News

LaunchPad Class of 2020 recognition reception

Decorative graphic

Hey LaunchPad members from the Class of 2020. We’ve missed you. We are so glad you are coming home for commencement this coming weekend. Be sure to bring family and friends to an informal LaunchPad reunion meetup on Friday, September 17 anytime between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in Bird Library Room 114 (next to the LaunchPad). We can’t wait to see you. There will be refreshments, and we’ll be awarding you special “Founder’s Cords” to wear to commencement weekend activities, formally inducting you into our Founder’s Circle 2020. Feel free to invite friends who were part of your team. If you can’t make it, drop us a line, let us know what’s new, and share a message for your 2020 colleagues. Send it to: LaunchPad@syr.edu

Applications now open for Syracuse University 2021 – 2022 student startup competitions

trophy

The Blackstone LaunchPad at SU Libraries is now accepting online applications for 2021-2022 school year competitions. The universal application for the competitions, with nearly $100,000 in prizes, are for innovative or creative solutions to address problems or opportunities. Competitions are open to all undergraduate and graduate students from any academic program at Syracuse University as well as  SUNY-ESF student taking innovation and entrepreneurship courses at Syracuse University. In addition to the online application, registrants must provide a one-page business statement. All applications close ten days prior to the competition date.

This year’s LaunchPad competitions are:

  • ‘Cuse Tank:  Scheduled to take place on October 8.
  • Founder’s Cup: Scheduled to take place on October 29.
  • Impact Prize: Scheduled to take place on November 12.
  • ACC InVenture Prize: Scheduled to take place on February 11.
  • RvD iPrize and Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards – Scheduled to take place on March 25.

Over the past five years, Syracuse University students have won $3.65 million in campus, state, and national competitions and raised more than $54 million in equity funding for their ventures. Out of nearly 1,000 ideas, SU students have incorporated more than 140 businesses and have used their experience to build skills and their resumes and find their dream jobs at top innovation companies around the world.

The Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University Libraries is the University’s innovation hub, connecting the entire campus resource-rich ecosystem with a global network that provides support for aspiring entrepreneurs, inventors, and creators. The program serves faculty, staff, students, and alumni across disciplines who are interested in innovation, invention, entrepreneurship, venture creation, careers, entrepreneurial skills, diversity, equity, inclusion, and taking ideas from concept to commercialization. The program supports a key pillar of Syracuse University’s Academic Strategic Plan to create an innovation ecosystem across the institution that prepares participants to be trailblazers in an entrepreneurial world.

Meet Sophia Sparrgrove ’22, president of Syracuse’s Entrepreneurship Club

outdoor portrait of a woman

In the basement of the Whitman School of Management at 8pm every Monday, dozens of students gather in Lender Auditorium to network with fellow entrepreneurs and listen to guest speakers. Entrepreneurship Club — better known as eClub — is dedicated to encouraging the spirit of entrepreneurship on campus by connecting students with successful entrepreneurs, local businesses, and workshop events that teach valuable skills like ideation and pitching.

Sophia Sparrgrove, this year’s president of eClub, explained that being part of the club is deeply inspiring and has shaped her trajectory as a Syracuse student in the entrepreneurship field. Outside of eClub, Sophia is heavily involved with Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity that has also taught her important leadership skills.

Sophia has had an entrepreneurial streak since she was an elementary school child in Virginia, where she was selling handmade cards and jewelry, opening a restaurant for her family in her very own kitchen, and keeping a running list of business ideas on her phone.

Now, she is majoring in Marketing in addition to Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises through the Whitman School of Management. Beyond this, she is pursuing a nutrition minor to supplement her passion for the business she hopes to ultimately open — a spiritual-themed smoothie shop that inspires customers to reflect on their health, happiness, and wellbeing.

“We’re losing touch with the world around us, especially with the rise of technology leading us to be wrapped up in our phones, so I want to create a space where people can feel back in touch with themselves and their community — a space to have experiences and meet people,” Sophia explained.

She is also committed to opening a business that’s sustainable. “A lot of pressure is put on consumers to be sustainable,” Sophia said. “But 80-90% of these emissions are from corporations. So, to create real change, we need to create sustainable corporations.”

As someone who doesn’t own a business quite yet, Sophia emphasized that eClub isn’t just for students who currently have a business idea — it’s for anyone who generally has an interest in entrepreneurship. Being part of the club helped Sophia develop her confidence, come up with new ideas, improve her pitch for Whitman capstone, learn to network, and pursue her goals.

“That said, this is a great time to start your own business, while you’re a student,” Sophia added, referring to the limitless number of resources and funding available on campus, such as eClub or Syracuse University’s Blackstone Launchpad & Techstars.

Sophia also noted that although people often feel as though they need to start a scalable, tech-based business, eClub is open to students with all kinds of ideas. One of Sophia’s favorite past speakers, the founder of XO Taco and Original Grain, provided her with insights that will someday help her start her own brick-and-mortar shop.

“We have speakers in tech, in food, in anything really. So, you can relate to those special interests and determine the direction you want to take in the future,” Sophia stated.

This year, Sophia is aiming to get students more actively involved in the club to feel part of a community rather than only hosting events where students watch speakers. Especially after the previous year’s semester on Zoom, Sophia believes it’s important to engage students through workshops, challenges, pitches, and mini competitions.

When asked what she believes it means to be an innovator, Sophia said, “An innovator is someone who is thinking ahead to the future, where things are going and how they can fit into that. Not everyone can do this because so many people are resistant to change. Innovators are those who are excited about those changes and want to be a part of them.”

Following this year, Sophia plans to work for a startup or small company with a nutrition focus, where she can take an entrepreneurial approach to marketing. Once she has experience under her belt, she will then take the leap on starting her dream business.

In the meantime, she encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to keep an open mind. “Do a lot of listening and reading,” she said. “A lot of entrepreneurship classes can be jarring because they focus on how businesses fail, but that’s why you need to listen to the experiences of other entrepreneurs — to learn from them and their failures. That’s why eClub is so important too.”

To join eClub, email Sophia at snsparrg@syr.edu or fill out this form. The first meeting of the year will be Monday, September 27th at 8pm in Lender Auditorium, which is room 007 in the Whitman School of Management.

Story by Sasha Temerte ’23, LaunchPad Global Fellow; photo supplied

Come to an idea jam Friday, September 17 at the LaunchPad

decorative graphic of book cover

Trying to come up with an idea for a class project or working on one for your startup?  Join us in the LaunchPad at Bird Library on Friday, September 17 at 3 p.m. for a fun workshop with award-winning author Sam Sanders. The Syracuse alumnus, entrepreneur, and author of the award-winning book Your Next Big Idea, is making us a stop on his national tour to host an idea jam session with Syracuse students.  Meet him, have fun over pizza, and learn from a successful entrepreneur who is skilled in creativity, problem-solving, and turning ideas into action.

Sam’s visit is part of our new weekly series, Startup Socials, laid-back gatherings for innovators and creatives to meet and mingle with amazing entrepreneurs.  We welcome all Syracuse students and faculty to join us for the socials each Friday in the LaunchPad.

Man standing in front of a brick wall

After graduating from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management summa cum laude in 2016, Sanders worked in business leadership roles for a Fortune 500 company and an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company. In addition to this, Sanders started successful companies using his free time to build a software application that helps large corporations quickly gather individual feedback from their consumer base.

Motivated to share his secrets for successful business ideating, Sanders embarked on authorship of his book Your Next Big Idea, which offers a workbook guide to help readers generate effective ideas to creatively solve problems. The book is divided into six sections, which outline the steps from noticing problems to creating the solutions, testing their feasibility, and effectively implementing them.

Sanders will lead us in some fun exercises to help jumpstart idea formation.

Can’t join us in person, but want to participate virtually?  Here’s a Zoom link to get in on the conversation.   

Direct link if needed:

https://syracuseuniversity.zoom.us/j/94058223427?pwd=KzliQVRab25YZlpReWduczJIcXNlZz09

Innovation Law Center hosts LaunchPad office hours to help innovators protect and commercialize their ideas

decorative graphic

The Syracuse University Innovation Law Center + New York State Science & Technology Law Center (NYS STLC) is partnering this academic year with the LaunchPad to host office hours for innovators and inventors interested in commercializing their ideas. Need help with how to protect ideas or creative works by understanding the basics of patents, trademarks and copyrights, as well as market landscapes?  Get insight from the team at the SU Innovation Law Center. 

Blackstone Innovation Law Center Hours Office hours will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. via Zoom on these days. Each session is hosted by a well trained law student with expertise in these topic areas.

Fall 2021:

  • Thurs. Sept 9: Chris Henley
  • Wed. Sept 22: Cierra Thomas
  • Thurs. Oct 7: Al Michalenko
  • Wed. Oct 20: Cierra Thomas
  • Thurs. Nov 4: Jake Goldsmith
  • Wed. Nov 17: Jake Goldsmith

Spring 2022:

  • Thurs. Jan 20: Hilda Frimpong
  • Wed. Feb 2:  Al Michalenko
  • Thurs. Feb 17: Hilda Frimpong
  • Wed. March 2: Alyssa Christian
  • Thurs. March 24: Alyssa Christian
  • Wed. Apr 6: Chris Henley

While the SU Innovation Law Center does not file for or prosecute patents, and does not provide legal advice or opinions, the LaunchPad can refer inventors and entrepreneurs to IP law firms to implement patent, trademark, copyright filings, licensing agreements and other legal work.

To make an appointment, please e-mail LaunchPad@syr.edu

Apply now to compete in ‘Cuse Tank on October 8

Cuse Tank logo

The Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University is pleased to present ‘Cuse Tank as a featured event during Family Weekend.  The event is Friday afternoon October 8 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will be held both virtually and in-person. This year’s prize package is $20,000 and applications are now open at this QR code application portal.

What:  Cuse Tank student startup prize competition sponsored by the Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University Libraries as part of Family Weekend.  The event features top student ventures pitching to parent judges who are innovators and entrepreneurs.  An impressive prize package from parent donors will be awarded to the winners.

Where:  Hybrid event, with pitches occurring in various rooms at Bird Library and on-line via Zoom (link provided with registration).  Judges will be in person and virtual.

When:  Friday, October 8, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Event description:  ‘Cuse Tank is a “Shark Tank” style pitch competition open to all SU students across all academic majors who are creating innovative new products, services and technologies in exciting industry sectors.  Prize funding helps take the most promising ideas through next steps from concept to commercialization.  How successful is ‘Cuse Tank?  In the past five years, Syracuse University LaunchPad students have gone on to raise $50 million in competition follow-up funding to start and scale their business ventures.  In fact, a 2017 LaunchPad alum scored a $1 million deal from the Sharks this past season.  Others have gone on to become leading innovators at companies like Virgin Galactic and more.  Catch a rising rock star at this year’s ‘Cuse Tank!

About the LaunchPad:  the LaunchPad is the university’s innovation hub, working with researchers, inventors, creatives and entrepreneurs from across campus and around the world.  We do two things:

  • For those who want to build and create, we help bring ideas to life
  • For those who want to explore, we are a creative community that helps you build innovation leadership skills to launch lives and careers

We are a mentor driven program, building a support system for student startups to coaches and advisors, mentors, industry experts, collaborators and investors – and through our own very powerful Syracuse University alumni and parent networks.

4,850 students have participated in our program, launching more than 135 companies, raising more than $54 million in outside investments and winning more than $3.5 million in business competitions.  Four of our LaunchPad alumni were named to Forbes 30 Under 30 This Year.  One was on Shark Tank this fall and walked away with $1 million in the season premier. 

They have had stories about them in Adweek, Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes, GeekWire, Mashable, New York Times, Newsweek, PBS, TechCrunch, Venture Beat, WIRED and more.

They have launched their own companies in sectors like food, fashion, health, fitness, e-commerce, clean tech, medtech, media and entertainment, gaming, advanced tech like VR/AR and AI, blockchain, data analytics and the Internet of Things. 

They’ve published seven books, produced 35 award winning films, launched mobile apps, brought exciting products to market, created nonprofit organizations. 

They’ve been hired by some of the leading innovation companies in the world like Virgin Orbit, Techstars, Amazon, Google, Deloitte Innovation, Netflix and Relativity Space. 

And they have tackled big wicked social problems like food access, literacy, poverty, sustainability, access to health and mental health care – and challenges like the pandemic – building teams to find solutions and winning global challenges along the way.

The LaunchPad is the place where students gather from across campus and around the world.  It’s a creative community that is a gathering place for ideas, and the best and brightest working together from 128 countries around the world.  They are learning skills to become innovation leaders in a dynamic and interconnected entrepreneurial world.  

Learn more at:  https://launchpad.syr.edu/

Join Sam Sanders, author of Your Next Big Idea, for the September 17 kickoff of Friday Startup Socials at the LaunchPad

Man standing in front of a brick wall

As we transition out of virtual space to real life, the LaunchPad is pleased to introduce a new series, Startup Socials, a laid-back gathering over pizza for innovators and creatives to meet and mingle with amazing entrepreneurs.  We welcome all Syracuse students and faculty to join us for the socials Fridays at 3 p.m. in the Blackstone LaunchPad, the glass cube in Bird Library on Friday afternoons.

On Friday, September 17th at 3pm, the LaunchPad is excited to welcome Sam Sanders: Syracuse alumnus, entrepreneur, and author of the award-winning book Your Next Big Idea. Sanders will host a conversational discussion chatting about his journey from a Syracuse student to a successful entrepreneur and author, and sharing his insights on creativity, problem-solving, and formulating ideas into meaningful action.

After graduating from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management summa cum laude in 2016, Sanders worked in business leadership roles for a Fortune 500 company and an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company. In addition to this, Sanders started successful companies using his free time to build a software application that helps large corporations quickly gather individual feedback from their consumer base.

Motivated to share his secrets for successful business ideating, Sanders embarked on authorship of his book Your Next Big Idea, which offers a workbook guide to help readers generate effective ideas to creatively solve problems. The book is divided into six sections, which outline the steps from noticing problems to creating the solutions, testing their feasibility, and effectively implementing them. Exercises throughout the book compel the reader to actively discover, brainstorm, and implement creative solutions to their problems in the workplace and beyond.

decorative graphic of book cover

Recently released in May 2021, Your Next Big Idea has gathered numerous awards and widespread praise. After its release, the book sales on Amazon climbed to become a top 1000 book in the Amazon Kindle store, and received the #1 New Release and #1 Best Seller identifiers on the Amazon website. The book was also awarded the 2021 Living Now Mind Award, for books that encourage better living; and the business category of the 2021 Indie Reader Discovery Awards.

Can’t join us in person, but to participate virtually?  Here’s a Zoom link to get in on the conversation.   

Direct link if needed:

https://syracuseuniversity.zoom.us/j/94058223427?pwd=KzliQVRab25YZlpReWduczJIcXNlZz09

Story by Claire Howard ’23, LaunchPad Global Fellow.

Join E-Club!

decorative graphic

The Blackstone LaunchPad invites you to join the Syracuse University Entrepreneurship Club. The Whitman sponsored RSO is dedicated to encouraging the spirit of entrepreneurship among SU students of any major and supporting the needs of students who are interested in entrepreneurship. Team up with local entrepreneurs and businesses for entrepreneurial projects. Participate in activities to support idea generation, pitching, and more. Learn from incredible guest speakers throughout the semester and get inspired to complete your own goals. Network with fellow students and entrepreneurs. 

If you are interested in entrepreneurship in any capacity, E-Club is the organization for you! E-Club takes place every Monday beginning September 13th at 8 pm and will be hosted in a Whitman classroom.

To stay updated, email e-Club president Sophia Sparrgrove at snsparrg@syr.edu, or text her at 703-232-5564 to be added to the email list. Additionally, request membership for Entrepreneurship Club through Cuse Activities.

Follow the e-club on Instagram @eclubsu

Patrick Prioletti joins the LaunchPad as an Alumni Entrepreneur in Residence

young man in snowy woods

The LaunchPad is pleased to welcome Patrick Prioletti as a new Alumni Entrepreneur in Residence, offering weekly tech office hours each Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the LaunchPad in Bird Library.

Prioletti has a master’s degree in applied data science from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s in business administration and economics from the State University of New York College at Oswego.  He is the founder of Psily,a mobile app based on-going psilocybin studies at MAPS, that is designed for convenient and robust wellness management and supplement therapy tracking personalized for the user’s lifestyle. It can help conveniently manage dietary supplements and other therapeutic remedies.  He is also the chief technology officer at Your Perfect Dose which is developing the first machine-learning smartphone app that will provide personalized dose suggestions for CBD and medical cannabis to help manage anxiety, depression, sleep disorders or chronic pain.

His areas of expertise include IoT, natural language processing and machine learning and AI, as well as data analysis.  As a student he worked for the Syracuse University LaunchPad as an Information Systems Architect through its Global Fellow Program, and also served as a Rubin Family Innovation Mentor.  Additionally, he was a graduate student researcher at the iSchool.

He looks forward to “paying it forward” by volunteering his time and expertise in the LaunchPad as he continues to grow his own startup ventures.

Schedule an appointment with him during his tech office hours at this link.

CryptoCuse to meet each Friday in the LaunchPad

Decorative graphic

The LaunchPad is pleased to serve as the home of CryptoCuse, Syracuse’s cryptocurrency club. CryptoCuse serves to provide the Syracuse University student population with an education in cryptocurrency, DeFi, and blockchain. CryptoCuse gives students the ability to develop their cryptocurrency portfolios while learning how to utilize blockchain as a powerful tool.  The club will meet each Friday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. starting September 10 in the LaunchPad, first floor of Bird Library. 

On Wednesday September 1st, Co-Founder & President of CryptoCuse Catherine Forrest will be sitting at a booth outside of the LaunchPad from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. available to answer questions and to provide more information to interested students. The club will be tabling around campus on a regular basis.

Click the QR code above to learn more and participate in CryptoCuse. We look forward to seeing you in the LaunchPad!