Applications are due by April 5 for the upcoming Intelligence ++ Competition, the first ever at Syracuse University. Supported by a generous gift to SU Libraries by Gianfranco Zaccai ’70 H’09 and the Zaccai Foundation for Augmented Intelligence (Intelligence++), the competition challenge is focused on inclusive design within an entrepreneurial context. It is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines, with a $30,000 prize package.  

Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged to submit proposals for products, services or technologies that address problems or create new opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.  Teams will pitch on April 16 to a panel of experts.

Apply for the competition here or contact LaunchPad@syr.edu to join an existing team.  Some teams have already formed and are looking for skill sets such as engineering, architecture, software and information technology, business and finance, marketing communications, digital content and more. 

Intelligence ++ is an innovative, interdisciplinary program focused on inclusive entrepreneurship and design that launched this year in a partnership between the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education (InclusiveU), the  College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and of the Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars (LaunchPad) at Syracuse University Libraries.

The program was funded through a generous donation by Gianfranco Zaccai ’70 H’09 and the Zaccai Foundation for Augmented Intelligence (Intelligence++). The program culminates in a design and entrepreneurship competition with $30,000 in prizes.

A highlight of the program is an inclusive entrepreneurship and design course, DES 400-600, taught by Don Carr, professor in VPA’s School of Design, with support from Beth Myers, assistant professor of inclusive education in the School of Education and executive director of the Taishoff Center. Linda Dickerson-Hartsock, adjunct faculty member in the Whitman School and executive director of the LaunchPad provides additional program support, along with alumni mentors and student assistants.

The flagship program is made possible through the support of the Zaccai Foundation for Augmented Intelligence, founded by Gianfranco Zaccai. The Zaccai Foundation seeks to develop, stimulate and leverage technological, educational and organizational innovation to enable and empower individuals with intellectual disability, their families and their communities to improve quality of life, enhance independence and productivity, lower cost and benefit society.

Zaccai, a renowned global innovator and designer, serves as a mentor for the course. He was co-founder of Continuum, now EPAM Continuum, a global innovation by design consultancy with offices in Boston, Milan, Seoul and Shanghai. He is a champion of holistic and interdisciplinary innovation research, design and development. His vision has resulted in many highly successful category-defining products, including the Reebok Pump, P&G’s Swiffer and the Omnipod Insulin Delivery System. For more than 35 years, Continuum has been recognized for outstanding innovation and design for projects spanning medical devices to consumer products.

 Zaccai also previously served on the VPA Council and was conferred an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts in Industrial and Interaction Design by Syracuse University.

For more information about the program or the competition, contact Don Carr at dwcarr@syr.edu, Beth Myers at bemeyers@syr.edu or Linda Dickerson Hartsock at ldhart01@syr.edu.

Two new episodes in the popular “Commute to Class” LaunchPad podcast series by LaunchPad Global Fellow Patrick Linehan ’21 (Newhouse) have just dropped.  Catch them here, on Apple, or wherever podcasts are distributed.  The new podcasts feature:

• Jumping Out – a chat with the founders of Gamercraft Jose Javier Garcia-Rovira ’19 (Whitman) and Quentin Rosso ’18 (Whitman) about working with friends, and self-doubt.
• Defeating Gremlins— a chat with Kayla Simon ’19 (Engineering and Computer Science), co-founder of In-Spire, now Integration Engineer at Relativity Space, on overcoming obstacles, learning new things and beating fear.

Weekly episodes feature 12–15-minute interviews hosted by Linehan with Syracuse University LaunchPad alumni who have gone on to create successful ventures or join innovation teams at leading companies.

The first six episodes are now available and feature:

• Starting Up with Linda Dickerson Hartsock, executive director of the Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars
• Building Community with Dylan Kim ’18 (Whitman), co-founder of Brevité
• Stepping Out with Julia Haber ’18 (Newhouse), founder of WAYV and Home From College
• Burning Out with Kelsey Davis ’19 (Newhouse) G’20 (Whitman), founder of CLLCTVE
• Jumping Out with Jose Javier Garcia-Rovira ’19 (Whitman) and Quentin Rosso ’18 (Whitman), co-founders of Gamercraft
• Defeating Gremlins with Kayla Simon ’19 (Engineering and Computer Science), co-founder of InSpire

The podcast series is receiving attention, acclaim and listeners from across campus and beyond.  Be sure to catch it.

Learn more about the entire series here:  https://anchor.fm/blackstone-launchpad

Congratulations to the LaunchPad’s own Patrick Linehan ’21 on being named one of 12 seniors selected as 2021 Syracuse University Scholars, the highest undergraduate honor that the University bestows.  The distinction honors academic achievement, independent research and creative work, intellectual growth and innovation.

A newspaper and online journalism major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and a policy studies major in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School, he is also a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

Linehan is a Global Media Fellow at the LaunchPad and also the creator of the popular “Commute to Class” podcast series.  He is also editor in chief of The OutCrowd Magazine, Syracuse University’s only student-run LGBTQIA+ publication.  Linehan brought the magazine back to life after a long hiatus on the SU campus, and the new edition is just out, both in print and digital version.  Follow The OutCrowd on social media @theoutcrowdmag

In addition to his work at the LaunchPad and with TheOutCrowd, Linehan is project lead for Newshouse.com and has been an active writer and columnist for The Daily Orange and was an intern at News21 where he successfully secured a grant to report on juvenile justice in America.

Before coming to Syracuse, he studied politics, peace, human rights and conflict management at the School for International Training in South Africa.

Additionally, he has been an active volunteer, working as programming coordinator at PSLA Fowler High School in Syracuse and as a Teaching Fellow at the Breakthrough Collaborative.

Linehan also recently revealed on social media that he wore a giant Orange costume for four years at Syracuse while learning to walk to the beat of “Staying Alive.” 

The othere 2021 Syracuse University Scholars are:

• Katelyn Bajorek, an anthropology and history major in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Jonathan Bosch, a sport analytics major in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and mathematics major in the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Julie Coggiola, a music education major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the School of Education;
• Alaba Danagogo, a biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Paige Koss, a finance and supply chain management major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and an information management and technology major in the School of Information Studies;
• Simran Mirchandani, a biochemistry and Spanish language, literature and culture major in the College of Arts and Sciences, an economics major in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Daniel Oluwalana, an aerospace engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science;
• Bobbi Whitney, an information management and technology major in the School of Information Studies and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Katherine Winebrake, a biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Lily Wolfer, an inclusive elementary and special education major in the School of Education; and
• Yantao Wu, a mathematics and physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Congratulations to all!

Winners of the School of Information Studies (iSchool) Raymond von Dran (RvD)iPrize for Student Entrepreneurship, the Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, and the Compete CNY regional qualifier for the New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) have been announced. The concurrent online competitions on March 26 were coordinated by the Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars at Syracuse University Libraries, with 33 teams vying for prizes.

Student team winners and prize amounts are:

RvD / iPrize:

Software and services:

• $7,500 to Bruno Gonzalez Hauger ’21, Ambassadoor Technologies, Martin J. Whitman School of Management and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• $7,500 to Sam Hollander ’22, FSCL, Martin J. Whitman School of Management and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications

Consumer and business products:

• $8,000 to Alexander Peter Rolinski ’24, Sice-Me, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• $2,000 to Joseph DeBlasio ‘2, Skipod, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• $2,000 to Jason Zhou ’21, Itemize LLC, School of Information Studies

Education and well-being:

• $3,000 to Max Freund ’21, M. Freund Photography, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• $2,000 to Cassianne Cavallaro ’21, Mohan, College of Visual and Performing Arts

Ag tech and food:

• $4,000 to Selim Dangoor ’23, MUNCH Jerky, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• $1,00 to Samuel Chazen ’21, Food-E, Martin J. Whitman School of Management

Med tech and life sciences:

• $3,000 to Russell Fearon ’20 G’21 and Ricardo Sanchez ’21, SugEx – The Sugar Experience, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and College of Visual and Performing Arts

Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship:

• $2,500 to Russell Fearon ’20 G’21 and Ricardo Sanchez ’21, SugEx – The Sugar Experience, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and College of Visual and Performing Arts
• $2,500 to Jack Adler ’23, 3 Dollar Challenge, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• $2,500 to Jackson Ensley ’22, ModoSuite, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• $2,500 to Selim Dangoor ’23, MUNCH Jerky, Martin J. Whitman School of Management

Compete CNY Regional Qualifier:

Two teams in each category will move on to the New York State Business Plan Competition. The LaunchPad coordinated the Central New York regional qualifier, which was open to any undergraduate or graduate team at a Central New York college or university.  Advancing to the state finals are:

Software and services:

• Bruno Gonzalez Hauger ’21, Ambassadoor Technologies, Martin J. Whitman School of Management and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications , Syracuse University
• Sam Hollander ’22, FSCL, Martin J. Whitman School of Management and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University

Consumer and business products:

• Alexander Peter Rolinski ’24, Sice-Me, Martin J. Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University
• Jeff Evans, Karten Products, Master of Business Administration, SUNY Oswego

Education and well-being:

• Max Freund ’21, M. Freund Photography, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
• Mario Garcia G’21, Pairinc, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University

Ag tech and food:

• Selim Dangoor ’23, MUNCH Jerky, Martin J. Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University
• Samuel Chazen ’21, Food-E, Martin J. Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University

Med tech and life sciences:

• Russell Fearon ’20 G’21 and Ricardo Sanchez ’21, SugEx – The Sugar Experience, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Harman Chopra, Baby Bird Pharmaceutical, M.D. program, SUNY Upstate Medical University

Emergency response and first responder:

• Daniel Maslowski, SWTRS, SUNY Oswego
• Skyler Hall ’21, Hive Pilot, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University

Judges for the competitions included alumni entrepreneurs, subject matter experts, investors, and key members of the regional innovation ecosystem.

Syracuse University basketball isn’t the only orange contender for the spring championship.  Russell Fearon ’20 G’21 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) and Ricardo Sanchez ’21 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) are headed to the 2021 ACC InVenture Prize conference finals. The event is considered the “battle of the brains” between the ACC conference and will be televised by PBS.  Their invention, SugEx, is a better way to monitor glucose levels for diabetics and those with pre-diabetes. You can help them win the People’s Choice Award by voting on-line between April 5 and 6 here:  https://accinventureprize.com/2021

Read more about Fearon and his journey in this on-line story, and also in Sunday’s print edition of Syracuse Post Standard.  The story by Stan Linhorst, tells how Fearon discovered he was a diabetic as a healthy college student at Syracuse, how it changed his life, and how he turned it into an entrepreneurial opportunity to solve an important problem. In the story, he also discusses leadership and breaking the status quo to succeed.

The SugEx team has scored more than $60,000 for the invention in various competitions through their hustle mentality and says they will keep this momentum as we represent Syracuse University in the ACC finals.

The ACC InVenture Prize Competition is the nation’s largest student innovation competition.  In addition to Syracuse University, participating ACC Conference colleges are: Boston College, Clemson University, Duke University, Florida State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Carolina State, University of Notre Dame, University of Louisville, University of Miami, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Pittsburgh, University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University and Wake Forest University.

Help rock the Syracuse vote for SugEx.  Learn more and vote here.

33 teams will be competing Friday, March 26 for the RvD iPrize competition, the Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award and Compete CNY, the regional qualifier for the New York Business Plan Competition. The competitions are open to all full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students at Syracuse University.  The event features $50,000 in combined prize packages. 

Guests are welcome to watch the pitches and the awards ceremony which will run from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Winners will be announced at approximately 4:15 p.m. The link to watch is here.

The competitions are coordinated for the iSchool by the Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars at Syracuse University Libraries.

The RvD iPrize and Compete CNY competitions will compete in six virtual break out rooms in the following categories: 

• Ag tech and food
• Consumer and business products
• Education, well being and advocacy
• First responder and emergency response
• Med tech and life sciences
• Software and services

Teams include:

Two great jobs are open in the LaunchPad family:  Project Manager for the Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars at Syracuse University, and the Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s new LaunchPad Network Manager.

About the Syracuse University Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars Project Manager position:

We’re looking for a project manager to support the mission of the Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars at SU Libraries. This position works with partners across campus and around the world to deliver effective programs that support the student innovation experience and help participants become trailblazers in an entrepreneurial world. We’re hiring an innovative and collaborative thinker with a track record translating thinking into action, with experience building and mentoring teams, and someone who has great problem-solving skills, is self-reliant and results oriented, and can work independently and collaboratively within a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment;

Learn more about this role and apply here.

About the Charitable Foundation – Network Manager – LaunchPad position:

Founded in 2007, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation (BXCF) leads all charitable initiatives throughout the firm. The Foundation is looking for a Network Manager to be responsible for managing all community elements of the LaunchPad program. The Network Manager will report to the VP of the Foundation, and work closely with LaunchPad schools, students, and partner organizations.

In this role, the Network Manager will work with LaunchPad program representatives (Campus Directors), supporting them to deliver student programming, building community engagement and fostering collaboration among campuses. They will be the primary day to day contact for all college and university stakeholders, including student participants. The Network Manager will work closely with the Program Director on grant stewardship, including oversight of grant requirements and general campus program performance updates. They will also be responsible for planning and implementing events and other initiatives that support campus network operations and growth.

Learn more about this role and apply here.

The LaunchPad speaker series is a new virtual Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars network offering featuring leaders from LaunchPad partner organizations and campus networks.  The series will highlight successful and diverse entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and other influential stakeholders in the innovation economy. These individuals will share stories, skills, insights, inspiration, and critical lessons learned around entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in an interactive online format. The LaunchPad Speaker Series is open to all students and staff in the LaunchPad network.

The series will focus on skill development critical for entrepreneurship and careers in the 21st century. These capabilities include leadership, problem-solving, communication, effective use of social capital, and technical business acumen, among others. Insights will be provided from knowledgeable experts in working with students and entrepreneurs and will cover areas including startup pipeline and hiring, internships, and entrepreneurship as a side hustle.

Wednesday, March 31:  Join @BXLaunchPad alumni including Kyra Durko, of @TwoSigmaVC, Zach Little of @CheckUp_App and @IncrementumAU, Kelsey Davis of @cllctve in this panel on the ways in which to leverage your entrepreneurial college experience to build a successful career. Registration Link

Friday, April 9:  Wondering what hiring executives at places like @Blackstone, @Techstars, and @Hubspot look for? This is your chance to get the inside track and their perspectives on how to communicate your entrepreneurial inclination and experience on resumes and interviews. Registration Link

Wednesday, April 21:  Think you have to be pursuing your startup idea full-time to benefit from it? Think again. @pjmcginnis, author of The 10% Entrepreneur and Fear of Missing Out will share his thoughts in this session on side-hustle entrepreneurship and stories of successful founders who engage in entrepreneurship outside of their day jobs. Registration LinkFriday, April 30:  There are far more internship opportunities out there than just those listed on your university’s career center website. Justin Lokitz, Innovation Mentor & Co-founder at Accelab will speak about inventing your own college internship, creating your dream position, making the most of a summer job, and working in a startup environment in this session. Registration Link

Syracuse University is gearing up for the next round of Fulbright applications facilitated through the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA).  Syracuse University was recently named as one of the top U.S. colleges and universities (doctoral institutions) that produced the most 2020-21 Fulbright U.S. students.

“This distinction was earned by our extraordinary students and alumni, and was facilitated by the University’s commitment to preparing them to be agents of positive change in the world,” says CFSA Director Jolynn Parker. “It is truly a privilege to work with our Fulbright applicants because they have such vision and dedication.”

Register your interest in nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships such as the Fulbright program by completing the CFSA student registration form here.

CFSA helps students pursue many opportunities including:

• The Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford
• The Fulbright U.S. Student Program for teaching English or conducting research abroad
• The Goldwater Scholarship to fund outstanding undergraduates in scientific research
• The Udall Scholarship for students of Native American tribal policy and/or environmental issues
• The Schwarzman Scholars Program to study for a master’s degree in international affairs or economics in Beijing
• The National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program for exemplary graduate students conducting research

Students early in their careers are also eligible for several awards, including the Gilman Scholarship for study abroad, the Fulbright Summer Institutes in the UK, and the Critical Language Scholarship funding cultural and language immersion abroad.

Winners of these prestigious awards receive financial support, extraordinary experience and study opportunities in their fields, networking opportunities, and the honor and recognition that accompany the scholarships.

CFSA staff offers a number of services to its students, including one-on-one advising, interest sessions on specific scholarships, writing workshops for applicants preparing essays, and interview preparation.

For additional information on these opportunities, contact Jolynn Parker, Director, by email at jmpark02@syr.edu or by phone at 315-443-2759.