Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Business & Economy
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Business & Economy

LaunchPad Student Teams Sweep Award Competitions, Winning Nearly $80,000 in Fall 2019

Monday, December 9, 2019, By Cristina Hatem
Share
Blackstone LaunchPadStartupsSyracuse University Libraries

Numerous student startup teams from the Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars in Bird Library (LaunchPad) have won business competitions and prizes totaling $79,500 during the Fall 2019 semester. The LaunchPad is Syracuse University’s innovation hub, connecting the entire University’s resource-rich ecosystem with a global net­work that provides support for aspiring innovators, entrepreneurs, inventors and creators. “The LaunchPad remains a library service supporting all aspects of entrepreneurship, innovation and invention, but it has also evolved into a community of innovators who have found their campus home in the SU Libraries,” said David Seaman, dean of libraries, University librarian, and interim dean of the School of Information Studies (iSchool). “It has been a delight to watch teams of students learn a range of skills as they develop business ideas and support each other in their endeavors, even when they are competing.”

A recap of the fall 2019 competitions and top winners included:

Techstars LaunchPad Startup Weekend (sponsored by the LaunchPad and Syracuse University Libraries in September):

  • Qingkun Zhu G’20 (iSchool) and Gokul Beeda ’21 (College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA)) from HAUS won first place ($750) for their Internet of Things smart humidifier de­vice.
  • Justin Diaz ’23 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) from EcoBamboo Living won second place ($250) for their energy-efficient, sustainable bamboo buildings.

’Cuse Tank (sponsored by the LaunchPad and SU Libraries in October):

  • Brianna Howard ’20 (David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics) and Nikita Chatterjee ’20 (College of Arts and Sciences) from PAANI won first place ($7,000) for their clean water filtration system.
  • Justin Diaz ’23 (Engineering and Computer Science) from EcoBamboo Living won second place ($3,000) for their energy-efficient, sustainable bamboo buildings.
  • Patrick Prioletti G’21 (iSchool) of Thinc-Hub, a platform to connect startup ventures with innovations ecosystems, and Clinton Garrahan ’21 (Engineering and Computer Science) and Davis Mutware (College of Engineering and Computer Science – Science and Technology Entrance Program (STEP)) from FreeSwing Power Source, a portable device to produce electricity, each won $500 in a wild-card round.

Orange Tank (sponsored by the Martin J. Whitman School of Manage­ment in November):

  • Kelsey Davis ’19 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications) G’20 (Whitman) and Brendan O’Keeffe ’21 (iSchool) from CLLCTVE won the grand prize ($25,000) for their digital platform connect­ing college creatives and brands.
  • Matt Shumer ’22 (Whitman) from Visos took first place ($4,000) for their enterprise virtual reality system.
  • Nicholas Barba ’20 (Whitman) and David Fox ’22 (College of Law) from Modern Systems won second place ($2,500) for their smart home network.
  • Top alumni cash prizes went to LaunchPad alumni Jose Javier Garcia-Rovira ’19 (Whitman) and Quentin Rosso ’18 (Whitman), who won first prize ($4,000) for Gamercraft, their performance training ecosystem for collegiate and professional eSports.
  • Alumni Daniel Fridliand ’18 (Whitman) and Dylan Sen from Awning won second place ($2,500) for their app that uses biometric data to administer stress relief through the form of guided meditation and breathing exercises.
student competition winners posing

Orange Tank 2019 winnners, from left to right: Brendan O’Keeffe and Kelsey Davis of CLLCTVE, David Fox and Nick Barba of Modern Home Solutions, Matt Shumer of Visos, and Quentin Rosso and Jose Javier Garcia-Rovira of Gamercraft.

Regional Qualifier for Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (held in Buffalo, New York, in November):

  • Quinn King ’20 (VPA) from MedUX won first place ($7,500) with their innovative medical products developed through user-centered design. King will be advancing to the national competition for Global Student Entrepreneur Awards in Silicon Valley from Feb. 10-12, 2020.
  • Nikita Chatterjee ’20 (Arts and Sciences) from PAANI won second place ($2,000) for their clean water filtration systems.
two students pose with competition winnings

Quinn King of MedUX and Nikita Chatterjee of PAANI, winners of the Regional Qualifier for Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Global Student Entrepreneur Awards held in Buffalo, New York.

students pose with competition winnings

PAANI team members Nikita Chatterjee, Jacob Sardino (SUNY-ESF) and Brianna Howard with David Seaman, dean of the Syracuse University Libraries.

Impact Prize Pitch Competition (sponsored by Syracuse University Libraries in November):

  • Brianna Howard ’20 (Falk College) and Nikita Chatterjee ’20 (Arts and Sciences), co-founders of PAANI, won first place ($5,000) for their clean water filtration system.
  • Caleb Obiagwu ’20 (Engineering and Computer Science) and Zachariah Reid ’21 (Engineering and Computer Science) from AttendPro, a device that improves maintenance workflow, won second place ($2,500).
  • Daniel Green ’21 (iSchool) from DreamConnect, a platform that optimizes the college experience for underrepresented students of color by facilitating culture, collaboration and connectivity for student organizations across campuses, and Clinton Garrahan ’21 (Engineering and Computer Science) and Davis Mutware (Engineering and Computer Science – STEP) from FreeSwing Power Source, a portable device to produce electricity, tied for third place, each winning $1,250.

Hult Prize (sponsored by the LaunchPad and Syracuse University Libraries in November):

  • Justin Diaz ’23 (Engineering and Computer Science) from EcoBamboo Living won first place and a trip to the global regionals for their energy-efficient, sustainable bamboo buildings.
  • Clinton Garrahan ’21 (Engineering and Computer Science) and Davis Mutware (Engineering and Computer Science – STEP) from FreeSwing Power Source won second place and an alternate trip to the global regionals for their portable device to produce electricity.
students pose at Hult Prize podium

Left: Justin Diaz of EcoBamboo Living, first place winner. Right: Clinton Garrahan and Davis Mutware of FreeSwing Power Source, second place winners.

Blackstone LaunchPad Techstars PROPEL (global competition held in New York City in November):

  • Kelsey Davis ’19 (Newhouse) G’20 (Whitman) and Brendan O’Keeffe ’21 (iSchool) from CLLCTVE won second place ($10,000) for their digital platform connect­ing college creatives and brands.
students pose with competition winnings

Kelsey Davis and Brendan O’Keefe of CLLCTVE at Blackstone LaunchPad Techstars PROPEL global competition in New York City.

  • Author

Cristina Hatem

  • Recent
  • University Hosts Syracuse Fire Department Graduation Ceremony
    Tuesday, May 24, 2022, By News Staff
  • Architecture Student Named Honors Thesis Prize Award Recipient
    Tuesday, May 24, 2022, By Julie Sharkey
  • Vice Admiral responds to Biden’s trip to Asia
    Tuesday, May 24, 2022, By Vanessa Marquette
  • Rockell Brown Burton Joins Newhouse School as Associate Dean of Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility
    Monday, May 23, 2022, By Wendy S. Loughlin
  • Corinne Sartori Joins Libraries as Accessibility Specialist
    Monday, May 23, 2022, By Cristina Hatem

More In Business & Economy

Rabia Razzaq G’23 Wins 2022 Intelligence++ Inclusive Design Competition

Rabia Razzaq G’23, a multidisciplinary designer and graduate student in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, won the 2022 Intelligence++ Showcase Competition, held in the Whitman School of Management on April 26. The interdisciplinary competition—which encourages design and business…

Whitman School Receives STEM-Designation for Master’s in Professional Accounting Program

The Martin J. Whitman School of Management’s master’s in professional accounting program has received STEM-designation. The class of 2022 will be the first to graduate with this new STEM certification. “We have made notable innovations to our master’s in professional…

Whitman’s Full-Time MBA Program Achieves Highest U.S. News Ranking Since 1998

The Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University is now ranked No. 57 in the nation for its full-time MBA program by U.S. News & World Report. This is the highest ranking for the Whitman School since 1998…

Stocks and Finance Immersion Offers A&S | Maxwell Students a Window Into Finance

When Jehan Muhialdain ’22 moved to the United States from Iraq five years ago, one of the major differences she noticed in her new country was the focus put on financial literacy and wealth management. She says living in Iraq,…

Applications Open for RvD iPrize and Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Competitions

The School of Information Studies (iSchool) with support from the Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University Libraries (LaunchPad) are now accepting applications through March 15 for the Raymond von Dran (RvD) iPrize pitch competition and the Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2022 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.