SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly), University at Albany’s School of Business and Syracuse University will host the eighth annual New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) on Friday, April 28, in Albany, New York. Eleven Syracuse University student venture teams will be among the finalists competing for top state prizes.
The NYBPC is a venture creation and innovation competition established in 2010 to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship throughout New York’s colleges and universities. The 2017 NYBPC finalists were selected from regional competitions across New York State’s 10 Regional Economic Development Council zones – Capital Region, Central New York, North Country, Mohawk Valley, Finger Lakes, Western New York, Southern Tier, Mid-Hudson, New York City, and Long Island. Regional partner colleges and universities hosted semifinal competitions in their regions in late March and early April. The top teams from each of the 10 regions face off this week for the grand prize at the state finals.
The New York State winners will be selected by esteemed judges, including venture capitalists, angel investors, investment bankers, other sophisticated public and private investors, and seasoned entrepreneurs.
Compete CNY winners advancing to the finals were selected by area judges in a regional qualifier open to student entrepreneurs from Central New York colleges and universities. The regional competition was sponsored by the Blackstone LaunchPad on March 24 at Bird Library. Winners selected to go on to the statewide competition include:
Social entrepreneurship/nonprofit
» Thrive Project, Syracuse University, First place
» Shine the Magazine, Syracuse University, Second place
Clean technology
» Spark Charge, Syracuse University, First place
» VFFA, Syracuse University, Second place
Service
» IIID, Syracuse University, First place
» Origin Story, Syracuse University, Second place
Product
» Invergo, Syracuse University, First place
» Schwab’s Cider Port, Wells College, Second place
Advanced technology
» ModoScript, Syracuse University, First place
» SkyWorks, Syracuse University, Second place
Software/IT
» PowerSpike, Syracuse University, First Place
» Busie, Syracuse University, Second place
Teams have the opportunity to win first, second and third place cash prizes in each of the six tracks.
Audience participants will also select a People’s Choice award in each category. Judges will also be
asked to select an Esprit de Corps, an Undergraduate Excellence award and a Community College
distinction award in each category.
The awards are milestone based. Winning teams will be required to develop and meet at least two
business development and two technical milestones in order to be eligible for their prize awards.
The NYBPC has grown into a statewide competition with some of the largest awards and prizes of any
student business competition in the world. The NYBPC is the only leading collegiate business
competition that is a regionally coordinated, collaborative statewide program representing over 75
colleges and universities, setting it apart from all other competitions in the nation.
