Alumni Entrepreneurs Encouraged to Apply for ’CUSE50 Awards

For the second year in a row, Syracuse University will honor the success of Orange business leaders across the globe at the ’CUSE50 awards. This annual celebration features 50 of the fastest-growing businesses founded or owned by Syracuse alumni. The inaugural honorees included a marketing agency CEO, a party rental company owner, a creative event production company founder and many others.

Applications for the ’CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Awards are being accepted now.

“Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management is home to one of the first academic entrepreneurship programs in the U.S., and we have a longstanding tradition of supporting and elevating the entrepreneurial aspirations of our students,” says Vice Chancellor Mike Haynie. “The ’CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur program is a natural extension of that tradition, and a unique opportunity to connect our alumni entrepreneurs with our current students and faculty.”

Alumni of any school or college, graduates of Syracuse University executive education programs and alumni of entrepreneurship programs operated by the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families are eligible and encouraged to apply.

“Syracuse University alumni are doing extraordinary work all over the world, and I am thrilled that we are going to recognize the business acumen they developed at Syracuse. What I’m most excited about is that our honorees will return to campus to pass along valuable insights to the next generation of Orange entrepreneurs,” says Tracy Barlok, Syracuse University’s chief advancement officer.

Honorees will be recognized on campus on Thursday, Nov. 14, in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building. While on campus, ’CUSE50 honorees will also share insights with each other and current students, as part of a series of campus engagement sessions planned for Friday, Nov. 15, during the ’CUSE50 Symposium.

 Do you want to compete to be recognized in the inaugural class of ’CUSE50 awardees?

The eligibility criteria for the ’CUSE50 awards are as follows:

• Applicants must be alumni of Syracuse University and be either a majority owner or hold a C-suite level leadership position in the company;
• Applicants must have founded their business at least three calendar years prior to the date of application for ’CUSE50 recognition;
• Must have had verifiable revenues of $100,000 or more in 2021; and
• Must have verifiable revenues of $250,000 or more in 2023.
• In addition, the company must meet one or more of the following criteria:
  • A Syracuse University alumnus or group of Syracuse University alumni maintain ownership in the company and have served as a C-Suite executive (i.e. chairman, CEO, president, or managing partner) for three consecutive years prior to nomination; or
  • A Syracuse University alumnus has led the company as a C-Suite executive for three consecutive years prior to nomination; or
  • A Syracuse University alumnus founded the company and has been active as a member of its senior management team for three consecutive years prior to nomination.
• The company and its leaders and/or founders must act with high integrity and operate in a manner consistent with the values of Syracuse University. To demonstrate the alignment with the values of Syracuse University, prospective and past honorees should:
  • Accept responsibility for their actions;
  • Hold oneself and others to the highest standards of personal integrity;
  • Practice equality in human relations;
  • Uphold the law, and respect the rights of others;
  • Contribute positively to Syracuse University as well as to the national and global community.

The deadline to apply for recognition is Sunday, July 14. To learn more about the ’CUSE50 awards and nominate your company for recognition, visit cuse50.syr.edu.