INSPYRE celebrates Syracuse’s legacy of innovation and is a beacon to its bold future
The downtown Syracuse facility features more than 90,000 square feet of space for innovation and entrepreneurship
SYRACUSE, NY—CenterState CEO announced at its 2025 Annual Meeting the new name of its expanded business incubator in downtown Syracuse: CenterState CEO’s INSPYRE Innovation Hub. INSPYRE Innovation Hub will be where founders go to dream, build and scale.
Formerly The Tech Garden, INSPYRE celebrates Syracuse’s legacy of innovation and is a beacon to its bold future. It’s where the innovation ecosystem convenes, and possibilities are redefined. No longer primarily focused on seeding tech-based startups, INSPYRE Innovation Hub will be a space where founders of all industries, sizes and stages of growth can find support. INSPYRE invites everyone to push boundaries and shape what’s next.
Key features of the new name and brand include:
- INSPYRE spelled with a Y, putting focus on the “why”—the driving question that fuels curiosity, innovation and growth.
- INSPYRE is a nod to SYRacuse, reflecting its roots while pointing toward limitless potential.
- The primary logo tilted to 31.5 degrees, in recognition of the facility’s location.
“I am so excited to reintroduce the community to INSPYRE Innovation Hub later this year and share this building’s next chapter with the entrepreneurs who are making our region more vibrant,” said CenterState CEO President Rob Simpson. “The name INSPYRE reflects both the expanded size and scope of our entrepreneurial programming and our vision for what is possible. This state-of-the-art facility is a symbol of CenterState CEO’s commitment to helping the business community thrive as Central New York begins a transformational period of growth.”
This expansion literally and figuratively builds on the legacy of innovation and entrepreneurial programming the organization has created over the last two decades. With more than 90,000 square feet of space dedicated to helping founders grow their vision and bring a business to the next level, INSPYRE is New York’s largest business incubator. The facility will house a renovated Hardware Center and a brand new Makerspace. There will also be an uncrewed systems testing deck, a media production facility, new coworking spaces and a multi-purpose theater with over 3,000 square feet of space for events.
INSPYRE Innovation Hub takes strategies from across CenterState CEO’s teams to create dynamic and effective programming informed by the diverse needs of entrepreneurs. Three primary tiers of engagement offer options for every business owner working to reach their goals and take their vision to the next level. Whether it’s an entrepreneur looking for support, a startup testing industry-disrupting technology or a large regional employer looking for intrapreneurship opportunities, INSPYRE Innovation Hub will have the people and the resources businesses need to find success.
The building is expected to open to clients and the community late this summer.
Find renderings, logos and specs for INSPYRE Innovation Hub in the INSPYRE Innovation Hub media kit.
Learn more about programming and engagement opportunities on the INSPYRE Innovation Hub website.
Read more about CenterState CEO’s Annual Meeting.
About CenterState CEO
CenterState CEO is an independent nonprofit committed to creating inclusive, equitable and sustainable economic growth in Central New York. Its team of experts helps members, clients and businesses of all sizes start, scale, recruit and relocate. CenterState CEO works as a problem solver alongside partners in public, private, and nonprofit sectors to find collaborative and innovative solutions to advance the region and its people. www.centerstateceo.com
