recently announced the spring 2026 recipients of the Orange Innovation Fund, awarding $5,000 grants to a cohort of student inventors and entrepreneurs advancing high-potential ventures across health care, financial technology, consumer products and enterprise software.

The Orange Innovation Fund is designed to accelerate student-led startups beyond the idea stage, supporting founders who have demonstrated meaningful progress through customer discovery, prototyping and early validation.

The fund emphasizes deep research and development work, along with comprehensive proposal development, and recognizes ventures that show strong execution, real-world traction and a clear path toward commercialization. Funding supports critical next steps such as product development, regulatory readiness, pilot testing and go-to-market strategy.

“The Orange Innovation Fund plays a critical role in SU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, enabling student founders to move beyond concept and into execution,” says David Seaman, dean of Libraries and University Librarian. “By supporting ventures at a pivotal stage of development, the fund helps transform promising ideas into scalable businesses with real-world impact.”

Spring 2026 Winners

Celes Buffard ’27 (School of Information Studies) for SecondWave

SecondWave is a financial wellness platform that helps users build personalized roadmaps to manage and grow their finances. The platform combines education, tools and vetted resources to guide users toward financial independence. Funding will support minimum viable product (MVP) completion, user testing, cloud infrastructure and trademark registration, as well as continued customer discovery.

Jayson Bromley (Martin J. Whitman School of Management) for Bromley Bio Med LLC – InDeazy

InDeazy is an integrated incision and drainage device designed to improve efficiency, control and safety in urgent care and emergency settings. Funding will support final design refinement and pilot manufacturing, including engineering updates, simulated workflow testing and Food and Drug Administration pre-submission readiness.

Nicholas Davis ’26 (College of Engineering and Computer Science [ECS]) for Ethyra

Ethyra is an AI-native auto-grading and classroom analytics platform that helps educators save time and better understand student performance. Funding will support MVP completion, a version 1.0 launch and pilot testing at Íř±¬ĂĹ, the University of Washington and Eastside Preparatory School, along with learning management system integration and a study on grading efficiency.

Haley Greene ’26 (Newhouse School of Public Communications) for Miirror

Miirror is a clinically guided, peer-led, tech-enabled platform redefining eating disorder recovery. Offering free, inclusive and stigma-free tools, support circles, crisis resources and therapy matching, the platform connects underserved communities with accessible recovery pathways. Funding will support completion of the MVP, regulatory compliance, technical infrastructure and a campus pilot at Íř±¬ĂĹ.

Ronan Hussar ’26 (Whitman School) for MacroFlow

MacroFlow is an Excel add-in that automates macro creation, saving users significant time and increasing productivity. Funding will support development of secure AI implementation, full local functionality and enterprise-grade validation of macro generation capabilities.

Yasmin Madmoune G ’27 (Whitman School) for Yas Apothecary

Yas Apothecary is a Moroccan-inspired body care brand with a long-term vision of building a cooperative-based production infrastructure. Funding will support equipment upgrades, production scaling, wholesale market entry and supply chain development.

Nathan Brekke ’26 (ECS), G ’27 (Whitman School) and Joshua Varkey ’26 (ECS) for Phloat

Phloat is a magnetically attachable flotation device that deploys to bring a submerged phone back to the surface. Funding will support the first commercial-grade production run, field testing with beta users and development of a scalable manufacturing supply chain. The company has recently filed for a patent.

Jack Venerus ’27 (School of Information Studies) for WingStat

WingStat is a business-to-business platform for aircraft transaction data in the pre-owned business jet market. Funding will support the transition from a no-code MVP to a production-ready platform, including backend infrastructure, authentication systems and automated data workflows.

About the Orange Innovation Fund

The Orange Innovation Fund was initially established through a gift to the Libraries from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, an alumna, a member of the Board of Trustees and an operating partner at Silicon Valley Quad (an angel investing syndicate). The program is administered through Íř±¬ĂĹ Libraries as a Universitywide initiative, run in collaboration with multiple campus innovation and entrepreneurship programs. Proposal reviewers include entrepreneurial faculty and staff, along with alumni who have come through the ecosystem and are venture founders or in C-Suite roles at leading innovation companies.

Íř±¬ĂĹ undergraduates are getting their moment to shine this spring, presenting original research and creative work to peers, faculty and the broader campus community across a series of symposia and showcase events running through the end of the semester.

“For a researcher, learning how to effectively present their work is a crucial part of the research process. Whether a student is sharing a completed project with conclusions, or a work-in-progress still in development, the dialogue and conversation with a broader audience is always clarifying,” says Kate Hanson, director of the (SOURCE). “Our undergraduates do incredible research, guided by dedicated faculty mentors, and our campus community is warmly welcomed to engage with and celebrate this work.”

The SOURCE Spring Showcase includes the following:

Thursday, March 26

Lundgren Room, 106 Life Sciences Complex, 4-6 p.m.
The event will feature four “TED-style” student research talks and a presentation of SOURCE and Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) awards.

Friday, March 27

Life Sciences Complex Atrium, 2-4 p.m.
This interdisciplinary event will feature more than 100 students presenting research and creative activity.

The entire campus community is invited to attend the events.

A complete list of programs in March, April and May with event and registration details can be found on (check back for updated information).

Other symposia and research-related events this spring include:

• , Wednesday, March 25, 9 a.m.-2:45 p.m., Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center
• , Saturday, March 28, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Life Sciences Complex Atrium
• , Friday, April 3, 9:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m., 608 Bird Library
• , Friday, April 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Collegian Hotel and Suites, 1060 E. Genesee St.
• , Thursday, April 16, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Nancy Cantor Warehouse, Auditorium, Room 100A
• , Friday, April 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Milton Atrium, Life Sciences Complex
• , Friday, April 17, 10 a.m., 101 Newhouse 1
• , Tuesday, April 28, 3-5 p.m., 220 Eggers Hall
• , Wednesday, April 29, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Hall of Languages, multiple locations (complete schedule will be available on the after April 8)

Íř±¬ĂĹ Libraries’ LaunchPad awarded prizes to several student entrepreneur teams as part of its annual Afropreneurship Celebration and Pitch Competition held in Bird Library on Feb. 6.

The event included a panel discussion featuring student and alumni entrepreneurs, followed by a pitch competition open to student teams across campus. Students pitched in either the Concept/Idea Track, where participants delivered a 90-second pitch on their idea for a chance to win $250-$500, or the Proof of Concept/Prototype/In-Market Track, where participants delivered a 4-minute business pitch and question and answer for a chance to win $1,000-$2,500.

Winning teams in the Concept Track were:

• Yuqian Di ’26 (School of Architecture), founder of ReBoot, won 1^st place ($500). ReBoot is a specialized on-campus service to save students’ winter boots from salt damage through professional restoration, extending the lifespan of expensive footwear.
• Yuxin Chen ’26 (School of Architecture), founder of PlateMap, placed 2^nd and was awarded $250. PlateMap is a visual meal-mapping system that eliminates decision fatigue by aligning food planning with a user’s actual schedule to make healthy, cost-effective eating effortless.

Winning teams in the In-Market Track were:

• Edouard Agbor G’26 (School of Information Studies), founder of GritGateway won 1^st place ($2500). is an ethical human-centered AI-powered global opportunity platform with active users across 20+ African countries that helps ambitious African students turn their life stories into verified profiles of grit, resilience and potential that universities can trust.
• Imaad Maqsood ’29 (College of Arts & Sciences), founder of Upstate Pressure won 2^nd place ($1500). Upstate Pressure is a residential and commercial pressure washing service that restores and protects exterior surfaces such as concrete walkways, driveways, decks, siding, fences, patios and more.
• Dylan Bardsley ’26 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Clarity won 3^rd Place ($750). Clarity is a transparent, AI-powered platform that instantly gives students clear, hyper-personalized credit card recommendations.
• Naheem Cadiz III ’28 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Coveted won 4^th place ($250). Coveted is a mobile fashion marketplace app designed for independent and emerging clothing brands and the consumers who discover them.

, a program instructor at the and associate professor of entrepreneurship in the , has been named one of eight , providing national recognition for his role helping U.S. service members chart their own path from uniform to business ownership.

From the Korean Marine Corps to the Whitman School Classroom

Park’s path to the classroom began in uniform. He served as an officer in the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, where one of his most formative roles was as a liaison officer to the U.S. Marine Corps. “I loved working side-by-side with U.S. Marines, and that experience gave me a lasting respect and affection for the U.S. military community,” Park says. “I feel fortunate that I can continue contributing in a way that supports service members and their families.”

After his military service, Park co-founded a high-tech startup before entering academia, giving him direct experience with both the challenges of transition and the realities of launching a business. “After leaving the military, I went through my own transition into entrepreneurship. It was exciting, but also uncertain, especially because at the time in Korea there wasn’t a robust transition assistance program like the one that exists here,” Park says. “I learned the hard way through trial and error, and I still remember how steep that learning curve can be.”

That experience now shapes how he teaches. Park joined the Whitman School faculty in 2017 and teaches Opportunity Recognition and Ideation, Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Strategic and Entrepreneurial Management. His teaching has earned multiple honors, including recognition by in 2022.

Helping Veterans and Military Spouses Shorten the Learning Curve

“I am passionate about helping service members, veterans and military spouses shorten the trial-and-error cycle, build confidence and move forward with practical tools and a clear roadmap to launch and grow successful ventures,” he says. “Being named SBA’s Boots to Business Instructor of the Year means a great deal to me because it reflects the privilege of supporting participants at a pivotal moment in their lives.”

“What makes David’s contribution to the IVMF, the Whitman School and Boots to Business so impactful is that he has lived the very journey he’s teaching,” says Mike Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation, executive dean of the Whitman School and founder and executive director of the IVMF.

“He served in uniform, navigated his own transition, co-founded a business and then chose to dedicate his career to preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. For the service members and military spouses sitting in his classroom, that credibility matters,” Haynie says. “David’s recognition by the SBA is well-deserved, and it speaks to the kind of impact that’s possible when world-class teaching and a genuine commitment to the military community come together.”

The recognition comes during a period of momentum for entrepreneurship education at Syracuse. In November 2025, the Princeton Review ranked Whitman’s graduate entrepreneurship programs No. 17 nationally, up seven spots from the previous year. Whitman’s undergraduate business program held at No. 11 in the country.

“Professor David Park’s exceptional work with Íř±¬ĂĹ’s IVMF embodies the spirit of the Boots to Business program by transforming military experience into entrepreneurial success,” says Matt Coleman, SBA Atlantic Region administrator. “His dedication provides our veterans and military families with the vital tools and confidence needed to launch their next chapters after service in uniform.”

Park also credited his program manager, Brigid Purtell, for making everything seamless for instructors, which allows Park to focus on delivering the best possible workshop experience.

Park earned a Ph.D. from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, a master’s degree from Seoul National University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Seoul. He was honored alongside other recipients during a ceremony on Feb. 19.

About Boots to Business

The program, part of the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program, provides foundational entrepreneurship courses to service members, veterans and military spouses exploring business ownership. The IVMF serves as a key partner in delivering Boots to Business instruction, including to service members and military spouses stationed outside the continental United States.

The University’s (CCE) is ramping up this spring with new content creation initiatives, the introduction of a new academic minor and outreach events across the country, including a vibrant gathering in New York City that featured influential alumni in this dynamic space.

More than 80 people stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the Lubin House in New York as University leaders and students connected with alumni to preview what’s ahead for the center, which launched in the fall. Syracuse is the first university in the country to build a center dedicated to the growing creator economy.

Featured guests at the Jan. 22 event included Carly Shapiro ’18, co-founder of the media brand SisterSnacking and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and Roger Moore ’24, a director, visual effects artist and video editor with more than 1.2 million followers on TikTok.

They took part in a panel discussion that touched on topics like how they’ve navigated their careers as creators and entrepreneurs and how the CCE addresses prospective students’ evolving career interests. They are two of dozens of recent Syracuse graduates and current students already active in the creator economy space.

“There’s so many people—and I wish I started [creating] earlier, because you don’t realize how much of a community there is in Syracuse, how many other creators that are there that want to create,” said Moore, who goes by “Metronade” on social media. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in cinematography and film/video production from the .

Building a Hub for Creator-Driven Careers

Powered by podcasters, streamers, influencers and other creatives, the creator economy is reshaping how ideas, products and services are marketed and monetized. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Substack have emerged as engines of commerce and platforms for communication.

The Center for the Creator Economy is co-led by the and the . The initiative positions the University at the forefront of research, education and thought leadership within the rapidly expanding creator-driven economic landscape.

In January, a physical space opened for the center that serves as a dynamic hub for collaboration, learning and community. When complete, the space will feature flexible resources, including professional lighting and camera equipment, dedicated pods for audio recording and adaptable workspaces.

“If we can bring the excellence that exists in the business school, around entrepreneurship and business development, together with the expertise that resides in Newhouse on the creative side, on the production side, we could do something very, very special,” said , vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive dean of the Whitman School, during the panel discussion.

“That really is the differentiating aspect of what it is we’re trying to do here,” Haynie said.

3 New Initiatives; Trustee Support

During the Jan. 22 event, Haynie announced three upcoming initiatives:

• An academic minor on the creator economy, open to students from any school or college, anticipated to debut in fall 2026.
• An “Inside the Creator Economy” video series documenting students’ “micro-internships” and networking experiences with alumni.
• The “Creator Crew,” funded by Íř±¬ĂĹ life trustee Judith Greenberg Seinfeld ’56, H’25. The Creator Crew will produce content for students and by students that will tell the story of Íř±¬ĂĹ.

The center recently received support from University trustee Nomi Bergman G’24 and her husband, Neal Bergman ’81, who both graduated from Whitman. She said they were inspired to support the center because of how the initiative recognizes how the world of work and influence is changing.

“Syracuse is leaning into a reality students are already living in, where the ability to create content, tell stories and engage communities is not a side skill but a core one,” says Nomi Bergman, president of the Advance/Newhouse Investment Partnership.

“By giving students the tools to build audiences, create meaningful content, and think entrepreneurially, the center is helping prepare them not just for their first jobs, but for careers that will evolve alongside technology, culture and society,” she says.

The center also hosted a Feb. 5 event in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the  and Substack, with an event in Los Angeles planned for later this spring.

Shapiro, who majored in television, radio and film at Newhouse, applauded her alma mater for teaching students how to establish a career in the creator economy at the Jan. 22 event. Her advice for aspiring creators?

“It takes consistency,” she said. “Consistency in posting and finding a voice, but then it also takes finding a community online.”

Íř±¬ĂĹ is accepting through Wednesday, Jan. 28, for its I-Corps Regional Course for Startups, a month-long virtual program designed to help research-driven teams accelerate the commercialization of their tech innovations. The virtual course runs from Feb. 23 through March 25, and is targeted at teams affiliated with community-based incubators or innovation ecosystems.

Teams that want to collaborate with the University or other National Science Foundation I-Corps Northeast Interior Hub partner institutions or other regional universities are strongly encouraged to apply. This program is ideal for teams already working with university researchers in community-based or university-based incubators. University faculty and student researchers who are commercializing technology are encouraged to apply. Space is limited.

NSF I-Corps courses are designed for teams from academic institutions, research organizations and innovation hubs to empower researchers with the tools, skills and strategies needed to bring technological innovations to market. Eligible projects must be beyond the idea stage and can range from validated scientific discoveries to prototype or early manufacturing efforts.

Íř±¬ĂĹ’s program is part of the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps ecosystem, a nationally recognized network that helps researchers bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and real-world applications. Through hands-on activities, live virtual sessions and one-on-one mentoring, participants engage in intensive customer discovery, learning how to identify the strongest product–market fit for their technology or research project. Teams will test assumptions, refine their value propositions, assess the commercial potential of their technologies and receive feedback and guidance from NSF-trained instructors.

Participation in the program positions eligible teams for potential nomination to the national I-Corps Teams program and for NSF I-Corps lineage. It can also serve as a pathway to federal grant opportunities such as NSF SBIR/STTR, which provide up to $2 million in non-dilutive funding to help bring research-based innovations to market, as well as to private investment.

The Íř±¬ĂĹ–hosted course is offered through the Interior Northeast I-Corps Hub (IN I-Corps), funded by the NSF and led by Cornell University in collaboration with partner institutions including Dartmouth College, Rochester Institute of Technology, the University at Buffalo, Binghamton University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Rochester, the University of Vermont and West Virginia University. The NSF I-Corps program at Syracuse is led through a cross-campus collaboration by Íř±¬ĂĹ Libraries, the Whitman School of Management and the Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering (CASE).

Students transformed lived experience, empathy and emerging technology into inclusive solutions at the Innovation Showcase, hosted at Bird Library on Dec. 9.

The event marked the culmination of a semester-long interdisciplinary design course offered through the  School of Education’s Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education-, the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ and .

Open to undergraduate and graduate students across campus, including students with intellectual disability, the Intelligence++ program brings together teams to co-design products solutions to challenges that people with disabilities face in daily life.

The initiative, funded by the , encourages teams to learn universal design principles, conduct deep user research, learn the basic principles of entrepreneurship and deliver functional prototypes and pitch presentations by semester’s end.

Four student teams received enthusiastic feedback from judges across business, accessibility and technology sectors.

Detecting Dairy Allergens: Zero React

The first team, Zero React, asked: What if people with dairy allergies could eat without fear? Inspired by personal family experiences, the six-person team created a portable strip that detects dairy proteins, especially milk and casein, in everyday foods. Like a rapid test, users apply a food sample and get clear results in under a minute.

The students used 3D modeling and tools to build the prototype and developed branding, instructions and a go-to-market strategy. Extensive interviews, ranging from caregivers to allergists, identified their primary customer as parents of children with severe allergies, who constantly navigate hidden ingredients and unclear labels.

Zero React proposed multiple sales channels, including pharmacies and allergist offices, and emphasized fully accessible instructions and displays. Judges noted strong product-market fit and encouraged the team to move toward regulatory testing and commercialization.

Making Meal Planning Inclusive: Accessible Appetite

Accessible Appetite addressed a universal frustration: deciding what to eat. For neurodivergent individuals, the mental load of planning meals, managing nutrition and staying on budget can be exhausting.

Their application combines three tasks typically siloed in other apps, including recipes, grocery lists and nutrition, in one clean, accessible interface. Key features include:

• Smart Plate Builder for visual portioning
• Smart Substitutions tailored to sensory preferences
• Allergy Filters that automatically replace trigger foods
• Machine-Learning Suggestions personalized over time

A built-in chatbot provides step-by-step support. Judges noted the tool’s broad appeal and praised the inclusive design that could ease stress for many households.

Navigating Grocery Stores With Calm: Ease Cart

One the premise that bright lights, noise and crowded aisles can make grocery shopping overwhelming, Ease Cart set out to create a calmer experience.

Interviews revealed that sensory overload leads many students to avoid stores or rely solely on delivery. The two-person team developed a soothing navigation app that reduces time in high-stimulation environments. Lavender tones reinforce calming intent and features include:

• Minimal-distraction visual modes
• Audio read-aloud assistance
• Budget tracking and receipt organization
• Quick list templates for routine shopping

Judges applauded the team’s focus on a real barrier that can limit independence and noted that the design could benefit nearly anyone seeking a quicker, lower-stress trip to the store.

Phones for Emergencies Only: Every Second Counts

With more K–12 schools, now including those in New York state, banning student phones during the day to reduce distraction, a safety concern has emerged, What happens when a student needs immediate help?

Every Second Counts designed a solution that keeps students off their phones while preserving emergency access. Their VPN-based “emergency-only mode” automatically activates on school Wi-Fi, replacing apps with a single button to call for help.

The team consulted teachers, administrators, parents and students to understand implementation and concerns. The University’s Senior Vice President for Digital Transformation and Chief Digital Officer Jeff Rubin advised on technical feasibility. Judges encouraged the team to continue development as policies evolve.

A Program Designed for Impact

Throughout the showcase, judges emphasized how advanced the work felt, less like class projects and more like early-stage startups. That outcome reflects the program’s purpose, said Gianfranco Zaccai ’70, H’09, who founded and funded Intelligence++.

“That is exactly the vision of Intelligence++,” says Zaccai. “It is designed to empower students to design together, while exploring entrepreneurship as a tool for inclusion. The program invites students from engineering, design, business, communications, and the arts to collaborate, as it partners with stakeholders and community organizations to ensure that lived experience leads the process. Students learn how rigorous discovery leads to better products and how accessible design helps everyone.”

Attendees left impressed by the students’ creativity and professionalism. “These could be real companies solving real problems,” one attendee remarked. For students, and for the thousands of people who could benefit from their ideas, this showcase is just the beginning.

Story by Linda Dickerson Hartsock

Still searching for that perfect holiday gift? We’ve compiled a list of items with a Syracuse connection, many celebrating the entrepreneurial endeavors of University alumni. Whether you’re shopping for foodies, bookworms, sports fans or anyone in between, these Syracuse-connected businesses offer quality products with an Orange twist.

For Beverage Lovers

For the caffeine fiend on your list, consider scooping up a bag of , a collaboration between Rocket Cup Coffee and the Íř±¬ĂĹ Alumni Association. Another option: , founded by Alyza Bohbot James ’08, offering a selection of sustainably sourced specialty coffee.

For the 21-and-over crowd, many cocktail enthusiasts appreciate , created by Eric M. Tecosky ’91. The brand has become a staple for martini lovers and home bartenders looking to elevate their drink game.

Or, you can skip straight to the booze with , co-founded by Giancarlo Franco ’21, or the from Mano’s Wine, also a partnership with the Alumni Association.

For Foodies and Sweet Tooths

Syracuse entrepreneurs have conquered the condiment category, too. Consider —“a spicy sauce evolution of ketchup and mayo, each bottle handcrafted to perfection”—founded by Brian Nacht ’09. No Syracuse food lover’s pantry is complete without spicy hot tomato sauce and dipping oil, created by Karyn Korteling ’81.

makes shakshuka—the popular Mediterranean egg dish—simple enough for busy mornings. Founded by Natasha Brao ’22, G’24, the garlic, cumin and red pepper-spiced tomato sauce has won several innovation and entrepreneurship competitions on campus in recent years.

To reach elite gift-giver status, check out : a specialty retailer that bills itself as “bringing caviar to the people” with reasonable pricing and an accessible product line. It was co-founded by Christine LeMieux ’04 and is the first Black and female-owned caviar company with national distribution.

Sweet treats abound from Orange alumni: The Syracuse-based , owned by Ryan Novak ’11, offers whimsical desserts that are as fun to look at as they are to eat. , created by Melissa Ben-Ishay ’06, ships bite-sized cupcakes and other tantalizing treats nationwide.

For Neat Freaks

Organization enthusiasts will love , founded by Adam Fazackerley ’96 and his wife Amy, which make packing and cleanup effortless. The couple, who also co-chair the Libraries Advisory Board, have created products that transform how families and travelers stay organized.

Cleaning enthusiasts likely already know about , but they might not know it was created by Aaron Krause ’92. The smiling sponge has become a household name and makes a practical, cheerful gift.

For Fashionistas

Fans can show off their Orange pride with a throwback , available through the NIL Store. Celebrating our beloved mascot’s name, image and likeness (NIL) deal, signed earlier this year, it’s a fun way for fans to support Athletics and the mascot program. For more apparel ideas and other unique gifts, don’t forget about the .

For Book Lovers

Writers affiliated with Syracuse’s renowned creative writing program have several recent releases that just might please the readers on your list, including:

• “” by Mona Awad, Esther M. Larsen Faculty Fellow in the Humanities and assistant professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences
• “” by George Saunders G’88, professor of English, now available for pre-order with a Jan. 27 release date—perfect for someone on your list looking ahead to their first great read of 2026
• “,” a novel by Paula Saunders G’87, released this summer
• “” by Lily King G’95, released this fall

For readers of all ages, check out , co-founded by Carolyn Danckaert G’07 and Aaron Smith G’07. It offers books and products celebrating strong female role models.

Shop With Purpose

The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) maintains a featuring military-owned businesses, many of whom are graduates of IVMF programs, offering another avenue to support entrepreneurs with Syracuse connections while honoring those who have served.

Note: To ensure arrival by a specific date, be sure to check individual websites for more information on shipping timeframes.

When Angelo (A.J.) Damiano ’18 came up with the idea for PowerSpike—an influencer platform that connects gamers with potential sponsorship opportunities—as a first-year student, he had no idea his venture would one day grow into a company with more than $5 million in annual revenue.

But after “learning everything there was to launch a business” from the , the University’s hub for innovation and entrepreneurship on campus, that’s exactly what happened to Damiano.

“The LaunchPad gives so many students the skills necessary to go out and build very successful businesses,” says Damiano, who earned bachelor’s degrees in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises and marketing management from the . “What was so magical was that we all helped each other learn from what was working with our business and what was not and then use that knowledge to develop our business.”

Damiano’s journey from Lawrinson Hall to a $5 million company exemplifies what the LaunchPad has accomplished since opening 10 years ago.

Located on Bird Library’s first floor, the incubator has helped:

• 7,600 innovators from more than 135 countries,
• launch more than 2,300 venture ideas,
• raise more than $164 million in funds and
• incorporate 220 ventures.

The University community celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the LaunchPad on Oct. 16, with Dean of Libraries and University Librarian David Seaman praising an innovative and dynamic space that enhances the student experience on campus.

“This is truly a cross-campus, centrally located, collaborative and interdisciplinary space for our students to develop and launch innovative ventures and to thrive,” Seaman said during the celebration.

Unwavering Support and Mentorship

The LaunchPad helped Damiano develop his product pitch skills, secure funding through campuswide competitions and foster strong on-campus mentorship relationships.

Damiano learned valuable business lessons from Linda Dickerson Hartsock, LaunchPad’s first executive director, and from serial entrepreneurs like Sean Branagan, founder of the Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship, and John Liddy, creator of the Student Sandbox, an accelerator that helped students create businesses.

In 2022, Damiano sold PowerSpike to Live Current Media, and now he is co-founder and chief product officer of the social media automation platform, ScrollMark.

“We started from absolutely no experience and grew because of our involvement with this really awesome place called the LaunchPad, which gave us unwavering mentor support and assistance,” says Damiano, who was one of the University’s first entrepreneurs to be accepted into the prestigious Techstars program.

“The community within the LaunchPad gave us the business training, connections and strong foundation to build our companies and go full-time once we graduated.”

Collaborative Entrepreneurial Hub

Students from every school and college on campus are invited to take part in the LaunchPad’s more than 200 different offerings, ranging from classes, workshops and business presentations to networking opportunities with alumni entrepreneurs and peer mentorship with the program’s approximately 16 student staff members, says LaunchPad Director Traci Geisler ’90.

This includes more than a dozen different funding opportunities each academic year for student entrepreneurs to cover the early-stage startup expenses, she says.

“We have LaunchPad entrepreneurs who are generating revenue by their sophomore year in college, students who are closing seven-figure investment rounds and founders who are hiring full-time employees before they graduate,” Geisler says.

“Whether you possess a business idea or are already revenue generating, all are welcome at this collaborative space. There is endless potential here,” she says.

Founders Circle Alumni Prioritize Giving Back

The LaunchPad also connects students to the University’s global network of Founders Circle alumni—graduates who launched or led ventures while contributing to the LaunchPad’s development as students.

These alumni support aspiring entrepreneurs through mentorship, advising, judging competitions and donating prize money.

Class of 2025 member Waqar Hussain G’25 founded Iconnic.Cloud, a cloud hosting platform engineered with proprietary software that creates customized solutions. Hussain’s company won first place at the annual ’Cuse Tank entrepreneurial event two years in a row, part of more than $60,000 in annual grants and awards won through pitch competitions.

“LaunchPad helped me tremendously, not only in acquiring funding for my startup, but also by connecting me with alumni and businesspeople who helped me make Iconnic.Cloud what it is today,” says Hussain, who earned a master of business administration degree from the Whitman School.

While on campus, Motolani Oladitan ’24 found herself struggling to access the proper skincare and wellness products tailored to her needs. She wanted to make those products more widely available, so she founded Tà Beautie (Latita Wellness LLC), a virtual marketplace connecting African beauty and wellness brands to global markets.

As she pursues a master’s degree in integrated innovation for products and services at Carnegie Mellon University, Oladitan says her experiences with the LaunchPad served as a steppingstone to her passion for skincare innovation for underrepresented consumers.

“The LaunchPad was the incubator for my career, allowing me to learn all about entrepreneurship and figure out how I want to make a career out of social entrepreneurship, because helping people is really important to me,” says Oladitan, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the .

The Libraries’ Blackstone LaunchPad (LaunchPad) held its annual Impact Prize competition on Nov. 19 at Bird Library, commemorating Global Entrepreneurship Week. Seven student startup companies were awarded a total of $15,000 in cash prizes for ventures that create meaningful change.

The event featured a keynote from Carl Schramm, University Professor in the School of Information Studies and an internationally recognized leader in entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth.  An economist, serial entrepreneur and author of the book “Burn the Business Plan: What Great Entrepreneurs Really Do,” Schramm was named  “the evangelist of entrepreneurship” by The Economist.

This year’s winners are:

• First place ($5,000): Haley Greene ’26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), founder of Miirror, a free, peer-led digital platform providing inclusive eating-disorder recovery support and crisis tools, making treatment accessible for underserved communities.
• Second place (tie) ($4,000): Dylan Bardsley ’26 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Clarity, an AI-powered credit card discovery tool that gives students personalized, unbiased recommendations to avoid debt and build credit.
• Second place (tie) ($4,000): Jacob Kaplan ’28 (School of Information Studies), founder of The OtherGlasses, adjustable prescription glasses using tunable liquid-crystal lenses that fit normal frames, allowing real-time vision changes without multiple pairs.
• Runner up ($500): Carolina Aguayo-Pla ’27 (School of Information Studies/Whitman School), founder of Frutecho, a modular cooling retrofit for non-refrigerated trucks that reduces produce spoilage and helps small farmers access premium markets.
• Runner up ($500): Ava Lubkemann ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), founder of Revamped, a mobile thrift and textile-recovery model that collects, refurbishes and resells donated clothing to cut waste and expand affordable access.
• Runner up ($500): Rajdeep Chatterjee G’26 (Whitman School), founder of TradeBridge, a blue-collar ed-tech platform offering mobile-first vocational training, integrated tool purchasing and job placement.
•  Runner up ($500): Samantha Kurland ’26 (Newhouse School), founder of AcellsĂ©, a high-fashion brand using medical cell imagery to create ethical, purpose-driven apparel that funds medical research.

During this year’s competition, the LaunchPad pilot tested new accessibility technology from Sign-Speak, a local upstate New York startup, which provided real-time American Sign Language translation during the competition.

This year’s 2025 Impact Prize competition judging panel included  Suli Abdul Sabor, fashion designer and owner of By Suli; Lee Carman, chief commercial banking officer for Broadview Federal Credit Union; Corinne Sartori, Libraries’ inclusion and accessibility specialist; Alice Maggiore, media strategist at Strategic Communications LLC;  Ibou Ithior, senior HIV prevention technical advisor at PATH; Meghan Durso, senior human capital manager at TDO; Janice Harvey, founder of JJR Strategies LLC; Emad Rahim, CenterState CEO Syracuse Surge entrepreneurship manager; Hailee Greene, chief everything officer at Green Acres Processing; Peter Wohl, chief performance officer at Broadview Federal Credit Union; Rina Corigliano-Hart, director of client engagement and outreach at OneGroup; and Vicente Cuevas, program coordinator at the Lerner Center in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Story by Sawyer Tardie ’27, Whitman School

The Martin J. Whitman School of Management’s graduate business programs moved up to No. 17 from No. 24 this year in , while Whitman remained a strong

Maria Minniti, Bantle Chair of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy and chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises (EEE) at the Whitman School, says, “This rise in the rankings is proof positive of the Whitman School’s continuing commitment to providing innovative programs in entrepreneurship at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Our success has been supported by the entrepreneurial spirit that runs throughout the entire university. This significant upward movement, especially in the graduate rankings, emphasizes the professional value our programs bring to our students and their companies. It is the result of the hard work and commitment of the Whitman School’s leadership, faculty and students, and we are proud to be acknowledged for this level of success.”

“These rankings validate what we see every day in our classrooms, business hatchery, and through our experiential programs: students who are eager to tackle real problems and faculty who are deeply committed to helping them do it,” says John Torrens, deputy department chair and professor of entrepreneurial practice. “From our pitch competitions and business plan challenges to the mentoring students receive from successful alumni, Whitman’s entrepreneurship programs are intentionally designed to turn ideas into viable, sustainable ventures. It is gratifying to see The Princeton Review recognize the strength of this ecosystem and the impact our graduates are having as entrepreneurs and innovators.”

The rankings are based on data collection that considers 40 points about schools’ entrepreneurship programs, faculties, students and alumni.

The Princeton Review conducted the data collection between June and August 2025 with administrators at nearly 300 schools.

“The colleges and universities that made our lists for 2026 are truly exceptional,” says , The Princeton Review’s editor in chief. “Their entrepreneurship studies programs have robust experiential components. Their faculties are outstanding. Their students have access to extraordinary mentors and networking contacts that will serve them well into their careers. We strongly recommend these schools to students aspiring to become entrepreneurs.”

For more information, visit the Whitman or the .

The University the recipients of the Fall 2025 Orange Innovation Fund, a competitive grant program that fuels early-stage ideas developed by student entrepreneurs. The fund supports innovative projects across campus that demonstrate strong potential to commercialize research.

The fund, administered through the University Libraries, is designed to help student founders move their ventures from concept to prototype on the path to commercialization. The grants range up to $5,000 and enable recipients to build MVPs (minimum viable products), test ideas with real users and validate market potential. Since its inception, the fund has helped dozens of student teams advance toward competitive accelerators, patent filings and commercial launches.

Winners were selected by reviewers from across the campus innovation ecosystem, along with alumni who are successful founders and industry experts.

The Fall 2025 recipients are the following:

• Gabi Josefson ’28 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications) and Mitchell Breakstone ’28 (Whitman School ) received funding for EXCHKR, a platform that simplifies how clubs, sports teams and Greek organizations manage payments and track budgets. EXCHKR’s team will use this grant to develop the platform’s full MVP, integrating Stripe and Plaid for secure payments and real-time dashboards.
• Jack Venerus ’27 (School of Information Studies) received support for WingStat, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that makes aircraft sales data more accessible for brokers. The Orange Innovation Fund will help WingStat build its MVP and launch a beta test with aircraft brokers nationwide.
• Trey Augliano ’27 (Whitman School) was selected for Utopia Beauty, a retail startup exclusively curating science-backed beauty products. Funding will support the creation of a proprietary tool that grades beauty products using the company’s Lab Protocol, integrating AI and customer testing to refine results before launch.
• Haley Greene ’26 (Newhouse School) received support for Miirror, a nonprofit digital platform addressing the urgent gap in accessible support for the 30 million Americans who struggle with eating disorders. Greene’s grant will fund backend development, accessibility certification and an 8- to 12-week campus pilot to assess user engagement and mental health outcomes.
• Ronan Hussar ’26 (Whitman School) was awarded funding for MacroFlow, which allows users to automate Excel tasks using simple language instead of code. The grant will support secure software development and beta testing with 25 early users.
• Jacob Kaplan ’28 (School of Information Studies) was awarded funding for The OtherGlasses, the world’s first adaptive eyewear that automatically adjusts to users’ changing vision throughout the day. Grant funds will help build a functional prototype using liquid crystal lenses and develop a companion app for real-time adjustment testing.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support of Syracuse’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and excited to receive this grant as we prepare to launch EXCHKR,” Josefson says. “This funding will help us accelerate development and bring a much-needed financial management solution to student organizations nationwide.”

“Being selected for this award could not have come at a better time,” says Hussar. “The grant will take MacroFlow from an MVP to a market-ready product at a point where every dollar truly matters. Being selected also means that judges believe in my idea. That support motivates me to keep building.”

“Winning the Orange Innovation Fund award is incredibly meaningful,” says Venerus. “It gives us the momentum to finish our MVP and get WingStat market-ready, and it’s validating to know others see the impact and potential in what we’re building.”

“I’m very grateful to receive this award,” says Augliano. “I want to thank Orange Innovation team for recognizing the value that Utopia brings to the beauty industry. With this award, I will be able to build out the infrastructure for our product grading tool.”

“Being selected for the Orange Innovation Award tells me that people believe not only in Miirror, but in the future we’re trying to build, one where access to help is a right, not a luxury,” says Greene. “This grant, and every bit of support, moves us closer to turning something painful into something that gives others access to care and helps them feel less alone, which is all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

“These students represent the creativity, technical skill and drive that define Syracuse’s innovation community,” says David Seaman, dean of University Libraries. “The Orange Innovation Fund helps student founders take the important steps to move from idea to reality and achieve important milestones along their product development roadmap.”

The Orange Innovation Fund was supported through a leadership gift from University trustee Raj-Ann Gill. Through programs like the Orange Innovation Fund, the University continues to strengthen its reputation as a leading national hub for student innovation, supporting entrepreneurs who blend creativity, technology and purpose to make real-world impact.

Energized by creator and journalist Jon Youshaei’s engaging remarks, a vibrant celebration marked the launch of the (CCE)—the groundbreaking initiative reinforces the University’s commitment to bold, forward-thinking academic leadership.

More than 250 people attended the Nov. 12 evening event at Flaum Grand Hall at the Whitman School of Management, including students, alumni, University leadership, faculty, staff and campus visitors. The first academic center of its kind on a U.S. college campus, the Center for the Creator Economy is led jointly by the Whitman School and the Newhouse School of Public Communications.

The center pioneers a bold new approach to higher education, equipping students with the combined power of the legendary media and creative expertise at Newhouse and world-class business acumen at Whitman to help thrive in the rapidly expanding creator-driven economy.

“Íř±¬ĂĹ is positioning itself to not only keep pace but lead what has become a more than $500-billion global force impacting every industry,” said Mike Haynie, University vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and Whitman’s executive dean.

“This is changing how we value creativity in commerce and entrepreneurship as a form of art,” Haynie said. “It’s not just another program but a commitment to foster the creativity and intellect that fuel careers, movements and moments of an evolving industry.”

The creator economy is a fast-growing sector where individuals build careers by producing and monetizing content across digital platforms, such asYouTube, TikTok, Substack and Twitch. It is reshaping how media is produced and consumed.

With programming designed to reflect how students are currently creating—and earning—on their own digital platforms, the CCE will offer a curriculum focused on creator strategy, digital branding, content monetization, entrepreneurship and more.

“The Center for the Creator Economy reinforces Íř±¬ĂĹ’s commitment to stay on the cutting edge of industry trends to make sure that our graduates are ready to lead,” said Mark Lodato, dean of the Newhouse School.

“What we want to do is take students where they are at Newhouse and give them a better appreciation of the business side, and conversely for Whitman students studying business, provide an understanding of what the communication and creation side looks like,” he said.

However, classes and other programming connected to the center will be accessible to students from across campus. While led by Whitman and Newhouse, the center’s reach extends across campus through collaborations with the Falk College of Sport, where student-athletes will level up their personal branding game and maximize Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, and partnerships with the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Students will gain real-world insights through workshops and events featuring accomplished alumni and industry trailblazers who are defining what it means to be a creator today. Strategic partnerships with leading platforms, agencies and companies actively shaping the future of media and commerce will create a powerhouse ecosystem designed to launch the next generation of creator entrepreneurs.

“The creator economy provides some unique business challenges, like how do you commercialize content? How do you protect intellectual property? How do you professionalize people’s passion projects?” said Alex McKelvie, interim dean of the Whitman School.

“We’re responding to student interests and showing them we’re committed to this area where Syracuse is, once again, a thought leader,” McKelvie said.

Popular Content Creator Cracks the Code

In his keynote speech, Youshaei, a digital and social media expert, journalist and content creator, drew from his career experience and popularity that has helped him gain social media traction since his first post in 2009.

Today, he has more than 1 million followers across various social media platforms and more than 300 million views on one of YouTube’s fastest growing channels. Youshaei is one of a few creators to work inside both YouTube and Instagram. He has been featured in Business Insider, Time and Inc. Magazine for “cracking the code to going viral,” while TED called him the “Oprah of YouTube.”

One tip shared by Youshaei demonstrates how even superstars like Beyoncé often reference music, dance and other art forms from niche or forgotten places.

“In the heart of any great creator is a blend from many different sources,” he said, showing comparisons to a 1969 Bob Fosse dance in Beyoncé’s iconic “All the Single Ladies” music video as an example of creative inspiration done with originality. “People have accused her of taking other’s ideas, but she’s not about copy and paste. She’s about copy with taste! And that’s what has kept her relevant for so many years.”

Youshaei answered questions from students, encouraging them to take chances and not feel pressure to find perfectionism in the creator space.

“Perfectionism is really procrastination in disguise,” he said. “Don’t hold back.”

The day after the launch night. The University held its inaugural ’CUSE Creator Con—a full-day immersion into the creator economy, featuring dynamic talks and panel discussions with student and alumni content creators and industry experts.

The workshops drew students, faculty and staff, all eager for insights, and delivered exactly what they came for: fresh perspectives, real-world strategies and a glimpse into the creator future.

For more information, visit the University’s .

(SyracuseCoE) has awarded funds to two startups through its 2025-26 Innovation Fund pitch competition.

°Őłó±đĚý is a seed fund supported through  memberships and offered to help companies overcome research and development barriers to commercialization, leveraging the support of SyracuseCoE-affiliated universities, faculty and students. Projects must address a challenge within SyracuseCoE’s broad core focus areas of healthy and efficient buildings, clean energy and resilient, low-carbon communities.

Two startups in SyracuseCoE’s Partner Program, Ěý˛ą˛Ô»ĺĚý, were selected to receive awards of $7,500 each for research and development projects.

KLAW Industries was awarded funding to study the chemical, mechanical and physical properties of utilizing windowpane waste glass in high-performance, low-carbon concrete. Based in Binghamton, New York, KLAW Industries diverts contaminated glass from the waste stream and repurposes it into a patent-pending material to replace cement in concrete mix. The company will work in partnership with Mohammad Uzzal Hossain at Department of Sustainable Resources Management.

PanLys was awarded funding to validate its Visible-Light Photocatalytic Oxidation (VL-PCO) technology for continuous microbial control in HVAC systems. Partnering with Íř±¬ĂĹ faculty, the startup will test coated filters and in-duct modules to measure microbial reduction, airflow performance and energy impact under U.S. building conditions. PanLys develops innovative technology that protects people from harmful microorganisms in high-traffic indoor spaces, such as hospitals, restaurants, research and development labs and offices.

Innovation Fund pitches are evaluated by a group of external reviewers. SyracuseCoE gratefully acknowledges the panel of volunteer reviewers for lending their time and expertise, including Jim D’Agostino (TDO), Jeff Fuchsberg (Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering at Íř±¬ĂĹ), Indaria Jones (Couri Hatchery Business Incubator at the Whitman School of Management), John Lawyer (Íř±¬ĂĹ alumnus), and Tong Lin (SyracuseCoE).

“We are delighted to collaborate with companies to turn research into real-world impact,” says Bing Dong, Traugott Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and SyracuseCoE co-director. “Congratulations to KLAW Industries and PanLys!”

SyracuseCoE is New York State’s Center of Excellence for Environmental and Energy Systems. Support for the Innovation Fund is provided by members of the SyracuseCoE Partner Program. To date, the Innovation Fund has invested over $640,000 in more than 60 projects throughout New York State and beyond.

Eligibility for Innovation Fund awards is open to all current members of the . To learn more about joining the SyracuseCoE Partner Program, contact Tammy Rosanio at tlrosani@syr.edu.