News

NextCorps Funding Workshop: SBIR Grants and SBA Upstate Virtual Event

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If you’re working on technology of interest to federal agencies that participate in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, your company may be eligible for funding. A free virtual workshop led by Mike Riedlinger, Director of Technology Commercialization at NextCorps, on Wednesday, April 22, 10:00 a.m. to noon will feature Kirk Macolini, President of Intelispark and an expert SBIR grant writer, along with Virginia Smith, Branch Manager at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  Learn about available programs and get tips for improving your potential success and register here.

Interdependence and entrepreneurship

Syracuse LaunchPad innovators

Even in times of distress, entrepreneurs are stepping up to help build community with interdependence as its foundation. In all that is being written around this current period of challenge, this article is one of one of the best we’ve read.  “The paradox of this pandemic is that while it sends us into isolation, our communities seek to respond by coming together,” writes Philip Gaskin, vice president, entrepreneurship, of the Kauffman Foundation.  We highly recommend this great reflection on how entrepreneurs are hacking new solutions, leaning in, and inventing new ways to help us stay connected, driven by a sense of pragmatism, as they use their know-how to get things done.  That’s certainly the ethos of innovators at Syracuse University as well.  Find the Kauffman article here.

Innovative corporate challenge leads to launching a venture and a pathway to Genius NY

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A Ramboll internship program designed to foster innovation connected Syracuse and Clarkson University students with thought leaders to solve an environmental management challenge this spring. Ramboll worked in partnership with the Syracuse Center of Excellence and engaged collaborators at Corning Incorporated and at Syracuse University’s Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars to provide subject-matter expertise. The students, three from Syracuse University and three from Clarkson University, were among the cohort of students who participated in Ramboll’s annual SPARK competition where students develop solutions for a problem statement based on industry challenges. They were selected based on their individual performances by Jamie Newtown, the director of innovation at Ramboll, who manages the company’s ideation and execution process.

The team decided to work on a solution to an ecological problem affecting bodies of water around the world: harmful algal blooms. Over the course of the 10-week paid internship, students worked on a solution to collect and analyze data to produce predictive analysis. SyracuseCoE provided dedicated space for the students to work on the innovation challenge. Their ingenious solution involved developing a sensor equipped aerial drone as well as an autonomous boat to collect data. After the scientific research phase, the team turned to developing an entrepreneurial mindset to advance the idea. and pitch it to Ramboll’s Global Executive Board.  That group was impressed with their plan, and created a startup, BloomOptix, and will be entering GENIUS NY, the world’s largest business accelerator competition for unmanned systems.

Ramboll recently acquired Syracuse-based engineering firm O’Brien and Gere. Ramboll has been operating in the USA since 1982 where it offers Environment & Health, Water, Energy & Advanced Manufacturing, and Planning & Urban Design services from more than 75 offices. For each engagement, it assembles a team of relevant experts who work together with clients to deliver technically sound solutions that also create value and support a sustainable society.

Read the full story in SU news by Shaina M. Hill here:  https://www.syracuse.edu/stories/ramboll-internship-program/

Syracuse students invited to become Schwarzman Scholars

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As we navigate the path forward during this unprecedented period, there has never been a more important time to recruit and train the world’s future leaders. If the last few months have taught us anything, it is that we are all far more interconnected than we ever realized. Global challenges require global solutions and leaders who are well-informed and well-equipped to develop them. With a front row seat to global crisis leadership and practical opportunities to construct interdisciplinary solutions, Schwarzman Scholars are better positioned to succeed and more in demand around the world than ever before. The program is now accepting applications for the 2021-2022 class of Scholars is now live. We encourage Syracuse University student scholars to consider applying to join another outstanding group of talented young leaders from all corners of the world. 

The Schwarzman Scholars community has demonstrated resilience and creativity over the past few months while adapting to ever-changing circumstances related to COVID-19. While prioritizing the health and safety of its entire community, the current cohort has quickly adapted to attending classes and participating in co-curricular programming virtually. When the current class graduates in June, Schwarzman Scholars will reach an important milestone: over 500 alumni worldwide.The incoming fifth cohort set to start in August will most likely come together virtually for a period of time, due to the current challenges, before going to Schwarzman College. 

Tthe program is open to candidates between the ages of 18 and 28 years old, regardless of nationality, who are proficient in English and have obtained an undergraduate degree or its equivalent. Mandarin skills are not required for admission. Whether in politics, business, sciences, or the arts, successful applicants are young people who have already begun to demonstrate the ability to lead, produce results in their fields, and a commitment to building understanding among people with differing perspectives. 

To access the U.S./Global application and learn more about requirements please visit the Schwarzman Scholars website. The U.S./Global application opened April 15th and will close at 11:59PM on September 22, 2020. The deadline for candidates who hold passports from Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao is May 20, 2020. The China application can be found here. Applications will be reviewed by a distinguished team of readers from around the world who will narrow the pool based on an extensive set of guidelines. More than 400 finalists will be invited to an in-person interview in Beijing, Singapore, London, or New York, and will be notified of their acceptance by mid-November 2020. 

To give those interested in Schwarzman Scholars the opportunity to learn more about our selection process and unique elements of the Scholar experience while engaging with our Admissions officers, current Scholars, and alumni, the program will be hosting webinars through the next several months leading up to the application deadline.

And the Oscar goes to Will DeVito ’20

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Thanks to Will DeVito ’20 (Newhouse) for doing a star turn hosting our first ever virtual award ceremony for the RvD iPrize – Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards – Compete CNY. Will is a Blackstone LaunchPad Global Media Fellow and founder of his own LaunchPad venture, WD40 Productions, as well as a filmmaker, actor, theater director, stand-up comic and all around creative talent. On behalf of the Academy, we are pleased to award our first Oscar to Will for the award show in the following combined categories:  screenwriting, producing, directing, cinematography, sound, set design and art direction, wardrobe, editing, and any other category we missed.  Will did an awesome job making the pivot to a virtual ceremony so fun. Someone please ask him to host the actual Oscars. If you missed the video premiere on YouTube, the link is here.

Spring competition winners announced

Winners of the School of Information Studies’ (iSchool) Raymond von Dran (RvD) Fund for Student Entrepreneurship competition, the Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, and the Compete CNY regional qualifier for the New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) were announced in an online YouTube video event hosted by Will DeVito ’20 (Newhouse), a Blackstone LaunchPad Global Media Fellow and founder of WD40 Productions. The concurrent online competitions were coordinated by the Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars at Syracuse University Libraries (LaunchPad). Entrepreneur student team winners and prize amounts are:

RvD Fund:

Consumer Products category:

  • $11,000 to FSCL, founded by Sam Hollander (’23 Whitman and Newhouse), for an alternative, affordable and flexible solution to finance higher education

Technology and Entertainment category:

  • $7,500 to Ambassadoor, founded by Bruno Gonzalez Hauger (’21 Newhouse and Whitman), for a mobile platform that allows businesses to connect with and utilize nano-influencers efficiently and effectively
  • $4,000 to CLLCTVE, founded by Kelsey Davis (’19 Newhouse and G ’20 Whitman), for a digital platform connecting college creatives and brands
  • $2,500 to DreamVybz, founded by Daniel Green (’20 Engineering and Computer Science), for a platform connecting young Black and LatinX leaders and student organizations across campuses to develop leaders of color
  • $2,000 to Girl Power, founded by Nancy Wang (’20 Whitman and Newhouse), for a platform to connect female tech professionals with customers to increase gender diversity and empower women
  • $2,000 to Itemize, founded by Ryan Taggart (’21 iSchool), for an app to keep track of items for insurance purposes

Health and Well Being category:

  • $6,000 to Visos, founded by Matt Shumer (’22 Whitman), for a Virtual Reality system designed for medical applications
  • $3,500 to PAANI, founded by Nikita Chatterjee (’20 Maxwell) and Brianna Howard (’20 Falk), for a water filter system engineered in a traditional sari cloth
  • $1,500 to ViV, Nathaniel Kuhl (’20 Computer Science and Engineering), for a personalized step-down program to combat nicotine addiction

Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship:

  • $2500 to PAANI, founders Nikita Chatterjee (’20 Maxwell) and Brianna Howard (’20 Falk), for a water filter system engineered in a traditional sari cloth
  • $2500 to Code++, Claire Howard (’23 Maxwell), for computer science camps in developing nations
  • $2500 for EcoBamboo Living, Justin Diaz (’23 Engineering and Computer Science), for sustainable and affordable bamboo homes to address climate change
  • $2500 for CLLCTVE, Kelsey Davis (’19 Newhouse and G’20 Whitman), for a digital platform connecting college creatives and brands

Compete CNY Regional Qualifier: 

Note: The top two teams in each of the five categories will move on to the New York State Business Plan Competition, being held virtually in May. The LaunchPad coordinated the Central New York Regional Qualifier, which was open to any team at a Central New York college or university. 

Technology and Entertainment

  • Amabassadoor, Bruno Gonzalez Hauger (’21 Whitman), Syracuse University
  • Girl Power, Nancy Wang (’20 Whitman), Syracuse University

Consumer Products and Services

  • FSCL, Sam Hollander (’23 Whitman), Syracuse University
  • Finger Lakes Drone Services, Luke Didion, LeMoyne College

Energy and the Environment

  • EcoBamboo Living, Justin Diaz (’23 Engineering and Computer Science), Syracuse University
  • CLOVO, Megan Martis, Colgate University

Health and Well Being

  • Visos, Matt Shumer (’22 Whitman), Syracuse University
  • PAANI, Nikita Chatterjee (’20 Maxwell) and Brianna Howard (’20 Falk), Syracuse University

Military and First Responders:

  • Youth Government Services, Daniel McMurray (’19 and G ’20 Maxwell), Syracuse University

The New York Business Plan Competition is underway. Be a mentor, judge or sponsor.

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The Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars at SU Libraries was pleased to host Compete CNY, the regional qualifier for the New York Business Plan Competition. We’re looking forward to the upcoming state finals.  There are still ways to get involved.  Join the NYBPC as a mentor, judge or sponsor, and enjoy early access to emerging startups, connections with investors and business leaders, recognition in the community and satisfaction for paying it forward by helping young entrepreneurs. 

2020 NYBPC mentorship sessions will be held as part of the NYBPC program, with students and mentors paired using custom matchmaking software. Mentorship offers the opportunity for student entrepreneurs to connect with the business community and gain perspective from experienced business leaders. Create longer-term relationships that can develop and evolve in meaningful ways over time through mentorship.  Learn more about NYBPC mentorship opportunities here.

Join the NYBPC as a judge, alongside some of the state’s leading investors, entrepreneurs and thought leaders. Provide valuable feedback to the student ventures and learn insights from fellow judges that are relevant to both startup and growth companies.  Build out your professional network, while seeing top talent from colleges and universities across New York State. Apply to be a judge here.

The New York Business Plan Competition is also seeking sponsors to increase the amount of valuable non-dilutive funding available to student teams. Why support the NYBPC? Get a sneak peek at new technologies and innovations emerging across the state. Sponsor dedicated awards to cultivate the growth of minority and women entrepreneurs. Support the next generation of entrepreneurs who are ready and willing to launch their dreams. Keep the momentum going.  The NYBPC works. More than 10,000 students have gained skills, knowledge and connections and over 100 student entrepreneurs have gone on to launch companies and raise over $20 million in outside capital.  Learn more about sponsorship opportunities here.

Join us, live from Italy, Wednesday April 15 at 3 p.m. for this week’s chat with Peter Farina, italyMONDO!

Link for the chat here.

Peter Farina joins us live from Italy this week for a chat on April 15 at 3 p.m. as part of our popular “Tea Talks” series sponsored by the LaunchPad in partnership with The Republic of Tea.  Peter is charming, charismatic, warm and witty, and has an incredibly entertaining story to share about his startup journey – a path that led from Syracuse University to bootstrapping across Italy, where he is located today, and building a heritage tourism business with seven figure sales.  Along the way, you will laugh and be inspired by his tale, which is marked by exuberant humor and passion.  Here’s the link to Zoom in

Born in Amsterdam, New York in 1984, Italian American Peter Farina founded italyMONDO! in 2006 after having studied Italian in Syracuse University – starting the cultural heritage company on a laptop and a small folding table in a spare room in his grandmother’s home in Upstate New York.

With less than $20,000 in revenue during his first year in business, Peter took the company from that folding table and built it into a prospering business with over 20 full-time employees, two offices both in New York and Italy, and annual revenues exceeding $1 million.

He’ll share the story of his yearning to walk in his immigrant family’s footsteps as a college student, to bootstrapping his way (including living out of vans, and waiting tables and bars) to start a business abroad, to creating an entire industry – cultural heritage tourism – as one of the first people to recognize the potential of this sector of travel.  Long before the current wave of genealogy-based apps, Peter recognized the value of the human experience in the leisure tourism space and was among the first to tap into it.  His business remains the best at crafting experiences through a highly personalized approach.  Beyond curating travel experiences, he also does in-depth family research and offers citizenship services.

His stories are equally heartwarming and charming. That’s because his business is built on connecting people from the heart.

You’ll greatly enjoy hearing his journey, told by a master storyteller, about how to take a passion and build it into the business of your dreams.  You’ll learn how he is rooted in both in Italy and in his native Upstate New York, where he just invested in a beautiful revitalization project in a historic brick warehouse corporate office in Amsterdam, as he built a truly global business.  Joining us as co-host will be Cathy Pokines, emeritus, U.S. Small Business Administration, who helped him grow his business.

He’ll share startup and scale lessons – ones he wished he had learned as a student. He’ll also share what life is like in Italy right now.  This season is traditionally an ebullient one, as spring begins, and Peter is equally upbeat about how we can come together to rise above our sadness and find hope.  For the many who watched the uplifting concert people by Andrea Bocelli this Sunday in Milan, there is a lesson: We are one connected world.  We tell our stories and find meaning through human connections.

Please join us for what will truly be the bright spot in your week.  And, as we come to you live from Italy this Wednesday, we’ll indulge if you choose to sip a cappuccino or espresso for this Tea Talk.

About our partner, The Republic of Tea:

The Republic of Tea enriches people’s lives through its great-tasting premium teas and herbs, education and innovation, as it emphasizes a “Sip by Sip Rather Than Gulp by Gulp” lifestyle. Founded in 1992, The Republic of Tea sparked a specialty tea revolution. Today the brand delivers an unequaled selection of the highest-quality teas, herbal blends, books and nature-inspired sipware. The Republic of Tea’s collections boast over 300 all-natural premium teas and diverse offerings which include, but are not limited to: organic SuperAdapt Teas, SuperDigest Teas, Beautifying Botanicals, SuperGreen Teas, Downton Abbey™ Teas, Biodynamic® Teas, organic Superfruit™ Teas, Be Active® Teas, organic SuperHerb® Teas, U-Matcha™, Single Sips ®, teaware and a collection of unsweetened, premium glass-bottled iced teas crafted exclusively for fine restaurants and hotels. Further, The Republic of Tea is mindful of how its actions impact the greater community and actively supports organizations like The Ethical Tea Partnership, Homeward Bound of Marin, and The Women of Tea: Sri Lanka, an initiative by The Republic of Tea focused on improving nutrition, hygiene and financial literacy for the women tea workers living in Sri Lanka. Certifications include Demeter USA Certified Biodynamic, Fair Trade certification, Gluten-Free certification, Non-GMO Project verification, OU Kosher certification, and USDA Organic certification. For more information, visit www.REPUBLICofTEA.com

Kristina Hahn of Google joins Sean Branagan for LaunchPad office hour, Thursday, April 16 at 4 p.m.

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Kristina Hahn of Google will join Sean Branagan for this week’s “Digital Tech Talk” as part of his LaunchPad office hour, Thursday, April 16 at 4 p.m. via Google Hangouts Meet

Kristina Hahn is Director of Sell Side Strategy and Operations at Google, a Syracuse University grad, member of the Newhouse Advisory Board, and fan of SU Orange basketball.  She leads the Strategy and Operations team for Google’s Sell Side business, helping partners large and small more effectively monetize and distribute their content.  Her team is responsible for driving global strategy alignment across channel and regional priorities, product commercialization, operational reporting to senior executives and scaling shared services to drive productivity.   

Kristina moved from the Buy Side to the Sell Side in 2016 taking over the Americas Go to Market Strategy for Google’s Sell Side product offering.  Her team partnered with both sales and product to drive solutions, innovation and revenue for Google’s top apps, commerce, news, broadcast and search partners.  

A decisive leader Kristina has a proven track record for scaling emerging products and driving change.   She joined Google in 2006 to launch the Google Audio platform, the early days of programmatic radio.  Google Audio was a natural fit because she started her career in radio spending over eight years in national and local advertising sales for I Heart Media (Clear Channel).  At Google Kristina has worked across many verticals helping CPG, Financial Services and Auto companies build their brands digitally.  Her teams executed both scaled and bespoke solutions to solve business challenges of Fortune 500 companies utilizing Google’s search, display, video, social, mobile, and programmatic offering across all screens. 

After the acquisition of YouTube Kristina worked on the core team building out monetization solutions and custom brand content for the platform.  She was at the forefront of online live streaming in 2010 brokering the deal between YouTube, VEVO and American Express to create the award winning Unstaged music series.

A graduate of Syracuse University, Kristina has a B.A. in both Political Science and Broadcast Journalism.   She sits on the Advisory Board of the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and is President Emeritus of the Executive Board for the Newhouse 44, the heart of the Newhouse Alumni Network.  Kristina is an active member of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) sitting on the founding commission for Digital Media Sales Certification. Her team has received multiple Effie and Webby Awards.  An angel investor and advisor, she is passionate about helping start ups succeed. 

Over the years, Kristina has been generous with her time and loves meetings with students. Kristina has generously met with SU students, including at SXSW (see picture of her with LaunchPad alumni ventures at a recent SXSW).  That didn’t happen this year, so she agreed to join Sean’s online Office Hours/Coffeetalk this Thursday to talk about just about anything: tech, advertising, privacy questions, careers, COVID, the future, sports, NJ, politics, women in business… you name it.

Kristina Hahn witih LaunchPad alumni venture founders at a recent SXSW

Join Jack Kuveke for a “ZoomPad” chat, Tuesday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m.

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Join us Tuesday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. for a conversation with Jack Kuveke, serial entrepreneur, program manager at Antler, and an early stage investor.  Jack has been a good friend to the LaunchPad and student mentor over the years. The talk is part of our “ZoomPad” series, in conjunction with Whitman EEE400/600 “The LaunchPad,” taught by Linda Dickerson Hartsock, executive director of the Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars at Syracuse University.  The conversation is open to Syracuse University faculty, staff, student and alumni entrepreneurs.  The Zoom link for the event is here.    

Antler’s startup generator helps ventures get from 0 to 1 in two phases. The first phase is about team and idea – finding your cofounder, developing and validating business ideas. After this, Antler invests in some of the companies, who will continue onto the second phase which is building an MVP and getting traction.

In each program Antler typically has around 30 different nationalities. On average, founders have worked for 9 years before building their next company with Antler which is looking for inner drive, a clear spike, and grit. What’s Spike?  It’s that strong attribute which enables your skills and experiences to stand out from the crowd. You have deep knowledge in an area where you can form a foundation of your company’s competitive advantage.  Antler founders source of energy never runs low. They always find a window when the door closes. they have the willingness and ability to keep going when you’re faced with obstacles.

Join us for a great conversation with Jack about what it takes to be a founder that gets noticed.