STUDENTS

The NYBPC is for current and future entrepreneurs

JOIN THE NEXT GENERATION

The NYBPC is New York’s intercollegiate entrepreneurship competition that, since 2010, has provided a platform for training New York’s next generation of entrepreneurs and launched new ventures, commercializing innovations developed on college campuses across New York.

What to do next:

Sign up for our newsletter for the latest information
Follow us on LinkedIn for news and announcements
Apply to compete!

What’s in it for you:

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

The 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.

The regional semifinals are hosted by local partner colleges and universities generally in March. The top two teams from six different industry/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 invited to apply! This includes any graduate, undergraduate, and/or community college students enrolled part- or full-time in accredited New York colleges and universities during the current academic year. Students who graduate during the Fall semester are eligible to compete in the competition during the Spring semester. Exchange students are also eligible.

Students will fill out the application and will be contacted by their regional organizers for next steps. Applications open in January and close in March.

Regional competitions are hosted locally in March/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

Applications for the 2024-2025 NYBPC opened on December 1, 2024 and close on March 1, 2025. Find out what to expect on the student application.

APPLY TO COMPETE

Additional Resources:
2025 NYBPC Rulebook
2025 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)

2025 competition calendar

The 2024 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 25, 2024. Regional competition dates vary, but take place March - April.

Regional Competitions - vary by location:

Capital District: Submission Deadline: March 21 - Regional Competition @ HVCC: April 4 - website
- Regional contact: Jodi Mather, Danielle Blesi
Central New York: Submission Deadline: TBD - Regional Competition: TBD
- Regional contact: Robert Griffin
Finger Lakes: Submission Deadline: TBD - Regional Competition @ St. John Fisher University: TBD
- Regional Contact: Dr. Chantz Miles
Long Island: Regional Competition @ SUNY Farmingdale: TBD
- Regional contact: Kim Forman, Richard Vogel
Mid-Hudson Valley: Submission Deadline: March 18 - Regional Competition @ SUNY New Paltz: March 26 - website
- Regional Contacts: Eliza Edge
Mohawk Valley: Submission Deadline: TBD - Regional Competition @ SUNY Poly: April 4
- Regional Contact: Robert Edgell
New York City: Submission Deadline: March 20 - Regional Competition @ Touro University: March 27
- Regional Contact: Gavin Goldstein
North Country: Submission Deadline: TBD - Regional Competition @ Clarkson University: TBD
- Regional Contact: Demetrius Boone
Southern Tier: Submission Deadline: March 14 - Regional Competition on March 21 online
- Regional Contact: Emma Smith
Western New York: Submission Deadline: TBD: Regional Competition @ University at Buffalo: TBD
- Regional Contact: Kelsey Wagner

NYBPC Finals Competition - 3 Rounds:

Round One: (Asynchronous and Online)
April 8 @ midnight: Student deadline to submit materials for Round One of the State Finals.
April 10 - April 17: First round judges will review submissions.
April 17: Judges will deliberate and choose the top teams from each track to move onto Round Two.

Round Two: (Live and In-person)
April 22 @ midnight: Student deadline to submit materials for Round Two of the State Finals.
April 24, 2024 @ RPI in Troy, NY
- 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.
- 12 PM: Track winners announced live. The top team in each track will move on to the Grand Prize Finals.

Round Three: Grand Prize Finals (Live and In-person)
April 24, 2024 @ RPI in Troy, NY
Afternoon: The first place team from each track will pitch live for the NYBPC Grand Prize.

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 are sharing entrepreneurial resources and spreading the word about the NYBPC.

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

The deadline to apply for the 2024-2025 student ambassador program is Friday, December 13. The kick-off call for the program will be Friday, December 20 at 10AM.

Learn more