2023 NEW YORK BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Statewide, intercollegiate entrepreneurship competition awards over $100,000 in cash prizes to over 20 teams across New York
New Paltz, NY - The New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) announced its 2023 Grand Prize winner, along with other prize winners at Venture NY, the marquee event for early-stage companies, investors and innovators hosted by the Upstate Capital Association of New York.
Since March, Student competitors have been competing at the semi-final competitions hosted by partner colleges and universities held in all 10 regions of New York State. Top teams from each region advanced to the statewide finals. In all, a total of 75 teams from 35 schools placed in the top of their tracks during regional competitions and advanced to the NYBPC Finals.
On April 27, 2023, The NYBPC culminated with student competitors pitching live to judges at the OnCenter in Syracuse, New York. Over the course of the competition, over 150 judges volunteered, setting aside time from their work as venture capitalists, angel investors, investment bankers, experienced entrepreneurs and leaders from the business community to share their input on these student-led ventures.
RHM Innovations Inc. was selected as the NYBPC Grand Prize Winner and additionally recognized with the Community Founder award within the health and wellness competition track. The company develops assistive bathing technologies to increase safety and independence while bathing. Their first product, the Aiding Arm, is a shower chair attachment with a patented lever system that allows the user to control the flow of water while seated safely in a standard shower chair.
The team founders Courtney Burris from the University at Buffalo, and Brandon Davis Burris, from the University of Rochester, have been awarded $25,000 in cash to help grow their startup, as well as mentorship and connections from industry leaders through Upstate Capital’s membership.
Upstate Capital has led the NYBPC, a statewide intercollegiate entrepreneurship competition, for the past six years to support New York’s next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders. The NYBPC has three goals: to develop entrepreneurial mindsets and skills, to build personal networks connecting students to organizations in New York, and to launch new ventures.
The NYBPC is supported by over 100 people and organizations with personal donations and corporate sponsorships, including NY Ventures, a part of Empire State Development, and the SUNY Research Foundation.
Upstate Capital President and CEO Noa Conger Simons said, “This program helps cultivate investable early-stage companies, provides a launch pad for all kinds of new ventures, and develops skills and mindsets that all competitors take forward with them in their careers. Since its inception in 2010, the NYBPC has impacted more than 6,000 students with more than $150 million of economic impact that can be attributed to student-led ventures that have gone through the program and hundreds of innovations that have led to commercialization over the past decade.”
Former participant and NYBPC Outreach Director Caitlin Zubrowski said, “I remember participating in this event while a student at Syracuse University and distinctly remember it as the catalyst that led to my career in innovation and entrepreneurship.”
The students competed in six different tracks and awards were given to the first, second, and third-place teams from each track. The first-place team from each track won $10,000, with the second and third winning $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.
Two special prizes were given out to eligible teams in each track. The Community Founder Award was made to award under-represented founders with positive community impact as part of their business model and received $1,000 each. The Concept Stage Awards were given to undergraduate competitors with solid concepts, to encourage continued advancement for the ventures, and received $500 each.
2023 New York Business Plan Competition Results
Health & Wellbeing
First Place: RHM Innovations Inc., University at Buffalo
Second Place: Yoomi Health, Cornell University
Third Place: CMS Biotechnologies, Hofstra University
Community Founder Award: RHM Innovations Inc., University at Buffalo
Food & Agtech
First Place: The Taps Table from the United States Military Academy
Second Place: Green Rover from Cornell University
Third Place: Kroptik from Cornell University
Community Founder Award: TRioTech, Clarkson University
Safety, Power & Mobility
First Place: Algae 3, Iona College
Second Place: Doorbit, Clarkson University
Third Place: Exerg, University at Buffalo
Community Founder Award: Exergi, University at Buffalo
Concept Stage Award: The CO2RR Company, Cornell University
Learn, Work & Play
First Place: AI-Learners, Cornell University
Second Place: GameOn, SUNY College at Oswego
Third Place: CoPivot, Rochester Institute of Technology
Community Founder Award: MFC, SUNY Buffalo State
Software & Services
First Place: Sage's Sudzee Dudz, SUNY Ulster
Second Place: Chamak, Cornell University
Third Place: Esger, Cornell Tech New York City
Community Founder Award: Chamak, Inc., Cornell University
Concept Stage Award: ECONU, Wagner College
Products & Hardware
First Place: Dispose O' Oil, SUNY at New Paltz
Second Place: Double Down Decoys, United States Military Academy
Third Place: EM13RACE, SUNY Broome Community College
Community Founder Award: EM13RACE, SUNY Broome Community College
Concept Stage Award: RDY, Fashion Institute of Technology
About Upstate Capital: The Upstate Capital Association of New York connects investors across the capital stack to opportunities across New York. The member-driven organization increases access to capital for companies and deal flow for investors by maintaining a robust, statewide network of capital providers, professional advisors and supporting organizations. Through regular events and educational content, Upstate Capital facilitates the development of relationships and knowledge to support the PE + M&A community and the VC + Growth ecosystem.
