We may not be able to see each other in person over break but we’re still a connected community.  Join us on Discord, the LaunchPad’s new digital networking platform that allows SU innovators to communicate over voice, video, and text.  Discord is a virtual space where like-minded entrepreneurs and creatives can connect with each other to get advice, build their network, or just hang out with like-minded venture enthusiasts.  It’s Slack meets Zoom with a pinch of Reddit, all in one place, curated on LaunchPad Discord.  Start by joining the LaunchPad here and then hop on LaunchPad Discord here.

Discord is a freeware instant messaging, VoIP application and digital software platform that features integrated text, image, video and audio communication through a chat channel that can run on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and in web browsers.  More than 250 million people are currently on the platform which launched in 2011 and has become a space for building community in a digital environment. 

The Syracuse LaunchPad Discord platform is a great way to collaborate with others, build a team, find help, connect with a mentor or other entrepreneurs, and follow what other members of the LaunchPad are up.

Nick Barba ‘20 helped spearhead the new Discord platform and coordinates it in his role as our independent project manager for the LaunchPad.  For questions about how it works or if you need help with onboarding, reach out to Nick directly at ntbarba@syr.edu 

Ready to stay connected over break? Click here to get started using LaunchPad Discord.

Winter break is the perfect time to work on your big idea, and we’re here to help. The LaunchPad is open virtually each day over break, providing full services. We are happy to schedule a personal appointment and also hook you up with a peer mentor to chat: https://launchpad.syr.edu/request-a-mentor/.  It’s super simple to make a mentor match.

E-mail us at LaunchPad@syr,edu and we can also schedule a call with one of professional staff members to help.  It’s most helpful if you shoot us an e-mail with a one sentence description of what you’re working on so we can connect you with the best person to help.

Here are some other resources that you’ll find helpful over break:

• Stay up to date on innovation resources and opportunities @LaunchPadSYR by following these links:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
• Join our LaunchPad LinkedIn community page on Linked In
• Join our LaunchPad Discord platform to network, ask questions get answers here.
• Easily find a mentor here.
• Look over our website.
• Check out our toolkit, which can help you bring your idea to life.  You’ll find easy to use worksheets and checklists to guide you on your journey from concept to market, and great tools to help you pitch and raise funds for your idea.
• Get some good reading in by using our book list.
• Participate in events by checking our events calendar.

We’re excited to help bring your idea to life at the Syracuse University Blackstone LaunchPad and Techstars.  Use this break to keep working on your ideas and get ready for big things in the fall!

Looking for some great virtual programming over the winter break?  We’d like to highly recommend these workshops by our colleagues at the Central New York Biotechnology Accelerator (CNYBAC).  These topics are applicable to all startups, not just those in the biotech space.  They feature commercialization experts, subject matter experts and funders.  All are free and offer a great opportunity to build your expertise in these topic areas.

• 2020 Concept to Commercialization Virtual Series: Issues to Consider Before Fundraising – Financial Housekeeping for Startups
  December 16, 2020
• Deep Dive into Deep Tech Incubation, 4-Part Series Sponsored by NSF and SUNY: Part IV – Deep Tech Venture Capital and Corporate Partnerships
  December 18, 2020
• 4D Meets AI
  January 14 – January 15, 2021
• Venture Capital & Corporate Venturing – Finding the Right Fit & Mix
  January 27, 2021

Applications for GENIUS NY Opening 2021

Syracuse University innovators are invited to apply to GENIUS NY, the world’s largest business accelerator competition for emerging technologies such as unmanned systems, IoT and big data startups. GENIUS NY awards a total of $3 million to five teams, with the grand prize winner receiving $1 million and the other four teams each receiving $500K. Teams participate in an accelerator program at The Tech Garden in downtown Syracuse.  LaunchPad ventures, including SU faculty teams, have been the recipient of Genius NY funding. The 2019 $1 million grand prize winner, Sentient Blue, remains an active member of the LaunchPad, working with MPD Partners on coaching Syracuse student ventures.  Applications will open January 2021 here.

In exchange for acceptance into the GENIUS NY accelerator, all finalists are required to adhere to the GENIUS NY terms and conditions, including a 10-year warrant for 6-8% equity in their company and relocating their business to Central New York for the one-year term of the program. Finalists are selected from a competitive pool of submissions from across the globe. The program provides startups the tools they need for success, including stipends, incubator space, resources, programming, advisors and connections. ​ To learn more about the accelerator, click here.

​Eligibility:

• Businesses must be a startup or an existing business with less than $500,000 per year in revenue.
• Businesses must be seeking outside equity capital.
• Business focus must be in the broader categories of:
• Unmanned systems, IoT, big data, robotics, AI
• Willingness to operate under the Terms and Conditions set forth by GENIUS NY.
• Willing to commit to living on a full-time basis in Central New York for one-year acceleration period.
• Able to speak or communicate in English.
• Able to travel to the United States with proper travel/work visa (GENIUS NY has no involvement or responsibility in securing participation entry documentation.

Selection Criteria:

• Clarity of the business and its commercial viability
• Skill sets and experience of Principal/Team participants
• Scalability and ability to attract additional investment
• Market potential for monetization

The CNY Biotechnology Accelerator is accepting applications for the 5^th Annual CNY Biotech Accelerator (CNYBAC) Medical Device Innovation Challenge (MDIC).  Five teams will be selected to receive intensive mentorship by quality, regulatory, CEO and other experts throughout the six-month program.  Teams may participate virtually or receive free workspace within the CNYBAC Creation Garage with access to shared equipment. 

Additional opportunities include:

• Paid stipend for commercialization services through the Syracuse University College of Law Innovation Law Center
• Access to Student Engineering Capstone Design Programs
• FDA Regulatory Guidance
• Expansive Innovation Ecosystem and Networking opportunities
• CNYBAC Concept to Commercialization Virtual Series and Manufacturing Workshop

For more information: https://www.cnybac.com/medical-device-innovation-challenge-in-the-national-grid-creation-garage/

Applications will be accepted online until April 30: https://www.cnybac.com/medical-device-innovation-challenge-in-the-national-grid-creation-garage/mdic-2020-application/

Are you a researcher working on a biotech, life science or medical device?  Consider becoming a portfolio company of the CNYBAC.  For virtual tenancy @$50.00/month, cnybac@upstate.edu.  

For on-site tenancy, the streamlined process is as follows:

• Our license rate for dry/wet lab space is set at $20/$25 per square foot for the first year.  Calculation: (SF * Rate)/12 months = Monthly License Fee.
• Subsequent years are increased by $2.00 per square foot for each additional year (example dry lab year 2 – $22.00; year 3 – $24.00)
• Parking and wireless internet is included in the license fee.

Steps to Apply:

• Tours are available to view vacant space.  You may license an entire lab or a partial space per your needs in a Collaboration Lab where clients share occupancy.
• If interested in applying, please email: cnybac@upstate.edu.
• Clients are asked to become a collaborative partner in the CNYBAC to inspire collaboration.  You can elect to be a mentor, presenter, or innovation evaluator.  The Client Accelerator Agreement provides additional information.
• Upon receipt of your completed application, CNYBAC will provide you with a copy of its standard Client Accelerator Agreement and Handbook for your review.
• Your application and supporting documentation are provided to the CNYBAC Advisory Board for approval.  You will be notified if you are accepted into the program within 3-4 days of submission to the Board.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:

Stephanie Carbone
Office Coordinator
315-464-9288  
carbonst@upstate.edu

Kathi Durdon, MA, CCRP
CNYBAC Executive Director
315-464-9290
durdonk@upstate.edu

Syracuse University student entrepreneurs are invited to apply for the 2021 Tulane Business Model Competition.  Last year, the competition awarded $125,000 across the three finalist teams.  The competition is open to early-stage ventures, led by teams that include at least one undergraduate or graduate student from any college or university.  Monday, January 25 is the deadline to apply and the semi-final and final rounds will take place virtually the week of March 23, 2021.

Teams will be judged on how well their commercially viable ventures break down an idea into a key business model hypothesis, if they have tested their assumptions with customers, and how well they are using Lean Startup principles. In addition to competition events, participants will have the opportunity to be matched with investors and mentors for virtual meetings where founders will get strategic guidance on their venture and expand their networks.

Here’s how it works:

• Applications close January 25.
• In February, judges will review the applications and select six ventures to compete in the semi-final round on the week of March 23.  Judges choose three finalists to compete in the final round that same week.

Students can apply at https://platform.younoodle.com/competition/tulane_business_model_competition_2021. The application takes time to fill out so interested applicants should plan on enough time to fill it out. 

Ready to pitch your business and win funding in the New Year for your big idea?  You might be eligible for the Annual LaunchPad Pitch Competition @ Startup Grind Virtual Global Conference.  The Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars network is hosting a competition, where student startups from across the network can pitch for a chance at over $50,000 in non-dilutive grant funding. Past winners include Michael Broughton of Perch Credit, who went on to join the Y-combinator portfolio, and Syracuse University’s own Josh Aviv of SparkCharge, who then went through Techstars and other accelerators and recently secured $1 million on Shark Tank. 

The 2021 LaunchPad Student Pitch Competition will be held virtually alongside Startup Grind’s Global Conference in February. Up to 30 semifinalists will compete in the weeks leading up to the event for a chance at securing one of the five slots to pitch live in front of industry-leading judges and a global virtual audience.   You have to be nominated by the Syracuse LaunchPad for this. The deadline is coming up fast, so let us know if you’re in.

Think you’re ready? Schedule a 1:1 meeting with Linda Dickerson-Hartsock or Nick Barba to find out.

The work of an organization doesn’t end with its founders.  It is successively passed down through generations to support and inspire future leaders who walk similar paths.  Each generation needs the connection, opportunity, and network to start their own journey. By having these tools, they begin to shrink the gap between those who are at an advantage and those who are at a disadvantage. Once the gap is shrunk, we see equality within the community. 

The Syracuse community needs this culture of creativity, innovation and inclusion. This is what Supporting Our Young Leaders (SOYL) is about. Launched in 2016 by Kevin Claiborne G ’16 School of Education, SOYL incubated in the LaunchPad and has now taken on a new direction with Seth Dollar Colton as the director. SOYL’s vision is to provide the next generation of leaders the tools needed to develop a career or become entrepreneurs. He is working with Syracuse University students and alumni, area entrepreneurs, educators and civic leaders, and local high school students to do that.

The journey to accomplish this mission starts with the newly launched website, SOYLsyr.com, designed by Victoria Lawson ’20 VPA School of Design, who is founder of Weird & Woke Design, a full-service design practice located on the west coast.  Lawson started her business as a student in the LaunchPad where she was also a Global Media Fellow, mentoring other students and providing a full-array of design services to start up ventures, as well as serving as the LaunchPad’s in-house designer.

The new website is an interactive platform for young leaders and supporters from the community to register for career discussions, employment opportunities, personal workshops, and of special significance, SOYL’s digital series, IRL.

IRL stands for In Real Life and it creates immersive programming to share the stories of entrepreneurs within New York State. Through digitally capturing their daily experience, SOYL strives to connect experienced leaders with younger generations.

The first episode of IRL is now available and features Al-Amin Muhammad and his organization, We Rise Above the Streets.  Each episode will be hosted by Shakira Santos, a Syracuse-native majoring in Music Industry at Syracuse University. The first episode talks about how Al-Amin founded his organization and how he became passionate about ending homelessness and hunger.  Watch his episode to explore how he inspires future young leaders to advocate for the lives of those in need.

SOYL In Real Life: Al Amin-Muhammad

Al Amin-Muhammad will be a part of a bigger initiative at SOYL through our curated workshops. These workshops are a part of IRL and feature photo/video, screen-printing, merchandising, and web and graphic design opportunities amongst others.

To register for our workshops and stay in tune with SOYL, visit https://www.soylsyr.com/irl.

Story by LaunchPad special correspondent Anthony Obas ’20 Whitman, founder of Guided by Obas, a marketing consultancy that works with emerging brands to help them become more profitable, sustainable, and likable businesses through brand image, content development and digital storytelling.  He is the author of “Shifting Your Music Into a Career” and also works with SOYL on program development.

The three top winners of the campus Hult Prize social impact competition are being nominated by Syracuse University to go on to the global regionals of the $1 million competition sponsored by the Hult Foundation with the United Nations.  The campus qualifying competition was hosted by the Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars at SU Libraries. 

The three top winners of the campus Hult Prize social impact competition are being nominated by Syracuse University to go on to the global regionals of the $1 million competition sponsored by the Hult Foundation with the United Nations.  The campus qualifying competition was hosted by the Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars at SU Libraries. 

The top three teams being nominated include:

• Top place — WaxPax Solutions, Erica Morrison ’21 dual Whitman and Newhouse, Lidia Menbaeva ’21 Arts and Sciences and Daniel Hamrahi ’21 Whitman for a multi-purpose biodegradable packaging solution made from a proprietary blend of beeswax and cellulose that will help eliminate landfill waste in the food supply chain;
• Second place — Cuapa Monde Conservation, Claire Chevalier ’24 Whitman and Sasha Temerte ’23, Arts and Sciences dual in Economics and Writing & Rhetoric for a consulting firm seeking to develop universal standards for sustainable packaging, similar to the organic certification standard for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products.  The goal is to develop sustainable packaging certification standards and introduce them to producers and consumers of all consumer-packaged goods in the U.S. and European Union.
• Third place — Gather, Nolan Kagan ’23 Whitman for a community-building web and mobile application to bring people of various ages and cultures around the world together over cooking, sharing favorite recipes and conversation, first in the digital space and then in real life post-pandemic. The goal is to use food to bring people together, addressing social isolation, while also building cultural and social literacy among people who not might otherwise meet.

This year’s Hult challenge is Food for Good, focusing on ventures that tackle a global food-related problem and use food as a vehicle for change.  Distinguished judges for the campus competition included experienced food policy and public health experts, food entrepreneurs and innovative business professionals.  The global regionals will be held in spring 2021 and 15 teams around the world will then be selected to participate in a Hult Foundation summer accelerator program and to pitch at the Hult finals in fall 2021 at the United Nations.

The campus competition was coordinated by Blackstone LaunchPad Global Fellow Claire Howard ’23, who serves as the Syracuse University campus Hult Prize Ambassador.

Congratulations to four Syracuse University LaunchPad alumni — AJ Damiano ’18 Whitman and Michael Paris, ’20 VPA School of Design, co-founders of PowerSpike, Kelsey Davis ’19 Newhouse and G’20 Whitman, founder of CLLCTVE, and Dylan Kim ’16, Whitman, co-founder of Brevitē — for being selected for this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30.  

“As North America settles in for a long pandemic winter, there are bright spots on the horizon,” according to Alexandra Wilson, editor for Forbes, about the young entrepreneurs, activists, scientists and entertainers featured in the 10th Annual Forbes 30 Under 30.  “They give everyone reason to hope. Some are defying the odds and building businesses despite Covid-19. Collectively, our Under 30 trailblazers have raised over $1 billion in venture funding and are proof positive that ambition and innovation can’t be quarantined.”

“In the 10 years since we published the first Forbes 30 Under 30 list, the world has changed dramatically, but one thing has not: our history of spotting young innovators on the verge of making it big.”

Founded while its creators were college students, PowerSpike links brands with influencers, providing the tools for streamers to gain sponsorships. Co-founders Damiano and Paris and Eric Rice (SUNY Binghamton ‘18) have raised $2.5 million in venture funding and connected 1,300 streamers to clients including Intuit, Fireball Whiskey and Express. The company expects to achieve profitability in early 2021.  The company incubated in the Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars at Syracuse University and then was accepted into the highly competitive Techstars Atlanta program.  The team remains actively engaged with the LaunchPad and Damiano is an active mentor to student startups at Syracuse.

Davis worked in at Conde Nast Entertainment and Uniworld Group before launching CLLCTVE while still in college.  The venture acts as a matchmaker between college creatives seeking freelance work and Gen-Z brands. Davis started as a young freelancer herself, creating music and entertainment content for Coca-Cola, Puma, Land Rover and other brands.  CLLCTVE also incubated in the Syracuse LaunchPad and was then was accepted into the highly competitive Techstars Los Angeles program.  Davis was a Rubin Family Innovation Mentor at the LaunchPad and remains an active mentor to student startups in Syracuse. 

Brothers Brandon, Dylan and Elliot Kim started Brevitē, a direct-to-consumer backpack company while college students. Dylan was one of the first students to walk through the door of the brand new LaunchPad, and debuted his first Brevitē bag at the ribbon cutting. Brevitē initially catered to photographers, creating a stylish bag that could easily fit a professional camera and its accessories. The company now sells five styles of backpacks, ranging in price from $95 to $219 to a diverse audience of global travelers. The bootstrapped company expects revenue to surpass $3 million in 2020.

In addition to these three LaunchPad student entrepreneurs, Syracuse University engineering alumnus Anthony DiMare was also named to the list.  He is cofounder and CEO of Bedrock Ocean, which is building a fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles to explore, map, and classify the ocean floor. The Brooklyn-based company has raised $4.5 million in seed funding and began testing its robots this fall. Its plan is to make part of its seafloor data accessible, while selling more detailed surveys to customers, such as those building offshore wind farms.

Forbes 30 Under 30 is an annual list of 30 top leaders in twenty industries selected by Forbes editors. Up to 20,000 nominations are received annually for candidates for the list. They are considered “a global community of bold, innovative young leaders who are changing the course and face of business and society.”

Learn about this year’s winners here.