SUNY Oswego’s Launch It student entrepreneur competition returns for 2022 with an expanded amount of prizes and some additional changes. Pictured are 2021 first-prize winners of $2,500 (sponsored by Riverwalk) Molly Bergin and Robyn Kilts for their project "Hush Bracelet." They are with, from left: Irene Scruton, assistant dean of business and director of MBA programs; competition judges Ed Alberts, an Oswego MBA alumnus and founder of Wired and Riverwalk; 2006 alumna Sarah Mastrangelo; and Kevin McMahon, a 1978 alumnus and chairman and CEO of Edwards & Kelcey; along with Prabakar Kothandaraman, dean for the School of Business. Not pictured are the judges who served online; Lisa Wodka from Sherwin Williams, and 2007 alumnus Mike Davis.
SUNY Oswego’s Launch It student entrepreneur competition returns for 2022 with an expanded amount of prizes and some additional changes –- but, as always, with a focus on outstanding student ideas and how to put them in motion.
The event, hosted by the SUNY Oswego School of Business, aims to provide entrepreneurship-minded students with a platform featuring resources, mentorship and financial rewards to develop and launch innovative ideas in business and social sectors. The competition also provides students opportunities to learn new in-demand skills and techniques that will enhance their professional profile as they work and develop their innovative ideas.
Teams of students will compete for a $2,500 first-place prize, $1,500 for second place and $1,000 for third.
But additional prizes this year include $500 each for the highest placement in categories for first-year students; online School of Business students; ideas in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field; and for performing arts, visual arts or music areas.
Audiences will vote for a $250 fan favorite award, while everybody who makes the semifinals will look at a minimum $200 award.
Three venture pitch sessions will allow students to share their ideas in 60 seconds in front of students, who might want to join their efforts in a team, as well as faculty and experienced entrepreneurs among SUNY Oswego alumni and community partners. Two in-person sessions will take place –- at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6 and 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 –- both in 315 Park Hall, with a virtual session happening over Zoom at 6 p.m. on Oct. 7.
From there, those students will have access to business executive mentors who will serve as resource people and sounding board to help students produce two-minute pitch videos, which are due on Oct. 16.
Mentors and faculty will select the best ideas and pitch videos for the next stage, where advancing students will work with an alumni professional mentor to help them develop a pitch presentation for the hybrid semifinals from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28, in Rich Hall as well as online.
Winners will take part in the hybrid Launch It finals from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, and virtually on Zoom, to determine the ultimate winners. Earlier that week, finalists will have the opportunity to rehearse their pitches with students in the college’s master of business administration program.
Sponsors include Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Sherwin Williams and Wegmans Food Markets.
For more information or to sign up for Launch It 2022, visit the Launch It website or engage.oswego.edu.