Organization · Incubator
Center for Innovation
The Center for Innovation (CFI) is an entrepreneurial incubator in Grand Forks, North Dakota, affiliated with the University of North Dakota. It supports startups and technology commercialization through coaching, mentorship, and networking.
Overview
What Center for Innovation does
What Center for Innovation is
The Center for Innovation (CFI) is an entrepreneurial incubator in Grand Forks, North Dakota, affiliated with the University of North Dakota. It supports startups and technology commercialization through coaching, mentorship, and networking.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports program host and community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Incubator
- Founded
- Founded in 1984
- Approximate age
- About 42 years
- Structured capabilities
- Program host · Community
- Last reviewed
- April 13, 2026
What Incubator means
An incubator is a support environment for turning a nascent idea or early company into a startup that is more ready for customers, funding, or an accelerator.
Open the glossary entryOfficial channels
Find Center for Innovation elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Center for Innovation as a program host
Program thesis
The Center for Innovation is focused on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, supporting startups and small businesses through various programs and services.
Focus narrative
The Center for Innovation provides a range of services including business coaching, grant writing assistance, an incubator program, and an innovation studio. They also facilitate access to SBIR/STTR funding opportunities, focusing on various sectors primarily within the local region.
Value and support
The Center for Innovation offers personalized business coaching, grant writing assistance, an incubator program for early-stage startups, and access to funding opportunities through SBIR/STTR.
Availability
- Application state
- Not published
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- North America
Capability profile
Center for Innovation as a community
Community overview
The Center for Innovation is an organization focused on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. It was founded to support startups and small businesses through various programs and services. The organization is based in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Community focus
The Center for Innovation provides a range of services aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and startups. These include business coaching, grant writing assistance, an incubator program, and an innovation studio. They also facilitate access to SBIR/STTR funding opportunities. The organization focuses on various sectors, primarily within the local region.
Member value
Members benefit from personalized business coaching, assistance with grant writing, access to an incubator program, and opportunities to engage with an innovation studio. The organization also helps connect members to SBIR/STTR funding opportunities.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Students
- Benefits
- mentorship, grant-funding, and network-access
- Program types
- incubator and community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- United States
Community activity
Events and activity
The Center for Innovation hosts events such as demo days and workshops, including the SBIR/STTR 101 Workshop, which focuses on understanding SBIR/STTR grants, and the Launch Demo Day, showcasing startups and their innovations.
Notable members
The Center for Innovation collaborates with various partners and members, including local businesses and educational institutions.
Common questions
What to know about Center for Innovation
Upseed classifies Center for Innovation under the Incubator organization type. Its current public profile includes program host and community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
April 13, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.