Competitors and judges at the RvD iPrize competition
Winners have been announced for the 2018 RvD iPrize competition, held March 23 at 黑料不打烊. The event, sponsored by the School of Information Studies (iSchool), was coordinated by the Blackstone LaunchPad at 黑料不打烊 and hosted at 黑料不打烊 Libraries. Judges included alumni, successful entrepreneurs, technologists, attorneys and area business and civic leaders.
More than 55 teams applied to compete in this year鈥檚 event, with 40 selected to pitch at the event, which offered $40,000 in prizes through the Raymond von Dran (RvD) Fund for Student Entrepreneurship at the iSchool.听This year, an additional $10,000 was also awarded in inaugural through an additional gift to the iSchool by a private family foundation.
The RvD iPrize also served as the regional qualifier for the 2018 New York State Business Plan Competition, and to advance to that event in Albany on April 27.
The RvD Fund was established to honor the memory of the former iSchool dean, who helped students bring their ideas to life through the spirit of entrepreneurship. Gisela von Dran, his widow, helped award iPrizes with iSchool Dean Liz Liddy at this year鈥檚 event.
鈥淲e are grateful to Gisela von Dran for her continued support of the entrepreneurial spirit at 黑料不打烊 through the RvD fund,鈥 says Liddy.听鈥淚 was delighted to watch our students compete at the event, and the RvD iPrize funds will help ensure that they can keep their ventures moving forward.鈥
鈥淚t is wonderful to see so many innovative student teams from across our schools and colleges and from ESF coming together in a thriving entrepreneurship community in the SU Libraries, and benefiting from the services of the Blackstone LaunchPad,鈥 says Dean of Libraries David Seaman. 鈥淚 know these prizes will make a significant difference to these young innovators and inventors, and I was impressed with the creativity, professionalism and collegiality they displayed in this competition.鈥
Winners included:
Sustainability and social entrepreneurship
听Drop Top, founded by Jason Kuperberg 鈥18, 听Serena DeSeta 鈥18, ; and Matthew Goodman 鈥19, ; an ingenious design, made entirely of REVLAR that increases agricultural output while conserving water through drip irrigation; won $3,000.
FibreFree, founded by Serena Omo-Lamai 鈥19 and Charles Keppler 鈥19, both of the ; a laundry ball that traps microfibers, preventing them from entering aquifers and the atmosphere; won $3,000.
Farm to Flame, founded by Lee Mendes McKnight 鈥18, , with team members Kwaku Jyamfi 鈥18, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and Sayje Lasenberry 鈥19, SUNY ESF; a smokeless, odorless biomass generator system that leverages locally grown crops to harness the power of energy and build more sustainable rural economies; won $3,000.
Rematriation Magazine, founded by Michelle Schenandoah G鈥18, , with operations manager Janet Flores 鈥18, Maxwell School; a digital storytelling platform powered by a sisterhood of Haudenosaunee women, where indigenous women gather for collective healing from historical and current traumas; won $500.
Food for Community, founded by Samantha Guillaume 鈥18 and Patrick Carleton 鈥18, both SUNY ESF; a not-for-profit that transports unused food from local schools to local pantries; won $500.
Services
Starfruit, founded by Nathan Elequin G 18, ; a consulting service that offers workshops, online content, and support services for schools and districts in Austin, Texas that want to integrate Google Classroom in their instruction; won $6,000.
Fresh U, founded by Kate Beckman, G18, Newhouse School; a national online publication for college students with a focus on the freshman year, with 100,000 unique monthly visitors and 400 nationally distributed content creators; won $4,000.
Products
In-Spire, founded by Kayla Simon鈥19 and Elizabeth Tarangelo 鈥19, both College of Engineering and Computer Science; a wearable Albuterol inhaler for asthma patients who suffer from asthma attacks while on the go; won $6,000..
Anything But Beer, co-founded by Logan Bonney G鈥17, of the Whitman School; and Brittany Berry 鈥18, of the College of Visual and Performing Arts; brews alcoholic beverages to meet the needs of niche consumer markets that are not served by the craft brewery business, including consumers who are gluten-free; won $3,500.
Bonfire in a Bin, co-founded by Will DeVito 鈥20 of Newhouse and Nick Gold 鈥18 of ; an all-in-one bonfire starter kit that is collapsible for easy storage and transport; won $500.
听Software/IT
Weather Optics, founded by Scott Pecoriello 鈥20, Arts and Sciences; a disruptive weather and data analytics company; won $5,000.
Ravle, founded by Tay Lotte 鈥19, Creative Leadership, , and Kevin Rieck 鈥19, Knowledge Management, University College; a platform that allows travelers to customize and book full trips through travel videos created by the world鈥檚 top travel filmmakers; won $3,000.
ModoScript, founded by David Zuleta 鈥18, College of Arts and Sciences; a pill-safe system that is a device and software platform for physicians, health insurance providers, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare facilities, government agencies and law enforcement organizations aimed at combating and reducing costs associated with prescription drug abuse and patient non-adherence; won $2,000.
About 黑料不打烊
黑料不打烊 is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an听undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic , with a global footprint, and听, 黑料不打烊 offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of 黑料不打烊 is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit .
