Blackstone LaunchPad at SU Libraries (LaunchPad) is currently accepting applications through Feb. 1 for the 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) InVenture Prize. The ACC InVenture Prize is a televised student start-up pitch competition open to teams from the 15 colleges and universities in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Academic Consortium. The ACC InVenture finals feature a $30,000 prize package and are open to undergraduate students or students who have received their undergraduate degree within the past year and who are the original creators, inventors or owners of the intellectual property underlying their invention. It will be held at Florida State University on April 1 and 2.
Quinn King ’20 and Alec Gillinder ’20, alumni of the School of Design in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and co-founders of MedUX. The team won the 2019 campus qualifier competition and the $10,000 second place award in the ACC finals. (Photo taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic)
Syracuse University student startup teams can submit an online application of a venture idea to participate in the Syracuse campus qualifier, which will be held in Bird Library on Feb. 11 from 2 to 5 p.m. Up to 10 teams will be selected to participate in the campus qualifier. The winner will receive a cash prize and move on to participate in the PBS-televised event in Florida in April. Campus qualifier finalists will also be invited to apply for LaunchPad Innovation Fund grants available through a gift to SU Libraries.
Past Syracuse contestants who participated in the final five live PBS-broadcast included: Kate Beckman ’17 G’18 (Newhouse School) founder of FreshU; Kayla Simon ’19 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) and Elizabeth Tarangelo ’19 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), co-founders of In-Spire; Alec Gillinder ’20 (College of Visual and Performing Arts’ School of Design) and Quinn King ’20 (VPA School of Design), co-founders of MedUX; and Russell Fearon ’20 G’21 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) and Ricardo Sanchez ’21 (VPA School of Design), co-founders of SugEx.
The Blackstone LaunchPad and Techstars at Syracuse University Libraries is the University’s innovation hub, connecting the entire campus resource-rich ecosystem with a global network that provides support for aspiring entrepreneurs, inventors and creators. The program serves faculty, staff, students and alumni across disciplines who are interested in innovation, invention, entrepreneurship, venture creation, careers, entrepreneurial skills, diversity, equity, inclusion and taking ideas from concept to commercialization. The program supports a key pillar of Syracuse University’s Academic Strategic Plan to create an innovation ecosystem across the institution that prepares participants to be trailblazers in an entrepreneurial world.
