Russell Fearon ’20 G’21 (Engineering and Computer Science) and Ricardo Sanchez ’21 (Visual and Performing Arts – School of Design) are heading to the 2021 ACC InVenture Prize conference finals. The team recently won the Syracuse campus edition to select the top campus innovators, generously sponsored by a $5,000 grand prize from M&T Bank. This week they worked with LaunchPad film crew Zain Elwakil ’21 (Architecture) and James Rudman ’21 (iSchool) to produce their video pitch for the ACC Conference finals to be televised by PBS. Their invention, SugEx, is a smart watch and mobile app to monitor glucose levels and improve the “sugar experience” for Type 1 and 2 diabetes and those with pre-diabetes.
The SugEx team developed their initial prototype in the Invent@SU program and then worked with the LaunchPad on a commercialization roadmap.
Fearon is now finishing his master’s degree in bioengineering and biomedical engineering after receiving his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Syracuse University. He is also an Orange Ambassador at the LaunchPad, encouraging STEM majors to think about entrepreneurship. Co-founder and CTO Ricardo Sanchez is a fifth year Industrial and Interaction Design student. He is also a participant in the new Intelligence ++ inclusive entrepreneurship program, which is a collaboration between VPA, InclusiveU and the LaunchPad.
The ACC InVenture Prize competition is coordinated by the LaunchPad at SU Libraries. It is the nations’ largest undergraduate student innovation competition.
In addition to Syracuse University, the 15 participating ACC Conference colleges are: Boston College, Clemson University, Duke University, Florida State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Carolina State, University of Notre Dame, University of Louisville, University of Miami, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Pittsburgh, University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University and Wake Forest University.
This year’s finals are being virtually hosted by NC State University.
Learn more about the ACC InVenture Prize here.