Winners have been announced for the 2017 Compete CNY – iPrize competition, held March 24 at Syracuse University. The event was coordinated by the Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University and hosted by Syracuse University Libraries.
Open to all Central New York colleges and universities, Compete CNY was the regional qualifier for the 2017 New York State Business Plan Competition. Winners will advance to the statewide competition in Albany on April 28, and compete for a $100,000 statewide grand prize.
Syracuse University students also competed for the iPrize, and the opportunity to win $40,000 provided by the iSchool through funding from the Raymond von Dran (RvD) Endowment Fund. The RvD Fund was established to honor the memory of the former iSchool dean, who helped students bring their ideas to life through the spirit of entrepreneurship. Gisela von Dran, his widow, helped award the prizes at this year’s event. She was joined by serial entrepreneur Wiley Cerilli, a former iSchool student who is co-founder of Good Uncle.
Compete CNY winners advancing to the NYS Business Plan Competition are:
Social entrepreneurship/non-profit
- Thrive Project, SU, First place
- Shine the Magazine, SU, Second place
Clean Technology
- Spark Charge, SU, First place
- VFFA, SU, Second place
Service
- IIID, SU, First place
- Origin Story, SU, Second place
Product
- Invergo, SU, First place
- Schwab’s Cider Port, Wells College, Second place
Advanced Technology
- ModoScript, SU, First place
- SkyWorks, SU, Second place
Software/IT
- PowerSpike, SU, First Place
- Busie, SU, Second place
Syracuse University iPrize winners receiving cash prizes are:
Social entrepreneurship/non-profit
- Thrive Project, $3,000
- Shine the Magazine,$1,500
- North Country Meeting House, $750
- Your World Apparel, $750
Clean Technology
- Spark Charge, $4,500
- VFFA, $500
Service
- IIID, SU, $6,000
- Origin Story, $1,000
- Presently, $500
Product
- Invergo, $3,500
- CeeRide, $1,500
- Miruku, $1,500
Advanced Technology
- ModoScript, $3,500
- SkyWorks, $1,500
Software/IT
- PowerSpike, $5,000
- Busie, $3,000
- PairCampus $1,000
- FreshU, $500
- Ravel, $500
The New York Business Plan Competition is a regionally coordinated statewide collegiate business plan competition, with 70 public and private colleges and universities competing each year. Since 2010, more than 2,100 teams have pitched their ideas and ventures to venture capitalists, angel investors, investment bankers, other sophisticated public and private investors, and seasoned entrepreneurs. In that time, more than $2,300,000 in cash and in-kind prizes have been awarded throughout New York State, making it an important source of seed capital for student startups.
Learn more about the New York State Business Plan Competition here.