Smith Family Business Initiative

Smith Family Business Initiative Marketplace
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

Smith Family Business Initiative Network

The Smith Family Business Initiative (SFBI) is dedicated to supporting and strengthening the network of owners, leaders, and alumni that work in, with or for a family business.
This marketplace is intended to connect the network.

Sell in the Marketplace Buy from Cornell startups

Our mission

It begins inside a trusted community built for connection. Members get the advice and products they need.

We are actively looking for companies and startups.

They buy and sell. They connect. They iterate. Real connections. Real business. Real feedback.

In partnership with

Cornell Institute for Food Systems Cornell Marketplace Nolan School of Hotel Administration

How it works

A connection point that runs alongside the CornellMarketplace, not instead of it.

  • No subscriptions. Per-transaction fees only.
  • Cornell, SFBi, faculty and staff carry no operational burden and no institutional liability.
  • For alumni — a direct line to the next generation of Cornell founders. Not just to mentor, but by buying and giving real feedback.
  • Every transaction directly funds Cornell programs — including Smith Family Business Initiative.
  • SupplyBistro is launching an open data program named after Nagesh Gavirneni, MBA Operations Faculty — giving Cornell faculty and students access to sanitized, repeatable supply chain data for research and learning.
  • When startups outgrow Cornell, nothing changes. The Marketplace is powered by SupplyBistro — the same platform, the same system. They just keep selling — into distributors, retailers, and open markets.

    • Clients and startups

    Who's selling right now.

    Abstinence Spirits

    Sophisticated and full of flavor, Abstinence Spirits has non-alcoholic white and dark spirits, bittersweet aperitifs, and ready-to-pour spritzes expertly crafted using sustainably sourced botanicals from the Cape Floral Kingdom, in Cape Town, South Africa.

    Explore

    Staccato Bakery

    Founded by Saleem Ahmed, a Cornell MBA and former finance professional turned DJ and event producer. The name captures that mix of rhythm and flavor — cookies crafted with balance, intention, and love.

    Explore

    Grow The Earth

    A pioneering farm-to-fork food company using regenerative practices, automation, and AI to produce fine food products in Croydon, NH. Grow The Earth believes good health starts with data-driven, clean farming.

    Explore

    Your startup here

    Are you interested in what we have to offer? Reach out and join us — your startup will be shown on this page alongside the others.

    Explore

    Stay in touch

    Dan Van Der Vliet

    SFBI · Director

    Connect

    Wes Sine

    Academic · Director

    Connect

    Franco Mora

    Co-Founder · MBA '12

    Connect

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    Explore SupplyBistro

    Check out our website to see more of what we do. The Marketplace runs on SupplyBistro — a data, sales and operating platform.

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