LaunchPad student Travis Ghirdharie G’22 (Maxwell), founder of Many Hands, was selected as one of five winners from a pool of 150 applicants for the TechCrunch  Disrupt Student Pitch Competition in the Silicon Valley.  The competition was co-sponsored by the Blackstone Charitable Foundation and the Blackstone LaunchPad entrepreneurial network.

TechCrunch Disrupt is a three-day showcase of the work being done by the best and brightest, and an exclusive first look at the most exciting new innovations coming over the next few years.

The conference, set this year for October 18–20 in San Francisco, has hosted some of the most prominent names in tech when they were eager up-and-comers. This year, Disrupt’s student pitch competition winners will give attendees a deeper glimpse into the next decade of tech innovation and the future of the world itself.

“There were hundreds of impressive entries, sent by remarkable young people from all over the world,” according to the TechCrunch Disrupt organizing team.  “In the end, our judges narrowed it down to a select group of winners.

Each and every one of these winners will be on hand at Disrupt this year, their tickets and accommodations paid for as part of their prize for winning. They Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University sponsored Ghirdharie’s travel to the event. Winners will also be given free tickets to every single TechCrunch event in 2023 and a mentorship session with sponsors Blackstone LaunchPad and Techstars.

Here’s the roster of the five winners:

AgGen — A modular insect farming system that recycles agricultural food waste (e.g., almond hulls and manure), which contributes over 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with insects — harvesting them to produce sustainable feed for pets and livestock, fertilizers, and oils.

Many Hands — An edtech company combating teacher burnout by creating a platform where teachers can delegate administrative tasks to experienced educators who can grade, plan lessons, design curriculum, and more.

Verde Technologies — A flexible solar panel that is thinner than a pencil, can be easily and affordably mounted on any roof surface using a peel-and-stick adhesive backing, and has an industry-leading 28% efficiency while being 87% lighter than existing panels.

PragmaClin — An in-clinic and at-home assessment tool to assist clinicians in providing more data points and better care for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

VisionX — VisionX is an augmented reality (AR) personal assistant app designed to enhance how consumers identify, research and transact real estate.

“The Musks, Zuckerbergs, and Dorseys of the world started their tech empires as ambitious students looking for a way into Silicon Valley,” said conference organizers.  “At Disrupt, from October 18–20 in San Francisco, attendees will get a front seat to the launch of the next generation of great tech disruptors.”

QuantumCuse is proud to host a talk by Dr. Mark Jackson, senior quantum evangelist at Quantinuum on November 4, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Peter Graham Scholarly Commons, Bird Library. The event is open to all Syracuse University students, faculty, and alumni, and will feature industry updates and a conversation about career paths in quantum computing.

Register now to reserve your seat. The doors open at 11:00 AM with lunch provided by Quantinuum.

Offering welcoming remarks will be David Seaman, dean of Syracuse University Libraries and intern dean of the School of Information Studies (iSchool).

Dr. Jackson is a theoretical physicist with expertise in the quantum computing industry. He holds a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Columbia University with a background in mathematical modeling and computational physics. Prior to joining Quantinuum, he worked for Cambridge Quantum Computing and Singularity University.  He is an advisor to the Futurism Lab, part of NEXUS Global Summit.

Quantinuum is an organization of world-class scientists leading a technological revolution that unites best-in-class software with high-fidelity hardware to accelerate quantum computing. With integrated, full-stack technology, it is rapidly scaling quantum computing. The company is a combination of Cambridge Quantum with Honeywell Quantum Solutions, structured to drive the future of quantum computing. It unites best-in-class software and enabling tools with the best-performing quantum computers, delivering on the potential of quantum technology.  The company aims to be a center of gravity for quantum computing, supporting collaboration across the ecosystem.

Quantinuum has a team of nearly 400 people that includes the world’s leading quantum computing hardware and software experts.

QuantumCuse, led by iSchool adjunct faculty member Vincent Plaza and a team of student volunteers, is a student-led club at Syracuse University committed to developing the quantum-aware workforce of tomorrow. Students in the club present on industry topics and lead hands-on tutorials. The club also fields a competition team for quantum hackathons and networking events at other universities.

QuantumCuse is hosted by Blackstone LaunchPad located in the Bird Library.

Follow QuantumCuse on LinkedIn.

QuantumCuse, a new student-led club at Syracuse University is working on developing the quantum workforce of the future. It is hosted by the Blackstone LaunchPad and meets Wednesday evenings in the LaunchPad.

Fundi Juriasi ‘24, a junior majoring in Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University, is the co-founder of the group. For him, the world revolves around technology. He grew up in Syracuse and went to school that was tech focused. So, from the start he has been a huge fan to technology and computers.

Remember those old computers that used to fill up a whole room? 1,800 square feet to be exact? That was the start of a technological revolution that advanced the world as we know it. In 1946, a computer called the ENIAC was invented. The computer worked by input and outputs, simple computations. But to do so, a massive room was required, because the computer weighed in at 50 tons. Now, we have computers in our pockets that are a million times more capable than the ENIAC.

That massive computer was the start of computing, but what if computing could be broken down further? This is where quantum computing steps in. Innately, quantum is the smallest discrete unit of a phenomenon. Right now, the traditional, over the shelf computer works in binary, which is a combination of ones and zeros. A quantum computer however works with quantum phenomena of superposition and entanglement and is 158 million times faster than the most efficient supercomputer in the world.

So, what is the big deal? Why does quantum matter?

At its current stage, quantum computing can be done on a small chip, but this is very unstable and can’t be commercialized yet. As Juriasi explains, “even though it is a small chip, it takes a lot of things to make it run on a quantum level. It has to be in a laboratory, with perfect conditions and as few outside factors as possible. It has to be in a very controlled environment for it to be somewhat stable.”

It is like we are in 1946 again, but instead of computers that fill an entire room, this time it is quantum computing, Juriasi believes that quantum computing will be readily and commercially available in a few decades. One day, you’ll have quantum in your very own cloud too.

QuantumCuse, a club on campus here, deals with everything quantum. Iit is trying to raise awareness for quantum by hosting guest speakers. There are competitive events called hackathons where you can put your computing wits to the test. And the great thing about this club, as Juriasi explains, is that you don’t need any experience in quantum. Just the mindset to soak it all in.

CenterState CEO is excited to offer Syracuse LaunchPad students free access to Click, a digital solution that offers on-demand resources and interactive features to connect university startups to other Syracuse businesses online, anytime. Click was created to provide relevant, on-demand resources and connections, with expert insight on topics to support your business, and an online community of other chamber members.

This exclusive offer for Blackstone LaunchPad Students features one complimentary year of Click access (a $420 value). 

The online platform was created in response to interest in a space to make meaningful connections in an increasingly virtual world, particular between small businesses. Small businesses will find resources they need to stay connected and grow. They can also connect with larger employers to take advantage of the discussion groups and other useful resources.

Click Resource Library is filled with videos, articles, and e-books on a variety of key topics including human resources, business strategy, marketing and more.

To enjoy this access:

• Visit www.clickcny.com to get started
• Register using your syr.edu email.
• In the Company field, enter the name of your company and add “-LaunchPad” (ex. “My Company Name-LaunchPad”).
• Then check out the resources and groups

Click features include:

• Groups & Discussions – Make connections; find new customers, vendors or partners; and gain insights from small business peers
• Resource Library – Gain valuable knowledge on key business topics through exclusive e-books, fact sheets, videos and webinars designed to support your business, help you save time and avoid costly mistakes
• Support From Your CenterState CEO – Connect with CenterState CEO staff experts

CenterState CEO is an independent and forward-thinking economic development strategist, business leadership organization and chamber of commerce; dedicated to the success of its members and the prosperity of the region. The organization provides access to business development assistance and connections to nearly 2,000 member businesses of all sizes across Central and Northern New York. 

CenterState CEO kicked off the Syracuse student initiative with a presentation at the LaunchPad that featured Syracuse University alumni Mylz Blake G ’18  and Eric Jackson’16 G’17 for a conversation about how they built an incredibly successful Syracuse-based company by leveraging local resources. 

Blake and Jackson are co-founders of Black Cub Productions, LLC, a film group and content creation company that is known for its groundbreaking work at the intersection of community and culture.  They create creative content for leading companies, nonprofit organization, universities, foundations, and small grassroots community-based groups, and are deeply rooted in the Syracuse Community. The two Los Angeles natives leveraged skills in photography, videography, design, and storytelling to rapidly scale their company, with have done that with the assistance of CenterState CEO, and will also be talking about ClickCNY.

Whitman’s eighth annual Orange Tank business pitch competition brought Whitman students and alumni entrepreneurs together to pitch their ventures to a panel of entrepreneurial alumni judges for a total of $41,000 in prizes thanks to the generosity of Whitman Advisory Council member and Syracuse University Life Trustee John Couri ’63 (A&S), H’08.

Read the full Whitman story here.

Orange Tank Winners: Alumni Category

• First place, $5,000 — Sam Hollander ’21 (WSM/NEW) and James LePage ’22 of ShareClub
• Second place, $2,500 — Blaine Killen ’15 (WSM/IST) and Eric Atcheson of FitLift

Orange Tank Winners:  Student Category

• First place, $5,000 — Noah Mechnig-Giordano ’22 (ECS), ’23 MBA, of Happy Loose Leaf Tea
• Second place, $2,500 — Jack Adler ’23 and Sam Holland ’23 of Out2Win
• Third place, $1,000 — Selim Dangoor ’23 (WSM/NEW) of MUNCH Jerky

Orange Tank Grand Prize Winner

• $25,000 — Sam Hollander ’21 (WSM/NEW) and James LePage ’22 of ShareClub

“We’re thrilled to have won both first place and the grand prize at the Orange Tank competition. It’s a testament to the hard work that our team has put in, and we’re excited to use the prize money to help us bring ShareClub to as many public companies as possible,” says Hollander.

Emceeing the event this year was alumnus Derrell Smith ’10 (IST), G’13 (NEW), a dynamic leader and entertainer on a mission to spread love through food. He is the executive producer and host of Mad Good Food on Tastemade and CEO of 99EATS LLC. Smith is a frequent guest on the “Today” show and E! Network, sharing his twist on food from his upbringing and entertaining people with stories and tantalizing dance moves. He now resides in Los Angeles.

Smith interviewed Orange Tank 2021 grand prize winner Bruno Gonzalez Hauger ’21 (WHIT/NEW), ’22 M.S., co-founder of a medical development company Illumenar. Gonzalez Hauger took home the $25,000 prize last year for his venture Ambassadoor Technologies, an app that aims to help small brick and mortar companies stand out in social media through the use of nano-influencers.

Hollander, LePage, Mechnig-Giordano, Adler, Holland, Dangoor and Gonzalez-Hauger are all active LaunchPad participants and are peer mentors to other aspiring student startups. Together, they have won over $250,000 cumulatively in student and alumni competitions during their Syracuse University careers.

The third annual AWS University Startup Competition is now accepting applications through November 7. AWS launched the University Startup Competition in order to find and support student entrepreneurs as they build and launch their ventures. The top 10 finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their startups to a panel of investors and AWS Startup Team members. Past winners have used these resources to build software, connect with mentors, and grow their companies exponentially.

Apply here.

Prizes: 

• Every finalist – $5k in AWS credits
• Every applicant – $1k in AWS credits

• 1st place – $20K cash + up to $100K in AWS credits 
• 2nd place – $10K cash + up to $100K in AWS credits 
• 3rd place – $5K cash + up to $100K in AWS credits 

• Top Physical Consumer Products company – $10k cash + up to $10K in marketing support
• Top AI/ML company – $10k in AWS credits 
• Top HCLS company – $10k in AWS credits 
• Top Web3 company – $10k in AWS credits 
• Top Fintech company – $10k in AWS credits

Important Dates: 

• November 7, 2022 11:59pm PT – Application page closes 
• December 6, 2022 – 20 semi-finalists announced 
• December 12, 2022 – 10 finalists announced 
• January 2023 – Virtual final pitch event and winners selected

FAQs:

Q: What are the high level eligibility requirements?

A: Applicant must be a legal resident of the U.S.. Applicant must be the age of majority in the state/locality/country where the contestant resides. Applicant must be a founding member of a startup. At least one founder must be affiliated with an institution of higher learning located in the U.S. (i.e. student, faculty, staff at a university). A full list of requirements can be found in the Terms & Conditions.

Q: What is Amazon Web Services?

A: AWS is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform, offering over 200 fully featured services from data centers globally. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups—are using AWS to lower costs, become more agile, and innovate faster.”

Q. What is Amazon LaunchPad?

A. Amazon Launchpad’s mission is to support entrepreneurs by providing resources, expertise, and global support to help showcase and deliver unique products to Amazon customers. Think of Amazon Launchpad as a supplemental program designed to jumpstart and accelerate an Amazon business.
The program is designed with startups in mind and provides resources to help drive brand awareness, including premium presentation, discoverability, member discounts, and tools and support. Find more Amazon Launchpad program information here.

Q: Are there any associated events to this competition?
A: Amazon Launchpad webinar, AWS Activate webinar, Final 20 PitchPages onboarding call, Final pitch event (virtual).

Q: How many founders can pitch for the finals?
A: Maximum 2 founders can pitch.

Q: Can graduate students and faculty submit an application to the University Startup Competition?
A: Yes. See full Terms & Conditions here.  

Q: Who are the judges? Who owns the information submitted?
A: See Terms & Conditions here.

*Eligibility will be assessed upon registration.

Learn more about AWS Activate: https://aws.amazon.com/activate/portfolio/

We are pleased to announce that student startups affiliated with Syracuse University’s Blackstone LaunchPad are eligible for the following AWS Activate Portfolio benefits:

1. Cloud credits: Build, grow, and scale with up to $5000 in free AWS Cloud credits valid for 2 years.
2. Business support: Receive 1 year of AWS Business Support (up to $1500) for 24/7 access to technical support and architectural guidance from AWS Cloud support engineers as you build and test.
3. Exclusive content & offers: Take advantage of discounts, free products, recommended content, and a library of AWS services and tools through a personalized AWS Activate console.

To apply, use the link and a case-sensitive Organization ID (OrgID) code. This OrgID is a unique identifier that affiliates you with Syracuse University and should not be shared.

Application link: https://console.aws.amazon.com/activate/home/#/apply/portfolio
E-mail LaunchPad@syr.edu to receive the unique OrgID access code.

Before you submit an application

1. Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria under “Activate Portfolio Requirements.”
2. Make sure you have a company website that’s live or public startup profile (note: staging websites won’t be accepted).
3. When you click the application link, you will be prompted to sign into your AWS account. Make sure to log in to the AWS account where you would like to receive credits, as you won’t be able to transfer credits to another account in the future. If you do not have an AWS account yet, you can open one for free here.
4. Review whether the email address on your Activate application matches the one used to set up your AWS account. If you originally used a personal email for set up, we recommend changing the associated email with your account to a company email address.

It takes 7-10 business days on average for us to process an application after submission. For more information about the application process, credits, and program benefits, check out the AWS Activate FAQ.

The Pitch Witch returns to the LaunchPad on Monday, October 31. Stop by the table in front of the LaunchPad from noon to 3 p.m. to “pitch the witch” and score treats and prizes for good ideas. The festivities culminate with a 3 p.m. “scariest business idea ever” competition with a $100 grand prize which is all in good fun. This year’s Pitch Witch is Ben Delmarsh ’23 (aka Dr. Death Tech), a senior in the College of Visual and Performing Arts majoring in communication and rhetorical studies. He follows in the inimitable footsteps of former Pitch Witches James Le Page ’22 (Whitman) and Nick Barba ’20 (Whitman). Enjoy fun-filled tricks and treats on Halloween at the LaunchPad, along with a “spirited” competition.

SyracuseCoE is pleased to be working with the U.S. Department of Energy and NYSERDA to host the NY/Tri-state regional competition of the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023 EnergyTech University Prize. Student teams will compete for a total of $370,000 in cash prizes as they explore business opportunities for lab-developed or other high-potential energy technologies, assess commercialization opportunities through market analysis, and present a viable business plan to industry judges.

Interested students are invited to attend an informational webinar on October 26 at 3:00 p.m.

A news story on the competition is available at https://syracusecoe.syr.edu/syracusecoe-hosts-does-energytech-university-prize-again-students-encouraged-to-submit/.

Learn more about the prizes available to students, review the recently released rules and requirements for competing, as well as ideas around energy technologies.

Students are requested to register in advance for the informational webinar.

Interested in market or industry research data for your business idea? Drop by the LaunchPad on Wednesday afternoons to meet with Business, Management, and Entrepreneurship Librarian Steph McReynolds. Learn about databases such as IBISWorld, Statista, Mintel, and more.

Wednesday, October 12 –12:30 pm to 2:30 pm

Wednesday, October 19 — 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Wednesday, October 26 — 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

No office hours Wednesday, November 2

Wednesday, November 9 — 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Wednesday, November 16 — 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm

No office hours Wednesday, November 23

Wednesday, November 30 –2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Wednesday, December 7 (last day for office hours) — 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm