Three years in, Golisano Institute expands programs, partnerships and impact

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When Ian Mortimer talks about the future of the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship, he often returns to a single image: a beehive. 

The institute’s inaugural president envisions the Rochester-based school as a place where entrepreneurs, business leaders, students and innovators naturally gather to learn, connect and build. 

“We want people to view the institute as a place that if you are interested in developing your business skills, if you’re interested in learning about contemporary issues regarding business, if you’re interested in being with other founders and other entrepreneurs, this is the place that you just default to go because it’s where the people are,” Mortimer said. 

That vision has guided the institute since its launch in 2022, when Paychex founder and philanthropist Tom Golisano unveiled plans to create a new model for business education—one designed to be more affordable, more focused and more closely aligned with workforce needs. 

Located at 150 Sawgrass Drive in a former Paychex facility, the institute welcomed its first students in fall 2023. Its inaugural class graduated last August, earning professional certificates in Business & Entrepreneurship after completing an intensive two-year curriculum focused exclusively on business-related subjects. 

The model is intentionally different from traditional higher education pathways. Rather than requiring students to spend four years completing a broad range of coursework, the institute concentrates on practical business knowledge, entrepreneurship and workforce readiness. Tuition is set at $8,900 annually, with scholarships and financial assistance available for eligible students. 

Golisano said affordability was a primary motivation behind the school’s creation. 

“I established the institute to give future entrepreneurs a more affordable and direct path to building meaningful careers, as well as provide regional employers with talented graduates who are ready to contribute from day one,” Golisano said at the institute’s 2025 graduation ceremony. 

He fully funded and endowed the institute, which continues to operate as a nonprofit educational organization. 

Beyond classroom instruction, students gain exposure to the business world through internships with regional employers and the institute’s weekly “Speaking from Experience” series, which brings accomplished executives, entrepreneurs and business leaders to campus. 

The institute has also evolved since its launch. 

One of the earliest lessons, Mortimer said, was recognizing the distinction between teaching business knowledge and developing business skills. 

“Business skills are different than business knowledge,” he said. “They require curiosity, communication skills, punctuality, knowing when to lead and when to follow. They require being able to distill and integrate information from a lot of different perspectives and come up with your own conclusion. And now they also require technical acumen.” 

As a result, the school increasingly approaches education the way an athletic program approaches training. 

“It’s reps, it’s constant practice,” Mortimer said. 

That emphasis on practical application has extended into new programming. In addition to its flagship two-year certificate, the institute has launched a one-year AI & Business certificate program and a one-year Strategic AI Implementation program aimed at helping professionals integrate artificial intelligence into business operations. 

To date, nearly 50 students have graduated from the institute. According to school officials, roughly 75% have met at least one of three key success metrics: securing full-time employment in their field, operating a business generating at least $4,000 in monthly revenue or continuing their education through a degree program. 

Supporting entrepreneurship extends beyond students enrolled in certificate programs. 

In 2024, the institute partnered with GrowthX to launch its Revenue Accelerator, a 16-week business-to-business sales program that provides one-on-one coaching for regional technology startups. The initiative helps founders strengthen go-to-market strategies while also creating learning opportunities and professional networks for students. 

Partnerships have become another cornerstone of the institute’s growth strategy. Agreements with nine colleges and universities to-date create streamlined pathways for students who wish to continue their education, allowing graduates to build on their certificates and pursue bachelor’s degrees. 

This fall, the institute will launch a Business Innovation Academy, which will offer courses, camps and other opportunities in business and technology to high school students.

The next major milestone also arrives this fall with the opening of a second campus in Buffalo. 

Regional businesses are already embracing the institute as a talent and innovation partner. 

Canandaigua National Bank began working with the institute last year, according to Executive Vice President and Chief Information Technology Officer Rick Sheffer. 

Since then, the bank has sent its executive leadership team to the institute for a day-long AI session, hired a student there as an intern for the summer and enrolled a couple of its employees in one of the institute’s year-long AI certificate programs. 

Sheffer expects the relationship to deepen further, with opportunities to collaborate on finance and information technology programs. 

What sets the institute apart, he said, is its emphasis on experiential learning and practical skill development rather than rote memorization. 

“They show the students what it means to be an entrepreneur and succeed in business,” Sheffer said. 

While there are no immediate plans for additional locations, Mortimer believes the model could eventually expand further across New York and beyond. 

For now, the focus remains on strengthening the institute’s role within the Rochester and Buffalo business communities and serving students seeking a different educational experience. 

“For some students, we are just not a good fit, and that is because they want more of a traditional residential college experience,” Mortimer said. “But for the person who is really focused on the value of time and an intensive deep dive into business and tech and entrepreneurship, we do that better than the traditional side.” 

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