Event recap: The 2020 New York Business Plan Competition

Eighty-eight student-led teams from across New York State pitched their business ideas at the 11th annual New York Business Plan Competition Finals on May 22, 2020. Students impressed judges with their adaptability despite the setbacks brought on by COVID-19. Over 250 investors, entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders and NYBPC supporters participated in the first online New York Business Plan Competition Finals. Funding for the NYBPC is provided by sponsors and philanthropists who support the innovation economy, including NYSERDA, NY Ventures, NYSTAR, and several successful entrepreneurs. Since 2010, more than 5,000 students from public and private New York community colleges, 4-year schools, and universities have pitched their ideas and ventures at the NYBPC. More than $1M in prize money has been awarded to over 150 student-led ventures, and many successful companies have been launched through this platform, including SparkCharge, Farther Farms, Purple Sun, Buffalo Automation Group, Vital Vio, and many more. For this year’s NYBPC, mentors from across the state met with students for the mentorship program, and speakers led workshops featuring topics ranging from industry-specific startups like MedTech and CleanTech to access to SBIR funding and Venture Capital. The NYBPC would like to thank our workshop panelists: Kathi Durdon, Win Thurlow, Jeff Fuchsberg, Patrick Walsh, Adam Fine, Robert Manasier, Xing Che, Timothy Williams, Julianne Clouthier, Nathan DeMario, Matt Watson, Marc Alessi, Deb Novick, Tom Murdock, Charles Hamilton, Jonathan Greene, Jeff Boyce, and Virginia Smith for their participation. After the workshops were the much-anticipated finals ceremony and the announcement of the 2020 NYBPC winners. The competition showcased many diverse teams ranging from fully-formed businesses to concept stages across each track. Agtech & Food Ethan Doutney Dune Fishery Oyster Farm - First Place Nightcap - Second Place NextHops - Third Place Golden Tomatoes Enterprise - MWBE Garden Guardian - Concept Consumer Product & Services dooProcess - First Place Oga Faaji, LLC - Second Place /stelTH/ - Third Place The Photography Innovation Center (P.I.C.) - MWBE Scentablez - Concept Energy & Environment CLOVO - First Place, MWBE KLAW Industries - Second Place, Concept Eos - Third Place Military & First Responders StreetSweep - First Place WetWare BioSystems - Second Place Resistance Technologies - Third Place Emeritus Fire Gear - MWBE Polici - Concept MedTech & Well-Being Totally Tubular Tats - First Place Bioflow - Second Place Visos - Third Place, Concept Sandman Medical Consulting - MWBE Technology & Entertainment rapStudy - First Place, Grand Prize Dream Haus - Second Place Foodment - Third Place Memorize - MWBE You Tutorials - Concept The NYBPC thanks our 2020 judges whose participation and support help drive future innovation and progress for young entrepreneurs. The NYBPC is the place to see the latest innovations from the entrepreneurs of tomorrow, the place to build vital connections in the ecosystem and gain lasting insight from peers and industry mentors. We look forward to NYBPC 2021! Check out the 2020 NYBPC Finals!