For Release:           Immediate – April 17, 2023
Contact:                  Steve Ference, Director of University Marketing & Communications | (518) 429-7742 | sference@sunypoly.edu

Utica, NY – SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) today announced seven student teams have been named regional finalists following the conclusion of the Mohawk Valley regional semifinal of the New York Business Plan Competition, hosted by SUNY Poly and in partnership with Hartwick College. Four SUNY Poly student-led ventures are among the finalists advancing to the finals of the statewide New York Business Plan Competition, joined by three teams featuring SUNY Cobleskill students that pitched plans related to the tracks listed below.

Ventures comprised of SUNY Poly or SUNY Cobleskill students that will compete in the next round include, by category:

• Safety, Power & Mobility: Defense, Energy First Responder, Infrastructure, Mobility & Transportation:
  • Logistat: Adam Lukasiewicz and Sean Smith (SUNY Poly)
  • Chamunorwa LPG: Andrew Chamunorwa (SUNY Cobleskill)
• Food & Agtech: Agricultural Technology, Food Product, Food Service:
  • Healthy Future Vending: Jacob Lujbli (SUNY Cobleskill)
  • Central Roasting Company: Bennett Ashley (SUNY Cobleskill)
• Learn, Work & Play: Education, Entertainment, Gaming, Media, Art:
  • Three-Delta: Frederick Fougere, Brian Tangorre, Michael Beebe, and John Klaboe (SUNY Poly) 
• Software & Services: Pitches that do not fit into other tracks:
  • The Proper Tea: Miranda Dewan and K'Pru Taw (SUNY Poly)
  • Arkceus: David Ramos-Vazquez (SUNY Poly)

The overall winning teams received cash prizes:

• First Place Grand Prize $2,000: Healthy Future Vending
• Second Place Grand Prize $1,000: The Proper Tea
• Best of the Mohawk Valley $500 (company embodying regional characteristics): Three-Delta

The Mohawk Valley semifinal competition drew interest from 20 students who competed as part of 12 teams or ventures. They pitched their game-changing business proposals for a chance to reach the final round and win cash prizes. Semifinal round competitions in nine other regions across New York either have been held or are scheduled to take place prior to the final round.

Hundreds of students from accredited colleges and universities throughout New York State are participating in the competition. Each team that enters pitches a business idea as part of either a virtual or in-person semifinal event. Pitches are evaluated by an experienced panel of judges comprised of business and industry professionals, with selected  teams then participating in the finals to take place online from April 18-24, 2023. After this process, the first place teams from each track will pitch live at the Grand Prize Finals at the OnCenter in Syracuse April 27, 2023.

According to NYBPC organizers, since 2010, the NYBPC has helped to launch more than 100 student-led ventures and has generated more than $150 million in economic impact.

Upstate Capital Association of New York State is the NYBPC’s leading organization, and the initiative is supported by funding through Empire State Development and The Research Foundation for SUNY, among others..

For more information about the 2023 New York Business Plan Competition, please visit: https://nybpc.org/students2023.

SUNY Poly is also grateful to a number of generous sponsors for making this year's in-person event possible, including SUNY Poly's Student Government at Utica (SGU), Lafa Mediterranean by Zeina's, and Zeina's Cafe. 

 
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About SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly)
SUNY Poly is New York’s globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience programs at its Albany campus, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, game design, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica campus; thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world’s most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts billions of dollars in high-tech investments and hundreds of corporate partners since its inception. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu.