Le Moyne’s Dolphin Tank competition awards thousands in development funds to student entrepreneurs

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Le Moyne College’s fifth annual Dolphin Tank competition has provided funding for 10 student-founders who have launched “successful, growing” businesses, the college says.

Le Moyne’s Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity organized the competition, which partners with regional, national, and global firms.

The program functions in a way similar to ABC-TV’s Shark Tank but uses “Dolphin” to coincide with the school’s nickname.

The Keenan Center announcement acknowledges companies that invested $35,000 in student innovators. They include CADimensions, Inc. of DeWitt; SpinCar and Startfast, both of Syracuse; Hallmark Realty of Clay; BNY Mellon (NYSE: BK); BlackEagle Partners of Michigan; and Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ) of Victor.

The annual competition is more than a typical capstone project, Mike D’Eredita, director of the Keenan Center, said.

“This program is so much more than an opportunity for students to hone their presentation skills and develop their craft – it actively puts money into the startup community, and enriches our economy today and for the future,” D’Eredita said. “Many of these students are already generating thousands of dollars in revenue while going to school full time. It is inspiring to see the Dolphin Tank’s impact on the drive and imagination of these bright young people.”

The Keenan Center works at “building an entrepreneurial pipeline” from the Le Moyne College student body directly into the Central New York business community.

The center has participated in events like Upstate Unleashed, has already helped to support a number of student, alumni, and community entrepreneurs, and will continue hosting Le Moyne’s annual Dolphin Tank each spring.

The competition annually helps student teams compete for more than $35,000 in pre-seed dollars from regional business leaders.