Applications are in for the RvD iPrize, Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, and Compete CNY, the regional qualifier for the New York Business Plan Competition (NYBP). All of these events will be now be held virtually in April and May, with more than $50,000 to be awarded at the Syracuse University campus competitions, and nearly $90,000 awarded at the state competition.
The $40,000 RvD iPrize is sponsored by the School of Information Studies (iSchool) at Syracuse University, and coordinated by the Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars at SU Libraries. The $10,000 Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards are funded through a generous gift from the Hunter Brooks Watson Foundation to SU Libraries, and coordinated through the LaunchPad. The NYBP is coordinated by the Upstate Capital Association of New York. More than 100 student-led teams from across New York State annually pitch their business ideas at the event. Since 2010, the NYBPC has seeded over $1M to student led ventures that have gone on to raise over $60M in additional funding.
Students this year will be creating video pitches, pitch decks and executive summaries in six categories:
AgTech & Food — Ideas, technologies, processes, products, and services that relate to agriculture, food production or distribution;
Energy & Environment — Ideas, technologies, processes, products, and services that relate to energy, clean energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, environmental, and/or sustainability applications;
Military & First Responder — Ideas, technologies, processes, products, and services that relate to the needs of utility workers, military, first responders, government applications or transportation industry;
MedTech & Wellbeing — Ideas, technologies, processes, products, and services that relate to biotech, sports, medical care or well-being, or mental health
Consumer Products & Services — Ideas, technologies, processes, products, and services, not included in any previous category, generally intended for use by individuals or households
Technology & Entertainment — Ideas, technologies, processes, products, and services that relate to consumer software and online platforms, cryptocurrency, entertainment, fintech, or music.
All teams that applied were accepted to compete this year. They include:
Syracuse University teams for RvD iPrize, Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship and Compete CNY
- Anthony Obas, Guided by Obas
- Benjamin Goldsmith, Popcycle
- Bruno Gonzalez Hauger, Ambassadoor Technologies
- Caleb Obiagwu, Attend Pro
- Claire Howard, Code++
- Daniel Green, Dream Vybz
- Daniel McMurray, Youth Government Services LLC
- David Fox, Smarta
- David Kestin, UniRide
- Francisco Casciaro, UNMD Solutions
- James LePage, Edge Modular
- Justin Diaz, EcoBamboo Living
- Kelsey Davis, CLLCTVE
- Liam Keyek, Bomber Equipment
- Matt Shumer, Visos
- Maxton Moyle, Aegis
- Mohammed Ali, Urban Coders
- Nancy Wang, Girl Power
- Nathaniel Kuhl, ViV
- Nicole D’Souza, IndieFlo
- Nikita Chatterjee, PAANI
- Oladeji Awe, NervTech
- Patrick Prioletti, Thinc-hub
- Ryan Taggert, Itemize
- Sam Hollander, FSCL
- Sydney Santori, RealTea Housing
- Xingzheng Zhao, Next Step
- Yuhang Zhan, FEI Tec
Teams from regional colleges and universities for Compete CNY
- Derek Friedman, Med PreCheck, SUNY Upstate
- Luke Didion, Finger Lakes Drone Aerial, LeMoyne College
- Monica Dimas, Diana Dimas and Megan Martis, CLOVO, Colgate University