MARCY, N.Y. — SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) has resumed leadership of the New York Business Plan Competition’s Mohawk Valley regional semifinal, which will be held virtually this year in late March. The event promotes entrepreneurial opportunities for college students across the region who can pitch their business plans for a chance to win cash […]
MARCY, N.Y. — SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) has resumed leadership of the New York Business Plan Competition’s Mohawk Valley regional semifinal, which will be held virtually this year in late March.
The event promotes entrepreneurial opportunities for college students across the region who can pitch their business plans for a chance to win cash prizes of $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second, and $500 for third. Interested student teams are encouraged to apply as the deadline is approaching. Regional semifinals will take place across New York state in late March and early April, with the statewide finals happening in Syracuse this April.
“SUNY Polytechnic Institute is proud to support Upstate Capital Association of New York’s efforts by spearheading the Mohawk Valley regional New York Business Plan Competition semifinal,” SUNY Poly Acting President Dr. Tod A. Laursen said in a release. “By partnering with SUNY schools and other colleges and universities which are facilitating regional competitions across the state, SUNY Poly is thrilled to provide a platform which encourages students to pitch their game-changing ideas so that they might transform their concepts into tangible products and services that can benefit society.
Hundreds of students from accredited colleges and universities across the state are expected to participate. Each team that enters gets the chance to pitch a business idea as part of the virtual event, with pitches evaluated by an experienced panel of judges comprised of business and industry professionals.
The finals will take place online the week of April 4, followed by live and online pitches April 13. The first-place teams from each track will pitch live at the grand prize finals at the WCNY Broadcast and Education Center in Syracuse on April 27.
Interested Mohawk Valley region students must submit their initial registration by Feb. 20 with final applications and virtual submissions due on March 25. SUNY Poly will announce regional winners on April 1.
“My experience with the New York Business Plan Competition was transformative,” Elias Zenia, a SUNY Poly graduate and owner/manager of Lafa Mediterranean by Zenia’s, said in the release. “Before we competed, our professor, Dr. Robert Edgell, guided my team and me through an intensive semester-long class where we brainstormed, collaborated, and executed a business idea. From the start, our team was connected with professionals that helped develop our idea into what could have been a practical and functioning business in our community. At the regional and state competitions, our team received a tremendous amount of constructive feedback from judges that helped refine our ideas even more.”
The process helped develop strategic planning and creative thinking skills, as well as gave the confidence Zenia needed to open a business.
According to New York Business Plan Competition (www.nybpc.org) organizers, the competition has helped launch more than 100 student-led ventures, awarded over $1 million in prizes, and generated more than $100 million in economic impact since 2010.