Competitions

About Competitions

Syracuse University teams have won more almost $4 million in business plan competitions in the past three years, dominating regional, state and global competitions. The LaunchPad at SU Libraries coordinates many of the campus qualifying competitions that lead up to these prestigious events.

Competitions provide critical early stage seed funding. This enables student ventures to work on customer discovery, prototypes, patents and business incorporation, plus business development and product needs, from concept to commercialization.

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The LaunchPad team, mentors, and professional service providers are available to help develop investment-ready business models, create more competitive pitches, and coach teams on the art of successful pitching. Make an appointment for mentoring by e-mailing LaunchPad@syr.edu

Typically held each fall in Bird Library. Open to Syracuse University undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines, who are working on developing new products, services or technologies in all categories, both for-profit, and nonprofit ventures. Follow our newsletter for details.

Typically held each fall in Bird Library. Open to Syracuse University undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines, who are working to solve the world’s most pressing issues by creating innovative social ventures. The top SU team goes on to semi-finals a one of twelve Hult Prize Summits around the globe to compete for up to $1M in prizes. Follow our newsletter for details. 

Applications typically due in October; regionals in Buffalo, New York typically in November. Open to undergraduate and graduate students who are business owners, founders or controlling shareholders, either ‘for-profit’ or social enterprise.  Follow our newsletter for details

Applications due in late October, with the event held during Global Entrepreneurship Week in mid-November. Open to Syracuse University students and SUNY ESF undergraduate and graduate students taking entrepreneurship courses at SU working on ventures that create a social impact (such as energy, environment, employment, education and training, health and mental health, community and social networks, social inclusion, poverty and literacy, youth empowerment, food, sustainability, access, and ventures that support important public policy goals). Follow our newsletter for details.

Sponsored by the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, with applications typically due in September for the competition which is typically held during Orange Central Weekend.  The competition is open to Whitman students and alumni. Learn more here.

Typically held during Black History Month in Bird Library. Open to all BIPOC Syracuse University and SUNY ESF graduate and undergraduate students A “Fast Pitch Challenge” offering a $500 first prize for a creative and realistic solution to solve a problem in the community.

Typically held once per semester, this competition is specifically designed for students who are building a career or side hustle providing services or creating products. Open to all students and graduate students to present their business, previous work, and the unique value they bring to their product or service market. 

Sponsored by the Martin J. Whitman School of Management in the spring semester.  Learn more here about this campus-wide student business plan competition, hosted by the Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship, and made possible by long-time Whitman supporter, the late Henry A. Panasci, founder of Fay’s Drugs.

Applications for the campus competition are typically due in early February for the event in Bird Library. Open to undergraduate students or recent graduates of ACC universities within one year of graduation from their undergraduate program. This competition pits top inventors of the ACC network against each other in a "Battle of the Brains" at a live PBS-televised event  at and ACC campus. The top SU team goes on to the ACC finals to compete head to head against other campus champions for $30,000 in prize packages. Follow our newsletter for details.

Applications typically due in mid March for the competition which is typically in late March. Open to undergraduate and graduate students for all colleges and universities in the Central New York Region. This is the regional qualifier for the New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) on May 2021 in Albany, with categories announced by event organizers. Last year’s categories were: Agtech and Food; Energy and Environment; Military and First Responders; Medtech and Well-being; Technology and Entertainment; Consumer Products and Services. Applications open each  spring on the NYBPC website. Follow our newsletter for details.

Applications are typically due in mid March for the competition which is typically in late March in Bird Library. Open to all Syracuse University and SUNY ESF graduate and undergraduate students working on venture ideas for products, services, technologies and social impact ventures. Students entering the $40,000 RvD iPrize are automatically entered into the Compete CNY regional qualifier for the New York Business Plan Competition. Follow our newsletter for details.

Applications are typically due mid March for the competition which is typically in late March. Open to undergraduate and graduate students at Syracuse competing in the iPrize. This $10,000 competition runs concurrently with the RvD iPrize.  Four awards of $2,500 are awared to students who best exemplify "The Spirit of Entrepreneurship."  Prizes honor the memory of Hunter Brooks Watson, a SU student entrepreneur who died tragically in a distracted driving accident. Follow our newsletter for details.

Top teams in the Compete CNY regional qualifier will go on the New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) in Albany, New York.  The competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at New York State colleges and universities across New York State's ten economic development regions.  Over the past several years, Syracuse University students have taken home many top divisional awards, as well as awards recognizing women and minority owned businesses.  Syracuse student teams twice won grand prize in the ten year history of the competition. Learn more about the NYBPC here.

To learn more about the competitions, get details on the schedule, or schedule coaching sessions with LaunchPad EIRs and The Rubin Family Innovation Mentors, email launchpad@syr.edu.