Michelle Cote

Education/Professional Certification

• M.B.A., University of Connecticut
• B.A., University of Connecticut

Areas of Expertise

• Business Model Development
• Customer Discovery
• Social Enterprise
• Innovation Ecosystems

Michelle Cote is an instructor for the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CCEI) at the University of Connecticut School of Business. In this role, she helps students and faculty build and practice entrepreneurial thinking and skills, and provides them with resources and support in the formation of new ventures through Accelerate UConn and the CCEI Summer Fellowship Program.

Michelle also serves as Director of Launc[H], a community-wide effort to make Hartford, Connecticut, the best place on the east coast to start or grow a business. The Hartford InsurTech Hub is one of the first programs of this initiative, but partnerships that build the community’s reputation as a vibrant hub of innovation in digital health, advanced manufacturing, as well as a great place to build and grow a company continue to emerge.

Michelle’s previous experience includes supporting the growth and development of social entrepreneurs as the Program Director for the Hartford-based social enterprise advocacy organization, reSET, founding and leading a social venture called The Purpose Project, and providing business development support to artisan entrepreneurs in South America and Afghanistan through the organizations Aid to Artisans and the Business Council for Peace.

Michelle holds an undergraduate degree and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut. In 2008, Michelle was selected by O, The Oprah Magazine as one of 80 (out of 3,200 applicants) entrepreneurs with “Ideas that Could Change the World”.