Press Release
Press inquiries: Anne Conger | anne@nybpc.org | (518) 320-2746
10th Annual New York Business Plan Competition Expected to Draw More than 100 Student-Led Teams to Albany
Albany NY - More than 100 student-led teams from across New York State are expected to pitch their business ideas at the 10th annual New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) Finals, held at the Sage Armory in Albany, on Friday, April 26, 2019 in conjunction with the E^3 Entrepreneurs Expo featuring resources for entrepreneurs.
For students, the road to the 2019 NYBPC Finals starts with regional competitions held in each of the 10 regions of New York State – Western New York, the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Central New York, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Capital Region, Mid-Hudson, New York City, and Long Island. Partner colleges and universities host regional semifinal competitions beginning now and ending in mid-April. The top teams from each region advance to the statewide finals in Albany.
At the April 26 Finals, cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3 finishers in each of six tracks, including NYSERDA’s Energy & Sustainability Track, AgTech and Food, MedTech and Wellbeing, Technology & Entertainment, Military & First Responder, and Consumer Products & Services.
The NYBPC is the only collegiate business competition in the nation that is regionally coordinated and includes the entire state of New York, involving over 100 colleges and universities between regionals and finals. Since 2010, over 2,700 student teams from public and private New York colleges, community colleges, and universities have pitched their ideas and ventures at the NYBPC. More than $1 million has been awarded. Winners are selected each year by judging panels, comprised of venture capitalists, angel investors, investment bankers, sophisticated business leaders and seasoned entrepreneurs.
“We measure success both in the number of students that participate and the number of new ventures launched,” said Noa Simons, Executive Director of Upstate Capital Association of New York. “We are excited to facilitate more intentional connections to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem for students this year.” In 2018, Upstate Capital created a new entity, the Capital Foundation of New York, to support the administration of the competition statewide. Upstate Capital provides leadership, fundraising and staffing support together with the NYBPC Coalition to run the program and coordinate the Entrepreneurs Expo.
The NYBPC Coalition includes Noa Simons from Upstate Capital Association of New York, Anne Conger from the Capital Foundation of New York, Bruce Toyama from BessTech, a past NYBPC competitor, Clayton Besch from Empire State Development’s NY Ventures, Jeff Peterson from NYSERDA, Elena Garuc from FuzeHub, Rob Nichols from KeyBank, Jeff Boyce from SUNY Research Foundation, Keith Cushing from the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU), Judy Tholl from NYSTAR, Anthony Debonis from TroyWeb Consulting, Kim Fredericks from Sage Colleges, and Bob Manasier from Innovate 518.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “In encouraging New York’s best and brightest students to take their innovative business ideas from concept to reality, the NYBPC is fueling long-term growth for the state’s economy.”
Alicia Barton, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, “NYSERDA is proud to support the energy and innovative ideas young entrepreneurs bring to this competition and to New York’s thriving marketplace for new concepts and technologies that address some of our most pressing environmental, energy, and societal challenges. Governor Cuomo’s commitment to helping entrepreneurs and start-ups advance their ideas from concept onto commercialization is unwavering under his nation-leading clean energy and climate agenda and I look forward to watching this year’s finalists become part of the state’s growing clean energy economy.”
Please contact Noa Simons at noa@upstatecapital.org for more information about getting involved. Sign up to attend the E^3 Entrepreneurs Expo and Competition through nybpc.org.
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