Labs, and many others.

Our commitment to advancing blockchain R&D is stronger than ever. This inaugural year of the IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator will be led by a dedicated team of IC3 members, Cornell students, and alumni, continuing our tradition of innovation and excellence. We are grateful for Stanford Blockchain Accelerator’s support in helping us launch this initiative.

Program Incentives

Participants in the IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator will benefit from:

Be Part of the First Cohort

Applications are now open for the first cohort of the IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator. Apply here. The deadline is January 15, 2025.

Leadership

Team Members
Program Manager

Oana is the IC3 liaison and she is overseeing and coordinating multiple facets within IC3 to ensure they align with the initiative's goals and are executed efficiently. Her role is essential for ensuring the smooth operation of IC3's activities and supporting its leadership in advancing blockchain research and applications.



Accelerator Lead

Eric is an investor at Thoma Bravo, a technology private equity firm, where he leads deals and helps operate companies across the supply chain, cybersecurity, and GRC space. He co-founded Cornell Blockchain in 2017, and serves as a board member, supporting the organization across initiatives such as their education courses and the annual Cornell Blockchain Conference. Previously, Eric was an investment banker at Evercore, where he assisted companies across Communications and Digital Infrastructure with M&A, Capital Raises, and Strategic Alternatives.


Student Accelerator Lead

Reva Jariwala is a senior at Cornell University, majoring in Information Science, who began exploring blockchain in high school, starting with onramps, and has never looked back. As Vice President of the Cornell Blockchain club, she helps lead this student-led org and has worked across the space, primarily through a TradFi lens, from researching protocols at Mark Cuban Companies to trading infrastructure at Citadel. Currently, she’s contributing part-time to the research team at Coinbase, focusing on Base.


Accelerator Lead

Alexander is the Co-founder and General Partner at Reforge, a blockchain and frontier tech investment firm. Previously, he was the Head of Research and first investment team hire at Shima Capital, joining the firm while he was completing his technical MBA in distributed systems and cryptography at Cornell Tech and the Cornell SC Johnson Graduate School of Management. Prior to his investing career, Alexander was an engineer and led product for two successful web2 exits (Teads 2017, Concertiv 2020), and founded a digital healthcare company. He's been in crypto since 2012.


Accelerator Lead

Danielle is an attorney, serial entrepreneur and Cornell alum who currently serves as CEO of Mira Intel. She previously founded BuilderBloc, a legal and business advisory firm that supports and scales early stage startups innovating at the intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence. Her prior experience also includes working with the United Nations and Techstars. She holds active roles with the Global Blockchain Business Council and The Knowledge House, a non-profit dedicated to diversifying the tech talent pipeline.


Student Accelerator Lead

Yousuf Qaum, a senior at Cornell University majoring in statistics, is a dedicated blockchain enthusiast. He has led initiatives such as the Cornell Blockchain Accelerator, interned as a Product Manager at Fidelity, and conducted research on how blockchain technology enhances the efficiency of humanitarian aid distribution.



Accelerator Lead

President of the Stanford Blockchain Accelerator, managing partner of Blockchain Builders fund, co-lead of BASS Conference, and co-teacher of Stanford MS&E 447 Blockchain entrepreneurship, Gil has supported over 80 blockchain startups from validated ideas to launch; raising $500M in aggregate. A 2x exited founder, Gil’s companies built distributed computing platforms for the IRS, London stock exchange, BP, Rolls Royce, and more.


Accelerator Lead

Jay Yu is an IC3 Research Advisor, where his research interests center around Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) and programmable cryptography. Jay studied Philosophy and Computer Science at Stanford University. As President of Stanford Blockchain Club, he served as a Uniswap DAO delegate and a Teaching Assistant for CS 352B/LAW 1078 - Blockchain Governance. He also works on research and investments at Pantera Capital.


Accelerator Mentors

John Wu - President @ Ava Labs, Cornell alum
Gengmo Qi - Partner @ Dragonfly Capital, IC3 & Cornell alum
Alex Lin - Co-founder and Managing Partner @ Reforge, Ex-Shima Capital
Steven Willinger - Ex-Coinbase Ventures, GP @ Blockchain Builders
Kun Peng - Founder @ Stanford Blockchain Accelerator, BASS
Jesper Kristensen - Co-founder @ Panoptic

FAQs

Expand for details
Who can apply for the IC3-Cornell Blockhain Accelerator program?
The team must have at least one member affiliated with IC3 or Cornell (i.e. students, alums, etc) and at least one technical member. The project should be pre-product market fit.

What will make our project stand out and be considered for the program?
Our accelerator leads will be looking for projects that have more than one member, demonstrate technical innovation, and meet an industry need. Projects considered will help drive blockchain adoption and enable new use cases.

How long is the IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator program?
The program will be 14 weeks.

Who reviews the applications?
The accelerator leads.

Can I apply as an individual or do I need to be part of a team?
You can apply as an individual as long as you have a technical background. At least one member of a team, or the individual applying, needs to have technical expertise.

When will I find out if my project has been accepted?
We will notify all teams within two weeks after the application deadline.

What does the accelerator program entail?
This pilot version of the IC3-Cornell Blockchain Accelerator will be 14-weeks long. There will be bi-weekly meetings with accelerator leads, one-on-one mentor sessions, educational bi-weekly webinars with industry professionals that accelerator participants can attend, in-person networking events, a demo day during the Cornell Blockchain Conference, and more.

How much of a time commitment is required?
It will depend on the needs of the selected teams, but given the activities scheduled throughout the duration of the program, it will require a minimum of 1-hour per week.

Does the program offer mentorship?
Yes, the teams will be introduced to our mentors, and they will decide who to work with based on their needs.

Can I still work on my academic research while participating in the accelerator program?
Yes, the program activities shouldn’t interfere with your academic work.

Is the program offered to those outside of IC3 or Cornell?
Not at the moment.

Does your accelerator program take equity from startups?
We do not take equity.

What are the next steps after I submit my application?
A committee will review the applications on a rolling basis. After the application period ends, you will be contacted by a member of the leading team with the decision. If you are selected, an interview will be scheduled for the week of January 20-26, 2025. The final decisions will be announced on January 27, 2025. If you are selected for the accelerator, the program will run from February 3 to May 11, 2025.

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