Business & Economy

LaunchPad Accepting Applications for Fall 2020 Competitions

Tuesday, September 15, 2020, By Cristina Hatem
PAANI, winners of the 2019 'Cuse Tank competition

2019 ’Cuse Tank winning team, PAANI

Syracuse University Libraries’ Blackstone LaunchPad and Techstars is now accepting online applications for fall 2020 competitions. The universal application for the three competitions, with more than $25,000 in prizes, is for innovative or creative solutions to address problems or opportunities. Competitions are open to all undergraduate and graduate students from any academic program. In addition to the online application, registrants must provide a one-page business statement. The three LaunchPad competitions this fall are:

  • ’Cuse Tank: Applications close Oct. 4 for this “Shark Tank”-style competition with $10,000 in prizes, scheduled to take place on Oct. 16.
  • Impact Prize: Applications close Nov. 1 for this social impact entrepreneurship competition to be held on Nov. 13, with $15,000 in prizes.
  • Hult Prize: Applications close Nov. 22 for this year’s social entrepreneurship competition themed “Food for Good.” Syracuse University’s competition will be held on Dec. 4, with winners progressing to global regionals.

Over the past four years, Syracuse University students have won $3.4 million in campus, state and national competitions and raised more than $25 million in equity funding for their ventures. Out of upwards of 800 ideas, Syracuse students have incorporated more than 95 businesses and have used their experience to build skills and their resumes and find their dream jobs at top innovation companies around the world.