Syracuse University Libraries’ LaunchPad hosted its annual ’Cuse Tank entrepreneurial competition on Oct. 16, during Family Weekend, in Bird Library. Student entrepreneurs from schools and colleges across campus pitched in a “Shark-Tank” style competition for $25,000 in cash prizes. Winners can use the funds to help kick-start their innovative ideas as a whole or to further develop specific areas of their ventures. Coca Cola sponsored the competition.

2026 ’Cuse Tank winners were:

• First Place: Miirror, an online platform to provide support services for people affected by eating disorders. Bri Gordon ’28 (Newhouse School of Public Communications) and Julia Rodenberger ’28 (Newhouse School) received $12,500.
• Second Place: Frutecho, a modular cooling retrofit for non-refrigerated trucks that reduces produce spoilage and helps small farmers access premium markets. Carolina Aguayo-Pla ’27 (Whitman School of Management and School of Information Studies) received $7,500.
• Third Place (tie): Coveted, an exclusive e-commerce platform for independent fashion brands. Naheem Cadiz ’28 (Whitman School of Management) received $2,500.
• Third Place (tie): Phloat, a phone case that has a super compact, deployable flotation feature that triggers in the event of a phone falling and sinking into deep water. Nathan Brekke G’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) received $2,500.