In it to win it: First application deadline for fall competitions is October 4. Apply here.

Student in a SU shirt in the LaunchPad
Working with the LaunchPad, VPA student Jake deHahn won $7,000 for his idea at a SU business plan competition, pursuing his passion for design. He later went on to start a design consulting business, and recently launched a new venture, https://www.accessiblemasks.org/

You’ve got to be in it to win it, so now is the time to apply for $25,000 in prize funding at fall 2020 idea competitions sponsored by the Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars.  Do you have an idea for a project, service or technology or impact venture?  Submit it.  All undergraduate and graduate students from all academic programs across campus are encouraged to participate. Apply here and select among the three competitions: ‘Cuse Tank on October 16, The Impact Prize on November 13 and The Hult Prize on December 4. Students may compete in all three, or select which ones they are most interested in. The first deadline, October 4 for ‘Cuse Tank, is coming fast. 

Here are some basics on the competitions:

  • October 16, 2020 – ‘Cuse Tank (Applications close October 4 at 11:59 p.m.). Cuse Tank is sponsored by the LaunchPad as part of Family Weekend. It features parent entrepreneurs and “LaunchPad family” as judges in a “shark-Tank” style idea pitch fest with $10,000 in prizes.
  • November 13, 2020 — Impact Prize Competition (Applications close November 1 at 11:59 p.m.). The Impact Prize Competition is a social impact entrepreneurship event showcasing ideas that solve pressing societal issues, with change-maker entrepreneurs as judges, and $15,000 in prizes for the best ideas.
  • December 4, 2020 — Syracuse University Hult Prize Competition (Applications open on October 1 here and close November 22 at 11:59 p.m. for the Syracuse campus competition). Considered the “Nobel Prize of social entrepreneurship,” the global finals offer a $1 million grant prize. This year’s theme has been announced, “Food for Good.” Learn more here and register here:  http://www.hultprize.org/challenge/

Work with us on your one-page executive summary and we’ll assign you mentors to help you.  Many great ideas come for classes that require group projects, so consider taking your class idea and turning into a competition pitch.  Ideas that started in Syracuse University dorm rooms or classrooms are now successful companies. 

Have questions, e-mail: LaunchPad@syr.edu

Are you a LaunchPad member? If not, please join here: https://launchpad.syr.edu/join/

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