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!