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The NYBPC is New York's largest and most prestigious intercollegiate entrepreneurship competition. Since 2010 we have provided a platform for New York's next generation of entrepreneurs to receive prize money, make connections, find mentorship, commercialize NY's collegiate innovation hubs, and launch new ventures.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU:

Receive feedback from experts in their field
Potential investment opportunities
Experience delivering pitches

WHAT TO DO NEXT:

Sign up for our newsletter for the latest information
Follow us on LinkedIn for news and announcements
Check out resources and examples to prepare your pitch

The New York Business Plan Competition features regional competitions in New York's ten geographic zones – Capital Region, Central New York, North Country, Mohawk Valley, Finger Lakes, Western New York, Southern Tier, Mid-Hudson, New York City and Long Island - followed by a final, statewide competition.

The regional semifinals are hosted by local partner colleges and universities in late March. The top two teams from six different industry or vertical tracks in each region are invited to compete in the statewide competition. The winners at all levels of the competition are selected by esteemed judges, including venture capitalists, angel investors, investment bankers, experienced entrepreneurs, and leaders from the business community.

HOW IT WORKS

All students are encouraged to apply! Whether you're a community college, undergraduate, or graduate student, as long as you're enrolled part or full-time at an accredited New York college or university during the current academic year and have the entrepreneurial bug… we invite you to apply!

After filling out the application, you will be contacted by the organizer for your regional competition with next steps. Applications will open in November (anticipated) and close in March.

Regional competitions are hosted locally in late March or early April in all ten regions across NY state. The winners of these competitions move on to the statewide finals. Students are assigned to a regional competition based on the location of their school. All regional competitions follow the NYBPC rulebook and the rubric, but format and timing of the regional competitions vary.

COMPETING IN THE NYBPC

Application now open! Read up on what to expect on the student application.

2026 Application Open Now!

We're already gearing up for the 2026 NYBPC, but in the meantime, feel free to peruse our 2025 guidebooks for a feel of what to expect.

Additional Resources:

2026 NYBPC Rulebook
2026 Judging Rubric
NYBPC Presentation Suggestions: Slide Deck Template
Executive Summary Template

Example Presentations:

RHM Innovations: Courtney Burris (University at Buffalo) + Brandon Davis Burris (University of Rochester), (2023 Grand Prize Winner, pitching at the NYBPC Finals)

Photonect: Juniyali Nauriyal and Sushant Kumar, University of Rochester (2022 Grand Prize)

2026 COMPETITION CALENDAR

The 2025-26 New York Business Plan Competition will feature regional competitions in New York's ten geographic zones – Capital Region, Central New York, North Country, Mohawk Valley, Finger Lakes, Western New York, Southern Tier, Mid-Hudson, New York City and Long Island - followed by a final, statewide competition with three rounds, leading to the Finals on April 22, 2026. Regional competition dates vary, but take place March - April.

Initial applications Deadline To Be Announced - APPLY HERE

Regional Competitions - vary by location:

Capital District: Submission Deadline: To be Announced - Regional Competition @ SUNY Albany: Date To be Announced - website

- Regional contact: Heidi Knoblauch

Central New York: Submission Deadline: Date To be Announced - Regional Competition @ Onondaga Community College: Date To be Announced - website

- Regional contact: Robert Griffin

Finger Lakes: Submission Deadline: Date To be Announced - Regional Competition @ St. John Fisher University: Date To be Announced

- Regional contact: Dr. Chantz Miles

Long Island: Submission Deadline: To Be Announced- Regional Competition @ SUNY Farmingdale: April 1

- Regional contact: Kim Forman, Richard Vogel

Mid-Hudson Valley: Submission Deadline: March 22 - Regional Competition @ SUNY New Paltz: March 25 - website

- Regional contact: Kristin Backhaus

Mohawk Valley: Submission Deadline: Date To be Announced - Regional Competition @ SUNY Poly: Date To be Announced

- Regional contact: Jim Staihar

New York City: Submission Deadline: Date To be Announced - Regional Competition @ Touro University: March 24

- Regional contact: Gavin Goldstein

North Country: Slide Deck Submission Deadline: Date To be Announced - Regional Competition @ Clarkson University: March 27

- Regional contact: Demetrius Boone

Southern Tier: Submission Deadline: Date To be Announced- Regional Competition Held Online: March 27

- Regional contact: Epiphany Munoz

Western New York: Submission Deadline: Date To be Announced - Regional Competition @ University at Buffalo: Date To be Announced

- Regional contact: Kelsey Wagner

NYBPC Finals Competition - 3 Rounds:

Round One: (Asynchronous and Online)

Date To be Announced @ midnight: Student deadline to submit materials for Round One of the State Finals.

Date To be Announced: First round judges will review submissions.

Date To be Announced: Judges will deliberate and choose the top teams from each track to move onto Round Two.

Round Two: (Live and In-person)

Date To be Announced @ midnight: Student deadline to submit materials for Round Two of the State Finals.

April 22, 2026 in Rochester

- 9:00 AM-12:00 PM: The top teams from each track will pitch live to judges. Pitches will be eight minutes and followed by six minutes of Q&A. (SCHEDULE BASED ON PREVIOUS EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

- 12 PM: Track winners announced live. The top team in each track will move on to the Grand Prize Finals. (SCHEDULE BASED ON PREVIOUS EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Round Three: Grand Prize Finals (Live and In-person) April 22, 2026 in Rochester

Afternoon: The first place team from each track will pitch live for the NYBPC Grand Prize. (SCHEDULE BASED ON PREVIOUS EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

STUDENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

NYBPC Student Ambassadors are top entrepreneurial students at each college and university across New York State! Our ambassadors are influencers on campus who help get out the word about the NYBPC and share entrepreneurial resources with their peers.

If you think you could be our next NYBPC Student Ambassador at your campus, fill out the form below or reach out to thomas@upstatecapital.org for more information. Click here to view the Student Ambassador information sheet to learn more.

The deadline to apply for the 2025-2026 student ambassador program is Saturday January 31. The kick-off call for the program will be announced soon.

2026 STUDENT AMBASSADOR APPLICATION NOW OPEN