News

The LaunchPad is hiring students for its new “Startup Studios”

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The Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University is looking for dynamic team members for paid student roles this academic year.  We are hiring writers, videographers, designers, content creators, community builders, social media, newsletter and blog masterminds, US/Ui designers, web experts, hardware builders, software dev pros and more.  We’re looking for fast-paced, deadline-driven self-starters and team players who want to work in a dynamic startup culture.  The team will be part of a new “Startup Studios” at the LaunchPad in Bird Library. 

You must be a LaunchPad member to apply.  Join here:  https://launchpad.syr.edu/join/ and mail your resume and cover letter to LaunchPad@syr.edu

The LaunchPad is Syracuse University’s innovation hub, connecting the entire University’s resource-rich ecosystem with a global network that provides support for aspiring entrepreneurs, inventors and creators.

The student team will support communications, outreach, events planning and management, as well as other strategic initiatives.  This is a highly collaborative role, and successful candidates will work with LaunchPad staff and academic units across campus to deliver effective programs that support the student experience and an innovation ecosystem across the institution that prepares participants to be trailblazers in an entrepreneurial world.

The LaunchPad is dedicated to an inclusive and equitable workforce.  We strongly encourage applicants who share these values to apply.

Helpful skills for applicants:

  • Love for working in a startup environment or experience as a team member of a student startup venture
  • Thrives working in a collaborate environment with fast-paced goals
  • Experience in project management, delivery and execution
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; excellent interpersonal, time management, problem solving and organizational skills
  • Expertise in PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Creative, Word Press and Page Builder, Mail Chimp, Microsoft Teams, and other communications tools and platforms are high desirable, along with a good sense of interactive design, visual design, and information architecture
  • Proficiency in social media platforms, communications design and strategy
  • Technically proficient
  • Innovative thinker who can translate thinking into action
  • Experience building and mentoring
  • Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skill
  • Empathetic and intuitive personal qualities that foster a positive environment and organizational culture
  • Soft skills such as creativity and critical thinking, leadership, listening, problem solving and team building
  • People who can help positively contribute to building a highly networked and supportive, cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural innovation hub across the entire LaunchPad ecosystem

Successful applicants will have one of the best jobs on campus, meet creative and entrepreneurial people, and build amazing resume and portfolio work – all while getting paid to be part one of the most energized programs on the SU campus.

Sound like you?  Join the LaunchPad and send your resume and cover letter today.

Paul Hultgren is the LaunchPad’s first Innovator in Residence

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The Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University is pleased to introduce Paul Hultgren as the LaunchPad’s first Innovator in Residence.  The role was established in 2021 for dynamic young entrepreneurs to work in residency at Syracuse University while building their own ventures.  It is filled by a visiting innovator who also serves as a subject matter expert and role model for student startups on campus.

A native of the San Francisco Bay area, Paul is co-founder of ModoSuite, a platform for building on-line marketplaces.  He is working with client companies in the e-commerce, social and community building space. 

He dropped out of UC Santa Cruz to pursue his successful venture and picked Syracuse for a residency because of the well-established startup culture here.  While in residency at the LaunchPad building ModoSuite, he is also providing volunteer mentoring and strategic advice to student-led tech startups.  His expertise is in building web apps, including cloud architecture, dev ops and UI design. 

His co-founder Jackson Ensley is a LaunchPad Rubin Family Innovation Mentor and you can often find them working together in the LaunchPad.

Design your future with an internship at a LaunchPad alumni company

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Looking for an entrepreneurial way to fulfill your Whitman School internship requirement?  Legally incorporated LaunchPad alumni ventures can be a great learning experience. LaunchPad companies have raised $54 million in outside equity funding and are looking for interns.  Be part of the dynamic startup world and learn from Orange innovation leaders. 

Whitman students must have junior standing in order for the internship to qualify, and are expected to complete their internship experience during the summer between their junior and senior year. Some options are non-credit bearing, while other choices offer credit hours and/or are required for specific majors.

  • What qualifies as an “approved” internship?
  • The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom.
  • The experience must consist of a minimum of 120 on-site hours within an incorporated business, whether public or private.
  • You should have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate action-oriented problem solving, critical thinking and persuasive business communication skills.
  • You must be exposed to “real” job situations relevant to your major, helping you understand the strengths of your qualifications and areas for improvement.
  • The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
  • There is direct supervision by a professional with educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
  • There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.

If you’re interested in potentially pairing with a successful Syracuse University startup, let us know at LaunchPad@syr.edu, and we’ll be glad to share some ideas.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please connect with the Whitman Internship team at whitintern@syr.edu

For students:  How to register an internship on Handshake

1.       Log Into Handshake

◦Click the “Career Center” tab in the top right corner of the screen

◦In the drop down menu select “Experiences”.

◦You will then click the tab that says, “Request an Experience.”

2.     In the “Experience Type” drop down you will type in: Whitman – Internship Requirement

◦In the “Term” drop down, directly below where you put in your  internship type, you will enter the semester you will be completing the internship. (Example: Summer 2019)

3.     Fill in the “Employer” Section with the Appropriate Information.

4.     Next You Will Fill in the “Job” Section Accordingly.

◦In the “Job Type” drop down menu make sure you type in/select “Internship”.

5.     After You Have Completed Filling Out All of the Information, Click the  Button that says: Request Experience.

* Toward the end of the selected term an employer evaluation will be sent to the email address listed under the “Approver” section!*

For employers:  Register your internship opportunity on Handshake and be sure to note that you are a LaunchPad alumni venture

We are thrilled that our successful LaunchPad ventures are entrepreneurial role models for the next generation of Orange business and civic leaders.  LaunchPad alumni have launched 140 ventures companies and raised more than $54 million in outside investment.   Four were named to Forbes 30 Under 30 This Year.  One was on Shark Tank this fall and walked away with $1 million in the fall 2021 season premier.  They have launched 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.

CNYBAC announces fall Concept to Commercialization Virtual Series

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Our colleagues at the Central New York Biotech Accelerator are pleased to present the CNYBAC Concept to Commercial Virtual Series. Members of the community are welcome to participate in this free series featuring distinguished speakers on topics related to innovation and tech commercialization. The Syracuse Blackstone LaunchPad is part of the CNYBAC Advisory Board and is a close collaborator with the CNYBAC.

The CNYBAC is owned and operated by SUNY Upstate Medical University – the region’s only academic medical center.  CNYBAC clients are able to collaborate with Upstate’s clinical and basic science faculty and access state-of-the-art CORE Research Facilities.  CNYBAC also offers virtual client tenancy for those companies who do not need full-time wet lab work space but would like to connect with commercialization partners and utilize the CNYBAC Creation Garage maker space with 3D printing/spools/trays and CAD software.  All clients gain matched services within a vibrant innovation ecosystem, conference room access for meetings, and attend events.

CNYBAC is located in an Opportunity Zone “where new investments may be eligible for preferential tax treatment.” CNYBAC is also an affiliate Hot Spot partner through The Tech Garden, Central New York’s Regional Hot Spot.  As such, The Tech Garden can certify eligible CNYBAC clients for New York Innovation Hot Spot Tax Benefits.  CNYBAC also has eligible Start-Up NY allocated space where new and expanding businesses can gain access to tax-based incentives and innovative academic partnerships.

Here is the line-up for the virtual series this fall. Registration is requested for each event.

FDA Breakthrough Device Designation Process
September 8, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Bryan S. Margulies, MS, PhD, CSO and Cofounder, Zetagen Therapeutics
Register:  https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwldOmvqzgjHtO7qQ06OP6ZR2IG1-I7AXcV
2nd Annual Manufacturing Workshop September 16, 2021, 8:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. Hosted by FuzeHub, TDO and CNYBAC Register:  https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEscO-uqzMuG9Ml5zMH_iHk3IlFNXa9WAuf Agenda available at:  www.cnybac.com/events/ or upon request to:  cnybac@upstate.edu
Medical Device Research, Regulations and Path to Marketplace September 29, 2021, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Kathi Durdon, CCRP, Executive Director, CNY Biotech Accelerator, Upstate Medical University Register:  https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYtdOiqrT8iEtJGAp_j8R2ZMynzY9T74QJ8
Business Income Evaluation & ROI Risk Mitigation Strategies October 6, 2021, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Kevin Delaney, Vice President/Account Executive, Tompkins Financial Register:  https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEqce6trDsjEtJCEMzbyTTPF2xHp-_vtOSf
Repair Biotechnologies: Towards an end to Atherosclerosis October 19, 2021, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Reason, Chief Executive Officer, Repair Biotechnologies Register:  https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwoduygqT0sHNLT34J-ZYLMuUnZ-q-GMArW    
Promoting Tech Innovation in NYS (Hybrid Free Conference) October 28, 2021, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Hosted by CNY Biotech Accelerator and ecosystem Partners: Keynote Dr. Robert Atkinson, The Case for Growth Centers; Fireside Chat with CCEO President and Syracuse Mayor; Tech Innovation Highlights; Startups who Become Angel Investors. Register to attend on site or virtually:
On-site:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/promoting-tech-innovation-in-upstate-new-york-tickets-162797163699 Virtual:   https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAuc-GgqTooH9ZYrcLR5jevSZUP9MMeoLrR 
Meetup with Win Thurlow, Executive Director, MedTech November 16, 2021, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Register: https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAuduurpj4oGtZVABPYZ8zVmG3rbNfe4MoJ
Successfully Navigating the Medical Device Development Process December 7, 2021, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Jennifer Palinchik, President, JALEX Medical Register:  https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIvc-iqpj4sGNCuXd_1HiiyGEu7FPaHe0v5  
Triton Bio:  Accelerating Pathogen Analysis using Culture-free Microbial Isolation and Biophysical Profiling January 6, 2022, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Lorenzo D’Amico, CEO, Triton Bio Register:  https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqdu6upjgjH9EG3dPv_mkMyZ7LGSdKzDuc

Syracuse alum Dayanna Torres headlines CBT Startup Showcase at the LaunchPad on September 10, joined by rockstar founders

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Syracuse University alum Dayanna Torres, Director, Blackstone Charitable Foundation, will deliver keynote remarks as part of the Syracuse University Blackstone LaunchPad CBT Startup Showcase on Friday, September 10 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The hybrid event, hosted both in the LaunchPad at Bird Library and online via Zoom, also features conversations with a panel of rockstar innovators who are also Syracuse alumni.

Headshots of female founders

Panelists include, from left to right above:

Kelsey Davis, founder of CLLCTVE, a graduate of Techstars, and recently named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 List

Victoria Lawson, founder of  Weird & Woke (digital marketing, rapid prototyping, videography, photography, and video art design firm), and Design Associate for Techstars LA and Techstars Founders Catalyst with JP Morgan

Caeresa Richardson, founder of Ecodessa

Kristina Taylor, founder of Melux

Yathniella S Lubin, founder of The Balance Sanctuary

Samadhi (Moreno- Rodriquez) Aviv, SparkCharge and innovator at Mass General Brigham

Join us in person at the LaunchPad or attend virtually by Zoom (link here to join by Zoom).

About Dayanna Torres:

Dayanna holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications and rhetorical studies, a Bachelor of Science in information management and technology, a Master of Science in public relations from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and a Master of Arts degree in international relations from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, all from Syracuse University.  She is a member of the Syracuse University VPA Young Alumni Council and a Maxwell School Ambassador. 

As a student, she was part of the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and was actively involved in student organizations including RAICES Dance Troupe, BLISTS, The Black Voice, Citrus TV Noticias en Español and Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Senoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. always dedicated to culture, diversity, inclusion and equity. Her awards and recognition for her leadership at SU included the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO)/ Latino University Magazine Leader Award, Syracuse University Student Affairs C.O.R.E Award for Excellence in Leadership and the Syracuse University Office of Multicultural Affairs La Fuerza Community Enhancement Award. Upon graduation she went on to shape a career in social impact and equitable economic development.

Dayanna recently joined the Blackstone Charitable Foundation as the Director of the Blackstone LaunchPad Network. She brings over thirteen years of experience in higher education, nonprofit, and the public sector. In her role at the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, she helps empower entrepreneurs and bring entrepreneurial skill-building to students who need it most through the Blackstone LaunchPad program. In 2020, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation announced a $40 million expansion of LaunchPad to exclusively support colleges and universities that have a majority diverse population or are serving under-resourced communities. In doing so, it will increase its program from 46 to 75 campuses over the next five years. Blackstone LaunchPad will work with UNCF, the largest scholarship provider for students of color, as a strategic advisor to help identify schools for growth and develop plans to support students.

Previously she worked as a consultant and for a nonprofit intermediary playing a leading role in working with local communities to develop new partnership and investment solutions that are responsive to the unique needs of underserved neighborhoods in New York City. Prior, she formed part of the inaugural partnerships department at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), leading projects aimed to spur inclusive economic development and talent pipeline solutions for the city’s high growth industry investments, city assets undergoing Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) and company expansions.    Prior to NYCEDC, she served as the Founding Manager for Single Stop at CUNY John Jay College in partnership with the Robin Hood Foundation, connecting first generation college students and their families with financial counseling, legal aid and customized support services to navigate public systems and resources. She also held roles at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) where she launched and managed partnerships that connected public housing residents with adult education and training, financial literacy and business development, and launched the Goodwill Industries Jobs Plus site and the North Bronx Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) Zone.  Prior to NYCHA, Dayanna served as the first Outreach Recruiter for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Brooklyn & Queens Mentoring Children of Prisoners program where she established partnerships with the NYC Department of Corrections and community organizations to connect youth impacted by incarceration to mentors. She started her career as HEOP undergraduate counselor at Syracuse University Office of Supportive Services. She serves on the nonprofit Board of Women Creating Change and serves as a Technical Advisor at the economic development consulting firm, Grella Partnership Strategies. 

This event is part of Welcome to Coming Back Together 2021, September 9 – 12 at Syracuse University. Starting in 1983, Coming Back Together (CBT) was the first reunion of its kind. Every three years, Black and Latino/a alumni come back to campus to celebrate their accomplishments, meet current students, and remain connected with the University.

The theme of this year’s reunion is “Celebrating 151 Years of Black and Latino/a Excellence at SU”. Over the four-day weekend, there will be numerous workshops, receptions, social events, and cultural activities. Highlights include: CBT Celebrity Classic Basketball Game, CBT Concert, CBT Lecture, CBT Tailgate on the Quad, SU Football Game vs. Rutgers University, CBT Fundraising Gala and Awards Ceremony, and the Sunday Worship Service. The Multicultural Advancement Team, along with its alumni and student reunion co-chairs, invite you to what they expect will be the best CBT ever.

See the complete CBT schedule and register here.

Can’t attend in person, but want to mentor a Syracuse University student startup? It’s easy to sign up to be a mentor here: https://launchpad.syr.edu/become-a-mentor/

Emma Rothman ’21 joins the board of Hunter’s Fund

The Hunter Watson Memorial Fund is pleased to announce that Emma Rothman has agreed to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of Hunter’s Fund.

Hunter’s Fund supports promising young people who have a passionate interest in something but cannot explore it without some financial support. Hunter’s Fund also supports safe driving programs with the help of volunteers on school campuses.

Emma is a recent graduate of Syracuse University where she was extensively involved with the Blackstone LaunchPad as a Todd B. Rubin Innovation Mentor, LaunchPad Global Fellow and a civic engagement intern. In these roles, she came to know Hunter’s Fund and was named the Hunter Watson Scholar for the 2019 – 2020 academic year. Since then, she has contributed her time and knowledge to Hunter’s Grants, going above and beyond to review and improve the Hunter’s Grants applications.

“With significant previous nonprofit experience and her continued commitment to Hunter’s Fund, we are confident Emma will be an invaluable addition to our Board of Directors,” said Laurel Holmes, program manager of the Hunter Watson Memorial Fund. “We salute Emma’s decision to serve the mission of Hunter’s Fund and carry out the wishes of our supporters.”

The love his family and friends had for Hunter as well as the pain they felt after his death inspired them to start Hunter’s Fund. They hoped to use this organization to celebrate Hunter’s life and interests and give back to other young people. The Fund gives grants to young individuals in the performing arts, music, computer science, and entrepreneurship- the areas that inspired Hunter daily. The fund also actively works to raise awareness about distracted driving to ensure that other young drivers are safe behind the wheel. You can learn more about the fund, how to help the cause, and Hunter at the Hunter Brooks Watson website.

Hunter’s Fund has supported many student innovators, including a number of Syracuse University student startups.

In addition, the Hunter Watson Memorial Fund sponsors an annual “Spirit of Entrepreneurship” at Syracuse University. Each year at the Syracuse University Raymond von Dran iPrize undergraduate and graduate students compete for one of four $2,500 prizes. Winners are chosen by members of Hunter’s Fund in recognition of their embodiment of “the spirit of entrepreneurship.” To learn more about past winners, visit the Hunter Brooks Watson website.

The Hunter Watson Memorial Fund also supports a Hunter Brooks Watson Scholar each academic year at Syracuse University’s Blackstone LaunchPad. Being a Hunter Brooks Watson Scholar means getting to know Hunter and having the opportunity to embody Hunter through his entrepreneurial spirit. The yearly scholarship is given to a student who exemplifies Hunter’s same passion for entrepreneurship. The scholarship is modeled after the Syracuse Remem­brance Scholar program. Students are selected by a university panel. To learn more about past scholars visit the Hunter Brooks Watson website.

Hunter Brooks Watson was a Syracuse University iSchool student who passed away in June of 2016 in a distracted driving accident. Hunter had a diverse set of interests and hobbies. The smile and energy he carried with him couldn’t be ignored and was always felt by those who surrounded him. Hunter had a love for sports, his family and friends, and music- starting his first band, Black Out, at age 10. His “go get them” attitude mixed with his love of music inspired him to work with local nightclubs to host teen-only nights that he would manage and promote. Before the accident, Hunter had even begun working on his own tech company.

Learn more: www.hunterwatson.org

Edward Shao ’19 is saving ocean ecosystems through his impact venture

man in a blue shirt at the ocean

Edward Shao ’19 is an international man. From growing up with immigrant parents from Shanghai, China, to being raised in New York City, to now starting ProjectQRRestore, an environmentally conscious non-profit in Quintana Roo, Mexico, Edward Shao is definitely a lover of the world.

As a young teen, Shao was in love with magazines like the National Geographic and Scientific American. Shao always found it fascinating reading about the animals and the environment. He remembers reading about the white rhinos which are sadly extinct today. These magazines had an immense effect on Shao’s passion for the environment.

Apart from these magazines, teenage Shao also was aware of constant new scientific discoveries that promised to change the world. However, having a look around his city, things still looked the same. Where were all the great innovations that he was reading about? He was certainly not seeing any of it around him. He felt a disconnect between what he was reading and the reality he saw in NYC.

It should not then come as a surprise that Shao went to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, majoring in Environmental Resources Engineering for his bachelor’s degree. He came to know Syracuse University’s innovation ecosystem through a class in the Whitman School of Management with the Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises. One of the courses was taught by LaunchPad executive director Linda Hartsock and this was also how Shao got involved in the Syracuse University Blackstone LaunchPad located in the Bird Library.

At age 16, Shao did a study-abroad program in Latin America. He had studied Spanish in school for about four years but today he insists that you need to go down there and immerse yourself in the culture to truly live and breathe the language. After living with the welcoming families and wonderful people, Shao grew to love Latin America. Shao said that the people he met there were less materialistic and more spiritual, friendly, family-oriented and generally much happier than people in the U.S.

Taking back a picture of a mountain sunset view of Valparaiso, Shao promised himself that he would go back there one day. Shao also went to Tulum, Mexico for a vacation after college and joked that he wished his parents would have settled a life there.

Shao’s return to Quintana Roo, Mexico in October 2020 was prompted his decision to leave a government job and his love for the Yucatan Peninsula during that fateful vacation after college. Leaving for Mexico to escape U.S. turmoil and the cold winters, opportunities arose unexpectedly.

“When the world goes to chaos, you can only rely on yourself”, says Shao.

For six months last year, Shao lived throughout Quintana Roo and other states in Mexico, where he met people who invited him to work on an electric scooter rideshare startup. Along with his cofounder from London and team members from all over the world, Shao excitedly embarked on the adventure. However, this startup met with some difficulties.

Shao’s cofounder had great and honest intentions but not all of the other start-up members did. Due to a variety of complex reasons, the electric scooter business that existed in Mexico had gone through major difficulties including theft and interference from organized syndicates that control many business operations and the taxi industry throughout Quintana Roo. Uber drivers were being harassed and even assaulted, and the electric scooter business faced insurmountable challenges. 

As he saw the electric scooter business decline, Shao says he went back to the lesson learned in his Syracuse EEE classes that he could now put into use in real life. We remembered the value of being resilient and recognizing when to make a “pivot.” He realized that being a good entrepreneur means knowing when to switch focus and cut losses.

Shao talks about the Mayans and many indigenous people he met in the Yucatan and was  still drawn to the culture and tradition. He states that he felt a deep connection with them that has stayed with him. He learned that all indigenous people in the Americas first crossed over from Asia through Siberia over the Bering Land Bridge. So, one can say his ancestors were here first, he says.

Immersing himself in a different culture and society really gave Shao a different perspective on things. Shao says that different cultures have a lot to teach us, and we can learn by reading about it, but we don’t truly learn them until we live there.

Shao has now started Project QRRestore with some of the great people who had worked with him on his original start-up. The purpose of Project QRRestore is to unite environmentalists, professionals, and activists throughout Quintana Roo and restore and rebuild the ocean’s ecosystem by growing healthy mangroves and coral reefs.

Shao says that the ocean’s ecosystem is the same as it is on land except that it works with salt water, and he hopes to eventually work with oceans around the world.

He is now trying to win a competition through the Blue Climate Initiative to gain traction and funding for the non-profit to take it even further.

Shao has always loved the water. Growing up, he swam competitively, worked as a lifeguard for fun and scuba dives now. The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide and covers so much of the world and coral sheefs shelter one-fourth of Earth’s aquatic species. Coastal communities around the world depends their livelihood on the ocean. People are starting to care about the environment more than they did before but eventually world news around climate change and environmental destruction are waking people up in dramatic ways.

There are good people in the world who truly care about the environment and Shao is certainly one of them.

Story by LaunchPad Global Fellow Natalie Lui ‘22; photo supplied

Register for the First Syracuse Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Workshop, August 16 – 18

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Join leading Syracuse University technologists and futurists for the First Syracuse Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Research Workshop  https://witec-cuse.github.io/witec/portfolio/blockchain_workshop/ August 16 – 18.  There is no cost to register for this event which features leading researchers, industry experts and many top blockchain and cryptocurrency companies from across the country.  Check the event website for the full agenda with all  speakers and panelists.

Host/Organizing committee: Syracuse University Professors Lee W McKnight, iSchool (School of Information Studies) & Institute for Security Policy and Law (ISPL), College of Law & Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; Danielle Smith, Renee Crown Honors Program, Department of African American Studies, The College of Arts & Sciences; Cristiano Belavitis, Whitman School of Management, Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises; Austin Zwick, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Policy Studies Program; Prasanta Ghosh, Engineering and Computer Science, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science; Yusuf Abdul-Qadir, School of Information Studies and Facebook; and Sarah Weber, Syracuse University School of Information Studies, Director of Corporate Relation

ProgramcCommittee: Host Cte + Betania Allo, Esq., United Nations; Jenny Cao, WiTec; Prof. Deidra Hodges, Florida International University; Rand Kato & Vincent Plaza, Syracuse University iSchool WiTec & Doctor of Professional Studies program students; Prof. Steven Lupien, Professor, Center for Blockchain Excellence, University of Wyoming; Dr. Naseem Naqvi, British Blockchain Association; Erick Pinos, Blockchain Education Network; Prof. Pardis Pishdad-Borozgi, Georgia Tech; Profs. Donna Redel & Mike Maloney, Fordham University; Prof. Thibault Schrepel, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam & Stanford University

Student organizing committee co-chairs: Catherine Forrest and Zachary Goldstein, Abdullah Naimzadeh, CryptoCuse & WiTec, Syracuse University iSchool   Members: Bennett Mitchell, Northeastern University & Blockchain Education Network; Jeff Oldsworth, Fordham University; Davante Sherman, UTEP; Jong Han Yoon, Georgia Tech

Program highlights (check event website for most updated and complete version of the agenda and all speakers and panelists):

Schedule at a glance: 8.16.21  

  • 11am-1pm: Registration: 111 Hinds Hall, Syracuse University & Online  https://witec-cuse.github.io/witec/portfolio/blockchain_workshop/
  • 1 pm: Welcome by Dean Raj Dewan, Syracuse University School of Information Studies
  • 1:05-1:10pm: Host, Org., and Student Cte welcomes/event logistics
  • 1:11pm- 2:30pm: Panel 1: Innovating Decentralized Finance and Crypto Markets
  • 2:45-3:30pm: Keynote: Prof. Steve Lupien, U Wyoming Center of Blockchain Excellence
  • A New Regulatory Model and Ontology for Crypto Regulation
  • 3:30-4:15pm: Keynote 2: TBD
  • 4:15-5:05pm: 1st Academic – Industry –Government Blockchain Research: Business and Policy Models Panel Discussion
  • 5:15-6pm: Reception Hosted by Prof. Danielle Smith, Director,  Syracuse University College of Arts & Sciences, WiTec Advisor.  Location: iCafe, Hinds Hall. Sponsored by  Renee Crown University Honors Program

Schedule at a glance: 8.17.21 

8am-8:30am: Registration, 111 Hinds Hall, Syracuse University & https://witec-cuse.github.io/witec/portfolio/blockchain_workshop/

  • 8:30 am: Welcome to Day 2: Senior Associate Dean Jennifer Stromer-Galley, SU School of Information Studies (invited)
  • 8:35am: Summary of Day 1, Agenda Day 2: Prof. Lee McKnight
  • 8:40-9:25am: Keynote: Professor Ian Taylor, University of Notre Dame & SIMBA Chain
  • Computational Data and Blockchain Futures: Machines Learning Traceable Workflow with Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) (tent. title)
  • 9:40-11am: Panel 2 Blockchaining Cyber-Physical Communities Panel Discussion and Blockchain Application in Supply Chains
  • 11:15 pm: Panel 3 Blockchain Law, Policy, Regulation & Community Partnership Research Panel Discussion and Bitcoining or Blockchaining Central America?
  • 12:15 pm: Lunch sponsored by School of Information Studies, Syracuse University
  • 12:45pm: Keynote Speaker: Dr. Naseem Naqvi, Founder, British Blockchain Association
  • An Evidence-Based 2030 UK Blockchain Roadmap: Vision and Model (tent. title)
  • 1:15 pm Demos: Edgucoin, Decentralized MuniBond, Takapool
  • 1:40-2:40pm: Academic – Industry – Government Blockchain Research Roundtable: Blockchaining IoT
  • 2:55 pm Keynote:  University Professor Carl Schramm
  • Blockchain, Innovation and  Economic Growth: Lessons for Digital Currency, DeFi, and NFT Entrepreneurs, Speculators, Investors, Researchers and Regulators (tent. Title)
  • 3:45 pm: Research, Innovation & Education Acceleration Agenda-Setting: Industry, Government and Academic Open Discussion
  • 4:30 pm: Closing Remarks, Thanks and Next Blockchain Research Steps: Prof. Lee McKnight and “A Surprise Non-Fungible Ending” with David Montanaro, Strategic Advisory Associates & Catherine Forrest, President, CryptoCuse & WiTec, School of Information Studies, Syracuse University

Schedule at a glance: 8.18.21  

Workshop Excursion

  • 8:30am: Meet in Lobby of University Sheraton Syracuse for Workshop Bus to Massena 
  • Transportation and lunch sponsored by Coinmint
  • Tour Coinmint (NCCS) high density computing/Digital Currency Data Center/Eco-friendly Crypto-Mine
  • (Former Alcoa East Plant)  Massena, NY

Zachary Goldstein ’22 believes blockchain will replace the web

Zachary Goldstein ’22 an iSchool major in Information Management and Technology with a concentration in cyber security, was always interested in tech since he was young. From being a kid obsessed with Legos to a teen unscrewing iPods, Goldstein is now a cyber security intern at National Grid.

Goldstein says the hands-on experience at National Grid has been very instrumental for him in learning more about what cyber security is and how the cyber security team operates.

At Syracuse University, Goldstein is the vice president of WiTec, a graduate student research organization, and co-founder and vice president of CryptoCuse, a club that educates fellow students about cryptocurrency with education and collaboration. Along with president of WiTec and co-founder and interim president of CryptoCuse, Catherine Forrest ’22, Goldstein has also created the blockchain start-up Edgucoin, a blockchain education platform and cryptocurrency. With Edgucoin, Forrest and Goldstein’s vision is to help people become more literate on cryptocurrency and blockchain.

Goldstein is passionate about blockchain and believes that blockchain will replace the web one day. All servers where the Internet is hosted are now centralized in a physical location, but Goldstein feels that when blockchain replaces the web, servers won’t be physical anymore.  Personal computers will be able to exist as servers and will be able to be stored in the cloud.

Technology is fascinating to Goldstein because it can do so much for people and everyone has a super computer in their pockets.  

When Goldstein was considering colleges, he heard Professor Lee McKnight, who is a faculty advisor for WiTec, give a webinar on blockchain technology, Goldstein was instantly interested in the subject. This prompted Goldstein to write his college essay on Bitcoin and blockchain technology and come to Syracuse University. Goldstein is an active member of the Blackstone LaunchPad at SU Libraries in Bird Library, which he uses as for collaboration.  LaunchPad executive director Linda Hartsock is also faculty advisor to Crypto Cuse which meets in the LaunchPad.

When not immersing himself in the world of technology, Goldstein likes to listen to old school rap or alternative music, as well as spend time with friends and ski on the Syracuse University ski team. Goldstein also used to be a lifeguard where he refined his work ethic.

Story by LaunchPad Global Fellow Natalie Lui ‘22; photo supplied

Aorui Pi ‘21 encourages international students to share their perspectives through the roundtable program, WeRound

headshot of a student looking to the distance

In light of multiple racial incidents on campus in 2019, WeMedia Lab, an international student-run new media organization that thrived on the WeChat platform, has gained a great deal of attention since then. Intending to break the boundary of stereotypical fellow internationals’ images, Aorui Pi ’21 initiated WeRound to encourage students to talk about the problem.

Pi is an advertising major student in the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications with minors in French and psychology at Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences. She grew up in a strict parenting household in China. She witnessed the deeply ingrained misogynistic attitudes and racism in a society that contradicted the education she has been exposed to. 

With the passion of empowering people with a simple compelling message, Pi joined six different student organizations during her undergraduate career at Syracuse University. Before joining WeMedia Lab, she had already gained knowledge of the daily administration of student publications. She adopted the methodology to build and shape current WeMedia Lab content as the editor-in-chief. “Many international students are afraid of speak up about their distress due to the language barrier and culture differences. I want to do as much as I can to change that image. International students deserve a voice,” Pi said.

Pi had a hard time discussing her identity crisis and peer pressure as an international person in the United States. “We are not alone. In this mixed-culture community, international students consist of 20% of the SU student body, and we have abundant resources at SU. Why not talk about it?” Pi decided to help students with the same struggles. She was deeply moved when her professor told them to do what was right for themselves during the #Notagainsu movement. “We are humans first, then students,” she said.

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WeRound program cover picture. Designed by Aorui P ‘21

The pandemic causes anxiety among the internationals and forced many people to adopt a new lifestyle. “The dilemma of being international in the U.S. scared many students. I’ve seen friends have eight canceled flight tickets in hand worried about their families every day.” Pi and fellow WeMedia Lab members had a heated conversation discussing the worthiness of studying abroad during the turbulence and attempted to find a solution for students who took a gap year. Inspired by Jubilee, an interactive YouTube channel that enables people to share opinions on multiple topics, Pi pitched the idea of an open roundtable and encouraged students to listen to people with different backgrounds and experiences.

WeRound covers five sections: student life, family, career, identity, and social issues.  Participants have talked about post-graduation life, gap year, Chinese New Year tradition, body dysmorphia, and Stop Asian Hate.  Pi wants to create a safe space for marginalized students and help them find peace by sharing their experiences. On top of that, Pi said, “Inviting and hearing people outside our age group also remedies the anxiety we might have.”

Stop Asian Hate poster. Designed by Liqi Ma ‘23

On March 16, eight Asian women’s death exacerbated issues for people around the world. With the help from the Associate Director of Operation and Outreach at Center for International Services, Wei Gao, Pi, her team quickly coordinated another session of roundtable confronting the Anti-Asian hatred. “Hearing all the stories from peers, professors, and counselors from the Barnes Center, I realized we made the right decision,” Pi said. 

With the influence of current affairs, Pi found her passion for journalism and is excited about her post-graduation journey of living in New York City. She attended her first protest when she participated in the Newhouse NYC program during the Spring semester. “The experience of studying abroad gives me a new perspective of viewing the world and media. Seeing both sides of a story firmed my belief of becoming a responsible storyteller,” Pi said to the fellow international students, “There was no secret for maximizing your college journey. Read emails carefully and find resources that will help you along the way will be my recommendation.”

Story by Aorui Pi, LaunchPad Global Media Fellow; photos supplied

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