SUNY Poly student teams among regional winners in New York Business Plan Competition

MARCY, N.Y. — Four student teams from SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) placed first or second in three different categories as part of the 2020 regional New York Business Plan Competition in the Mohawk Valley.

The four SUNY Poly teams were among seven regional winners. Utica College hosted the event virtually this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Event organizers, judges, students and advisors worked together to ensure a “smooth transition” to a virtual presentation, Robert Edgell, professor of technology management in SUNY Poly’s College of Business Management, contended.

Edgell guided three of the winning SUNY Poly student teams.

“Students submitted their PowerPoints with their voiceover narration on top of that and the judges reviewed them and responded with questions to the students,” he said in a release. “If you’re doing it live there’s a Q&A and we didn’t want to omit that, so we did that virtually as well.”

All four teams qualify to continue to the state-level New York Business Plan Competition which will also be held virtually this year. Students have until May 1 to submit videos and pitch decks. Winners will be announced May 22.

Winning SUNY Poly student projects

A student project called Green Stamp took 1st Place in the Energy and Environment category. This project proposes a consulting and media supply service to assist companies in finding efficiencies to reduce their carbon footprint and cut operating costs. Its founders include Elizabeth Doxtater, David Abbot, and Brianna Ruiz, SUNY Poly said.

Another project, called Pacing Meter, captured 1st Place in the MedTech and Well Being category. The Pacing Meter is a running sports watch designed to measure heart rate and distance while monitoring the body’s vital signs for any abnormalities that may arise. Doug Wilson is listed as the founder of Pacing Meter.

A project called True Repair captured 2nd place in the Technology and Entertainment category. The proposed True Repair app would enable individuals to get verification for a quoted automotive repair to ensure the mechanic’s estimate is “reasonable” based on the category of repair needed and comparable costs in the region. Noah Garrett is the founder of the True Repair app.

Another student project called TruBuddy took 2nd place in the MedTech and Well Being category. It’s a social media app available for colleges and universities to purchase, offering a “controlled environment that focuses on the student experience.” The app would ensure students are easily able to connect with other like-minded students, all while ensuring a safer environment than other traditional forms of social media. SUNY Poly lists Tessa Buck and Stephanie Jones as the project founders.