ny business plan competition

New York Business Plan Competition

• Statewide NYBPC

Eligibility & Rules

• Regional Contest

Statewide Competition Overview

The New York Business Plan Competition is a venture creation and innovation competition that was established in 2009 to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship throughout New York’s colleges and universities. The 10 major regions of New York hold regional competitions prior to the finals:

• Capital Region
• Central New York
• North Country
• Mohawk Valley
• Finger Lakes
• Western New York
• Southern Tier
• New York City
• Long Island

The top teams from each of the regional zones will advance to the final statewide competition where the teams will go head-to-head for cash and in-kind prizes.

The University of Rochester is committed to providing inclusive experiences and equal access to programs and services. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please contact  [email protected] . In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.

• All applications must be submitted online. Part one of the application consists of the online form and will determine your eligibility.
• In part two, you will be required to upload a maximum 1-page PDF executive summary,  a slide deck in PPTX format, and a 6-8 minute video.
• Teams must consist of graduate, undergraduate, and/or community college students enrolled part- or full-time in a micro-credential, certificate, or degree program in accredited New York colleges and universities during the current academic year (defined as August – July). Students who graduate during the Fall semester are still eligible to compete in the competition during the Spring semester. All students are eligible, including exchange students.
• Presenter(s) must be eligible student(s) in all stages of the competition.
• Teams may compete in only one region per year and students may not participate on more than one team per year.
• Grand prize winning teams from previous NYBPC competitions are not eligible to compete again (they are encouraged to participate as speakers, mentors, volunteers, and judges!). Individual members of winning teams may return with new teams in subsequent years.
• Judges and regional organizers reserve the right to relocate entries into another category that fits the business idea.

For teams with incorporated ventures:

• Cumulative public and private capital raised may not exceed $100,000. (This does not include research funding that may have supported the development of the technology in an academic laboratory.)
• For business ventures that are incorporated, they must be majority student-owned (more than 50%). For teams that are unincorporated, the majority of contributions need to come from students, such that should an organization become incorporated, the organization would be majority student-owned.

Read the 2024 NYBPC Rulebook for a complete description of the eligibility and guidelines for the competition.

Regional Contest Overview

Currently enrolled eligible students from accredited New York colleges and universities in the Finger Lakes Region are encouraged to submit the online application around a student-born innovation that is designed for a currently unmet need. The Regional Contest and Statewide Final Competition do not require the submission of a full business plan. All applications must be submitted online.

After a Preliminary Judging round, selected regional contest semi-finalists will be invited to give a 6 to 8-minute presentation followed by 6 minutes of Q&A from a panel of regional judges.

The semi-finalist presentation round is a free event open to the public – teams are encouraged to invite friends, family, and faculty! The top two teams from each category (for a total of up to 12 teams from the Finger Lakes region) will be selected to participate in the Statewide Competition where they will compete against finalists from the other nine regions in New York. The judges reserve the right to select less than 12 teams from the Finger Lakes region based on the quality of the entries and presentations.

Statewide Competition finalists will be required to give a 6 to 8-minute presentation followed by 6 minutes of Q&A from a panel of statewide judges. Winners of the cash prizes will be announced on the day of the Statewide Competition.

Regional Sponsors

Interested in sponsoring the Finger Lakes Regional Contest? Contact Ain Center staff at [email protected] .

2024 Rulebook - View PDF

2023-24 judging rubric - view pdf, 2024 intro to the nybpc webinar (january 30th) register to attend, executive summary template #1 - view pdf, nybpc presentation suggestions - view slide deck, example presentations:, rhm innovations, inc. (2023 grand prize) - view video, photonect (2022 grand prize) - view video, step2,3 llc (2022 gryt health award) - view video, bio-spire (2022 1st place track winner) - view video.

Consider the following points (more guiding questions can also be found in the 2024 NYBPC Rulebook ).

• What is the structure of your company?
• What is your company’s key value proposition?
• What is your business model?
• Who is your competition?
• How is your venture sustainable?
• What market and market segments are you targeting?
• What are the key market barriers?
• Who are the specific customers that you are pursuing/will pursue?

Judges will evaluate:

• Market Opportunity
• Competitive Advantage
• Management Capability
• Financial Understanding
• Roadmap/Growth Strategy
• Sustainable Business Model
• More details on each of these categories can be found in the 2024 NYPBC Rulebook

Track Definition

On the application form, teams will be asked to select industry verticals that align with their business venture. Once their application is submitted, statewide organizers will assign each team to the appropriate track.

2023 New York Business Plan Competition

Grand Prize

• RHM Innovations Inc. – University at Buffalo and University of Rochester: Courtney Burris, Brandon Davis Burris

Health & Well Being

• First Place and Community Founder Award- RHM Innovations Inc. – University at Buffalo and University of Rochester: Courtney Burris, Brandon Davis Burris

Learn, Work & Play

• Third Place – CoPivot – Rochester Institute of Technology: Carolyn Spencer

2022 New York Business Plan Competition

• Photonect – University of Rochester: Juniyali Nauriyal and Sushant Kumar

Food & Ag Tech

• Second Place – Veggie Bites – SUNY Geneseo: Carly McGrath, Tiffany Min, Alec Wolfe, Justin Colleran
• First Place – BioSpire – University of Rochester: Tiana Salomon, Amanda Adams, Tracy Moyston, Anca Frasineau, Jingyi Yan

Products & Hardware

• First Place – Photonect –  University of Rochester: Juniyali Nauriyal and Sushant Kumar

Safety, Power & Mobility

• Third Place – LI Revive – Rochester Institute of Technology: Jacob Marinelli, Matthew Marinelli

Media, Art & Entertainment

• Second Place – SWIPS – Rochester Institute of Technology: Joseph Ruggieri, Christopher Schindelar, WeiBin Yang

Software & Services

• Third Place – J Docs – Rochester Institute of Technology: Jake Downie, Artem Goncharov, Isaac Prusky

2021 New York Business Plan Competition

Education & Well-Being

• Third Place – KaleidoscopeME – Rochester Institute of Technology: Liza Savage-Katz, Miki Mian, Ethan Hancock

MedTech & Life Sciences

• Second Place – WetWare Biosystems – University of Rochester: Andrew Kaseman, Bradley Smith
• Third Place – Yolo Shadow – University of Rochester: Yiyan Chen, Tianyue Wang

2020 New York Business Plan Competition

AgTech & Food Category

• Third Place – NextHops – Rochester Institute of Technology: Max Baron, Corey Reppert, Samuel Tillinghast

Consumer Products & Services Category

• Concept Stage Award – Scentablez – Rochester Institute of Technology: Samuel Oribamise, Namaqua Mills, Adama Cisse

Military & First Responder Category

• Second Place – WetWare BioSystems – University of Rochester: Andrew Kaseman, Bradley Smith
• MWBE Award – Emeritus Fire Gear – Hobart & William Smith Colleges: Nicole Wright

2019 New York Business Plan Competition

• Third Place – Ponic Hops – SUNY Geneseo: Jeff Calderon, Mary Higgins, Rebecca Hoppy, Dillon Szmala
• Concept Stage Award – Ponic Hops – SUNY Geneseo: Jeff Calderon, Mary Higgins, Rebecca Hoppy, Dillon Szmala

Energy & Environment Category

• Concept Stage Award – Zalara – SUNY Geneseo: Megan Avenia, Walter Dylag, Hilda Gomez, Auste Norvila, Alis Urena

Med-Tech & Well-Being Category

• First Place – Successful Heart Solutions – ($10,000 cash) University of Rochester: Vincent Constantino, Joseph Geiger, Yangyang Shao, Jonathan Yakubov
• Second Place – StrongBrain – ($2,500 cash) University of Rochester: Max Sims

2018 New York Business Plan Competition

Advanced Technology

• First Place – Volt-Air Technologies  – ($10,000 cash)  SUNY Geneseo: Raihan Hossain, Adam Malachowski, Rafael Ziotto, Jayesh Patil, Jacob Horowitz

IT & Software Category

• Third Place – ClockWyse – ($1,000 cash)  Rochester Institute of Technology: Tyler Krupicka, Ketan Reddy, Jeremiah Zucker

Social Entrepreneurship/Non-Profit Category

• First Place – Humans for Education – ($10,000 cash) University of Rochester: Daphne Pariser, Ninoshka Fernandes, Chadia Bedetse
• KeyBank MWBE Excellence Award – Hive Uni  Rochester Institute of Technology: Adolf Akuffo-Afful

2017 New York Business Plan Competition

NYSERDA Clean Technology Category

• Second Place – Verdimine – ($5,000 cash)  SUNY Geneseo: Christopher Callery, Christian D’Angelo, Franceska Hassanj, Austin Lamb, Caroline Wilson
• Third Place – Chalaza Technologies – ($1,500 cash) University of Rochester: Sean Humesky, Lei Liao, Kris Page, Brianna Rockwell
• Undergraduate Excellence Award – Team Meliora  University of Rochester: Edgar Alaniz, Carlos Yuki Gonzales, Ibrahim Muhammad, Omar Soufan
• Undergraduate Excellence Award – Gaia Rochester Institute of Technology: Brent Chase

Products Category

• First Place – OWA Haircare – ($10,000 cash)  Rochester Institute of Technology: Kailey Bradt
• Esprit de Corps Award –Budamundi Lifestyle  SUNY Geneseo: Callen Gross, Rachel Chou, Kevin Wright, Sarah Jane Phillips

Services Category

• First Place – IIID – ($10,000 cash)  Syracuse University and Rochester Institute of Technology
• Third Place – Artemis – ($1,500 cash) University of Rochester: Kat Cook, Fahria Omar, Sarah Spoto
• Undergraduate Excellence Award – StandUp Leadership  SUNY Geneseo: Brandon Gaylord, Molly Downey, Lauren Ladeairous, Colleen Steward, Sofia Villalon

2016 New York Business Plan Competition

Energy/Sustainability Category

• Second Place – Phoenix Pioneer Products – ($5,000 cash)  SUNY Geneseo: Joe Chapman, Joseph Potischman, Tyler Short, Ben Stanley
• Undergraduate Excellence Award – Hyper-Dry  SUNY Geneseo: Peter Borglum, Erica Kosmerl, Marcos Perez, Gabriel Ponce, Brian Rybak
• People’s Choice Award – Cargo Cabin – ($500 cash)  University of Rochester: Jason Bramwell, Andrew Heiligman, Jenae Pitts, Leketa Wesley

Nanotechnology/Advanced Technology

• Second Place – NullSpace VR – ($5,000 cash)  University of Rochester: Jordan Brooks, Lucian Copeland, Morgan Sinko
• Undergraduate Excellence Award – Ballhawk  SUNY Geneseo: Jessica Bourdage, Josh Fiegel, Jonathan Freedberg, Ryan Lantry

Products/Services Category

• Second Place – Wavio – ($5,000 cash)  Rochester Institute of Technology: Zachary Baltzer, Nicholas Lamb, Chrystal Schlenker, Greyson Watkins
• First Place – Oasis Foods – ($10,000 cash)  University at Rochester: Kat Cook, Fahria Omar, Sarah Spoto
• Undergraduate Excellence Award – Five North  SUNY Geneseo: Sydney Aspenleiter, Rebecca Caracciolo, Benjamin Conrad, Sean Delles, Kristen Melfi

2015 New York Business Plan Competition

Biotechnology/Healthcare Category

• First Place – TrainSmart – ($10,000 cash)  SUNY Geneseo: Logan Calvey, David Morris, Brett Turner, Susanna Huang
• Undergraduate Excellence Award – TerraPellets  SUNY Geneseo: Dominic Morell, Mizuki Arai, Ishtyaq Habib, Brandon Mark

Information Technology/Software Category

• Third Place – VISOWORLD – ($1,500 cash)  SUNY Geneseo: Luciano Scala, Scott Chauncey
• People’s Choice Award – CLambda – ($500 cash)  University of Rochester: Seth Reining, Anthony Yee, Xiangzhi Yu, Yang Zhao
• Undergraduate Excellence Award – Obiex  SUNY Geneseo: Sarah Ulrich, Karynil Perez, Andrei Poblaguev, Mauricio Carniero
• People’s Choice Award – QuickStix – ($500 cash)  Hobart and William Smith Colleges: Greg Hunt
• Esprit de Corps Award – Ashley Parrington Co.  SUNY Geneseo: Ashley Parrington, Cindy Cole, Nate Joseph, Megan Swartz
• Third Place – Cataract Innovations – ($1,500 cash)  University at Rochester: Brian Ayers, Eryn Fennig, Sarah Walters
• People’s Choice Award – The Rochester River Foundation – ($500 cash)  Hobart and William Smith Colleges: Jericsson Pichardo

2014 New York Business Plan Competition

• Ovitz – 2nd Place in Category Statewide Finals ($5,000 cash)  University of Rochester: Felix Kim, Samuel Steven, Pedro Vallejo-Ramirez, Len Zheleznyak
• SmartDialysis – Rookie of the Year Award Statewide Finals  University of Rochester: Li Deng, Steven Gillmer, Kenny Goodfellow, Christopher Wong, Aizhong Zhang, Bowei Zhang

Energy/Sustainability Category

• Plastofuel – Advanced from Regional Contest to Statewide Finals  Geneseo: Scott Chauncey, Matthew Dobjeleski, Michael Hartman, Carly Lauricella, Matthew Lawrence, Jon Owejan
• Precision Watercraft Enterprises – Advanced from Regional Contest to Statewide Finals  RIT: Mike Buffalin, Jordan Darling
• Skooloko – Advanced from Regional Contest to Statewide Finals  Geneseo: Toyese Adeyeye, Oyin Akindele, Madison Rittenhouse, Olivia Sluzar, Sewedo Whenu, Nathan Wilson
• TygerIndustries – Advanced from Regional Contest to Statewide Finals  RIT: Aleks Litynski, Jared Mistretta, Sophie Song
• Just Dangle Hockey – Crowd’s Pick Award Statewide Finals  St. John Fisher: Matthew Keeler, Nathan Woods
• VisoWorld – Advanced from Regional Contest to Statewide Finals  Geneseo: Casey McCormack, Michael Melohusky, Luciano Scala
• Batavia Loop Trail – Team Spirit Award Statewide Finals  Genesee Community College: Tara Beckens, Danielle Cannella, Richard DelPlato, Adrienne Payne, Maryssa Peirick
• Imagine Soap – 1st Place in Category Statewide Finals ($10,000 cash)  RIT: Rahul Gadre, Brendan Gordon

2013 New York Business Plan Competition

• TrakOR – 3rd Place in Category in Statewide Finals ($1,500 cash)  TrakOr is making a more accurate electronic tracking system to replace pencil and paper tracking systems for intravenous (IV) drugs. W. Spencer Klubben ’13, Ankit Medhekar ’13, Michael Nolan ’13, Sonja Page ’13, Matt Plakosh ’13, and Erin Schnellinger ’13
• Health Care Originals, LLC – Advanced from Regional Contest to Statewide Finals  Health Care Originals is developing a patent-pending app to keep track of asthma attacks and upload daily data for review. Prinson Dsouza ’14 (MS), Ran Gao ’13 (MS), ChenChen Qu ’13 (MS), and Sharon Samjitsingh ’13 (MS)
• MedThru ICT – Advanced from Regional Contest to Statewide Finals  MedThru ICT is developing an integrated scheduling and communication system that facilitates the processes involved in adding unforeseen medical procedures to a day’s schedule. Sarah Catheline ’13 (MS), Nirish Kafle ’14 (MS), Nick Lewandowsk ’13 (MS), and Alvin Lomibao ’09 (BS), ’13 (MS)

Nanotechnology/Advanced Technology Category

• SMP Microstamps – 2nd Place in Category in Statewide Finals ($5,000 cash)  SMP Microstamps had created an integrated platform for micro-contact printing applications with a stamp material with highly tunable surface properties. Megan DeWitt ’13 (MS), Andrew Durney ’16 (PhD), Will Finnie ’13 (MS), and Kwaku Owusu ’13 (MBA)
• Formation 3D – Advanced from Regional Contest to Statewide Finals  Formation 3D is making 3D printers accessible to home users. Alex Feiszli ’14, Eric Frank ’13, and Steven Trambert ’13
• Sound ExChange – 2nd Place in Category in Statewide Finals ($5,000 cash)  SoundExchange is developing alternative ways to listen to orchestral music. Emily Wozniak ’14 (MM)

Applications are now closed for 2024.

Twelve teams were chosen from the Finger Lakes Region to move onto the first round of the NYBPC State Finals. Three of those teams are from the University of Rochester! We look forward to learning who moves on to Round Two very soon.

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New York Business Plan Competition

• Course Schedule
• Academic Calendar

The New York Business Plan Competition is about building entrepreneurship skills and planning for creation. This is a non-degree co-curricular program on creating and planning a successful entrepreneurial business. The program aims to help you gain business acumen and flex your skills in taking steps toward a viable and prosperous enterprise.

About the Competition

We cultivate your interest in business and entrepreneurship. We offer a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. This is especially useful if you are a student looking to create your own business.

The New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) is New York’s intercollegiate entrepreneurship competition. Since 2010, it 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.

The regional semifinals are hosted by local partner colleges and universities in March and April. The top teams from each of the ten regions advance to the final round of the statewide competition. The winners will be selected by esteemed judges, including venture capitalists, angel investors, investment bankers, experienced entrepreneurs, and leaders from the business community.

How to Participate in the Competition

This is a non-credit bearing program (at no cost to the student, other than the purchase of a book as required reading) and cannot be taken in lieu of a credit-bearing course. This program is open to all Touro University system students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional).

Meetings will take place via emails and on Zoom at a mutually agreed time.

To receive a  badge/certificate  at the end of the program, you must:

• attend all scheduled sessions (allowed one absence),
• complete required readings/assignments,
• take part in weekly discussions on Canvas,
• present your business plan in a “Shark Tank” like setting on campus, and
• present your business plan at the NYBPC.

Registration

To register for this program or for additional questions, please contact Program Instructor and Facilitator Dr. Gavin R. Goldstein, Business Creation and Entrepreneurship Coordinator at  [email protected] .

Course Material

This course will use two (2) required text, and supplemental readings provided by the instructor.

• Go to textbookmedia.com . Register. It will take about 60 seconds.
• You will be taken to My Account. You will see “You currently have no books to view.”
• To find your book, click on Booklist. Locate the book and click on Pricing Details.
• You will have options for the format (sponsored e-book, online/offline, and three print formats). Read the descriptions and make your choice.
• Click on Add to Cart, then Checkout. Then you’ll see a page for Review Order. Once processed, e-book orders will be in My Account. Print orders may take up to seven business days, but you’ll have the online book immediately in My Account.
• An Introduction to Business

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New York StartUP! 2024 Business Plan Competition

Are you an entrepreneur looking for the chance to launch your business? Join the New York StartUP! 2024 Business Plan Competition! Turn your ideas into reality with access to Library resources, mentorship, and cash prizes between $7,500 and $15,000. Learn more below about the requirements of the competition and how you can get involved.  

Participation requirements, step 1: view the online orientation  .

View the online orientation for an overview of the competition including how it works, the requirements, and the timeline.  Click here for details.  

Step 2: Submit Your Entry Form

The competition entry period is now closed. You are welcome to attend any remaining workshops and access the resources.

Step 3: Attend Virtual Q&A Sessions

You must attend one session of all four StartUP! competition workshops.   

Step 4: Schedule a Virtual Consultation with a Business Librarian   

Business Center librarians can provide resources for marketing and industry research, sample business plans, and business service providers. You must schedule at least one consultation.  

Step 5: Meet with a Business Advisor

You must meet at least once with an expert business advisor to review your plan.  See a list of potential business advisors and the form to document your meetings.  

Step 6: Upload a PDF of Your Business Plan

Upload your completed plan to the competition site by September 18,  2024 at 11:59 PM. 

For any questions about the StartUP! Competition, please contact [email protected].

Eligibility

To be eligible for the StartUP! Competition cash prize:

• You must live in Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island.*
• Your business must be in Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island.
• All businesses must have ideas or business models in the start-up phase and have earned less than $10,000.

Click here to review the full rules and eligibility requirements of the competition.

• First Prize:  $15,000  
• Second Prize: $10,000
• Third Prize :  $7,500   

* Do you live in Brooklyn or Queens? We welcome all to participate in the competition and learn how to put a business plan together. However, only residents of Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island who start a business in one of these three boroughs are eligible to win a prize.

Similar competitions are available for residents of Brooklyn and Queens. The Brooklyn Public Library runs the Brooklyn PowerUP! Competition for Brooklyn residents. The Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) offers the StartUP! Competition for Queens residents.

Past Winners

Looking for inspiration for your business plan? Meet the past winners of the NY StartUP! Business Plan Competition !

The StartUp! Business Plan Competition is made possible by the generous support of the Wells Fargo Foundation. 

The TCO facilitates transfer of CUNY innovations to industry by nurturing collaboration between academia and industry, by championing sponsored research at various facilities within the University, by licensing of CUNY intellectual property to sponsors and other industry partners, and by supporting formation of new start-up companies. 

NYC Business Plan Competition Event Description

The New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) is an annual Statewide Competition featuring students/teams from all of New York. The NYBPC begins with 10 Regional Competitions. 

The NYC Innovation Hot Spot at CUNY hosted the 2021 and 2022 NYC Business Plan Competition. To learn more about upcoming competitions, please visit https://nybpc.org/

New York Business Plan Competition: Capital Region

• Academic Departments
• School of Business and Liberal Arts
• Business and Criminal Justice

The 12th Annual New York Business Plan Competition for the Capital Region will be hosted at Hudson Valley Community College on Friday, April 5, 2024.

Important Deadlines

• Team Application Due Date - March 1, 2024 Submit team information indicating interest in participating in the event on the  NYBPC website .
• Final Submission Due Date - March 31, 2024 Final submissions must include a brief company description, video pitch (8 minutes) and slide deck.

About the Competition

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.

The regional semifinals are hosted by local partner colleges and universities in March and April. The top teams from each of the ten regions advance to the final round of the statewide competition. The winners will be selected by esteemed judges, including venture capitalists, angel investors, investment bankers, experienced entrepreneurs and leaders from the business community.

Apply to Compete Sponsorship Opportunities

Friday, April 5, 2024 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Hudson Valley Community College Bulmer Telecommunications Center (BTC)

• 10 a.m. Team Registration and Breakfast BTC Meeting Rooms 1 - 3
• 10:30 a.m. Welcome: Ricky Thibodeau, Department Chair, Business & Criminal Justice Host: Dr. Tyler Kessel, Dean, Business & Liberal Arts Opening Remarks: Dr. Jonathan Ashdown, Executive Dean, HVCC North Campus BTC Meeting Rooms 1 - 3
• 10:45 a.m. Room Assignment Announcement/Logistics
• 11 a.m. Pitch and Q&A Track Sessions Safety, Power & Mobility: BTC Meeting Room 1 Health & Well-Being: BTC 206 Food & Agricultural Technology: BTC Meeting Room 1 Learn, Work, & Live: ADM 106 Product & Hardware: BTC Meeting Room 3 Software & Services: BTC Meeting Room 2
• 2:15 p.m. Judge Deliberation/Networking & Refreshments BTC Meeting Rooms 1 - 3
• 2:30 p.m. Individual Track Awards BTC Meeting Rooms 1 - 3
• 2:45 p.m. Capital Region Cup (1st Track Winners from each room presents) BTC Meeting Rooms 1 - 3
• 3:45 p.m. Judge Deliberation
• 4 p.m. Capital Cup Award Ceremony BTC Meeting Rooms 1 - 3

Nov. 17, 2023

• Capital District Regional Competition Information Session and Kickoff (virtual)

November 2023 - March 2024

• Teams develop ideas for products, services, etc.
• Work with mentors to refine pitch

Jan. 1, 2024

• Applications for the 2023-2024 NYBPC season will open Jan. 1, 2024 on the NYBPC website . Students will fill out the application and will be contacted by their regional organizers for next steps.

March 1, 2024

• NYBPC Application Deadline. If eligible, students will receive an invitation to participate with submission details by March 8, 2024.

March 31, 2024

• Final Submissions - Must be submitted by March 31, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.  Final submissions must include a brief company description, video pitch (8 minutes) and slide deck.

April 1 - 4, 2024

• Judges review of team submissions
• Students prepare for live pitch and Q&A

April 5, 2024

• Capital District Regional Competition Day at HVCC. Each team will present an eight-minute pitch and there will be six minutes allotted for Q&A.
• Final judging and announcement of winning regional teams

NYBPC Finals Competition - Three Rounds

• April 9, 2024 at midnight: Student deadline to submit materials for the state finals.
• April 10 - April 17, 2024: First round judges will review submissions.
• April 17, 2024: Judges will deliberate and choose the top teams from each track to move onto Round Two.
• April 25, 2024 in the Capital Region 9 a.m. -  noon: The top teams from each track will pitch live to judges. Pitches will be eight minutes and followed by six minutes of Q&A. Noon: Track winners announced live. The top team in each track will move on to the Grand Prize Finals.
• April 25, 2024 in the Capital Region Afternoon: The first place team from each track will pitch live for the NYBPC Grand Prize.
• Entrepreneurship is vital to support a thriving economy.
• Entrepreneurial skills are invaluable - including problem-solving, communication, economics, creativity, resilience, and accountability, regardless of students’ career paths.
• The intercollegiate competition platform is an important experiential anchor for students from all backgrounds and ventures of all types

The NYBPC’s mission has three parts:

• develop entrepreneurial mindsets and skills through experiential learning
• facilitate building personal networks between participants and the broader business community
• launch new ventures

The NYBPC consists of two levels of competition. Regional competitions are generally held in March/April in all ten regions across New York. The winners of these competitions move on to the statewide finals. All regional competitions follow this rulebook and scoring rubric, but format and timing of the regional competitions vary.

Students are assigned to one regional competition based on the location of their school. If the team has members in different regions, the first student listed is considered primary and the team will compete in the associated region.

All students fill out the NYBPC central application to begin. The application opens in January and can be found through the New York Business Plan Competition website . Check the website for the deadlines specific to each regional competition.

The teams finishing in first and second places within each track at regional competitions are invited to compete in the statewide final competition, provided the regional judges deem the teams prepared for statewide competition. All student competitors are invited to attend the finals to build their networks and knowledge of entrepreneurship. Finalists submit their pitch videos and slide decks approximately two weeks prior to the first round of the finals competition.

The NYBPC Final Competition has three parts:

• First Round: The first round of finals is held online in mid-April. Up to twenty teams in each of six tracks are judged asynchronously online over the course of several days, by business and industry professionals. The top teams advance to the next round.
• Track Winners: For the second round, the top teams in each track are invited to pitch live to a panel of judges, with live Q&A on April 25, 2024 in the Capital Region. The track winners are announced the same day.
• Grand Prize Finals: First place track winners are invited to compete for the NYBPC Grand Prize, live and in-person on April 25, 2024 in the Capital Region, as part of Upstate Capital’s Venture NY event. Timing and location details will be published on https://nybpc.org/ .

All students are invited to the NYBPC Finals event to cheer for their teammates, meet mentors, attend workshops and gain exposure to entrepreneurial resources from across New York. The in-person NYBPC Grand Prize pitch will be limited in attendance, but will be streamed online.

Each region is invited to send two teams per track. No alternate teams are invited to compete. Regional coordinators must email a list of winners and team contact information within 48 hours of the completion of their competition. Once those lists are received, eligible teams will receive instructions for submitting their final presentations.

• HVCC Libguides: Entrepreneurship
• New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC)
• NYBPC Presentation Suggestions: Slide Deck Template
• NYBPC 2024 Rulebook (PDF)
• NYBPC 2024 Judging Rubric (PDF)

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)
• Step2,3 LLC : Shannon Sincere Dawson, SUNY at Purchase College (2022 GRYT Health Award)

NYBPC Sponsors

We would like to thank the following for sponsoring this initiative: NOTE: listing last updated April 3, 2024

Lunch Sponsors

Partner Sponsors

• Hudson Valley Community College Student Senate

Friends of the Competition

Get in Touch

Rules & Eligibility

Rules and eligibility: new york startup 2024 business plan competition.

1. Entry Form

Competition entrants must complete an online entry form in the New York StartUP! 2024 Business Plan Competition site to enter the competition. (This competition will hereafter be known as “NY StartUP! 2024.”)

All NY StartUP! 2024 applicants, whether individuals or members of a team, must be 18 years of age or older to win a cash prize. Documentation may be required.

3. Location

The business proposed in the NY StartUP! 2024 entry form must operate in Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island.

4. Residency

All individual applicants and team members must be legal residents or U.S. citizens. All individual applicants and/or team leaders must have a legal residence in Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island. Documentation will be required of the finalists.

5. Start-Ups Only

All businesses must have ideas or business models in the start-up phase. Operating businesses that have earned more than $10,000 in revenue are not eligible to enter the competition.

6. For-Profit Businesses Only

NY StartUP! 2024 is a business plan competition for for-profit businesses. Non-profits are not eligible to enter.

7. Individual and Team Entry

NY StartUP! 2024 entrants may enter only once, either as an individual or as part of a team. If entering as a team, the team must appoint one individual as the team leader and main contact, and one other as the secondary contact. The team leader must be a resident of Manhattan, the Bronx, or Staten Island. The team leader's entry form must list all individuals on the team. 

8. Orientation

​​ All participants must attend an online Orientation Session. 

9.  Entry Form

​​​​​​​ Entry forms must be submitted on the NY StartUP! 2024 site no later than 11:59 PM on May 31, 2024.

10. Training Workshops

All eligible individual entrants and either the leader or secondary member of an eligible team are required to attend all four (4) virtual training workshops held from May 2024 through September 2024.

11. Meet with a Business Librarian

Each applicant must meet at least once with a business librarian during the competition. Click here to schedule a online consultation.

 12. Meet with a Business Advisor

Each applicant must meet at least once with a business advisor during the Competition. Click here for a  list of advisory groups .

13. Deadline

​​ Your Business Plan must be uploaded to the StartUP! Competition site no later than 11:59 PM on September 18, 2024.

14. Judging Criteria

Applicants must read and become familiar with the Judging Criteria and Elements of a Business Plan template.

15. Ineligibility

Employees or their family members from either The New York Public Library or Wells Fargo are not eligible to enter NY StartUP! 2024 either individually or as any part of a team.

16. Finalists

Finalists will be asked to provide their 2023 tax return and a New York State driver's license or New YOrk State non-driver ID card.

17. Disbursement of Funds

Prize money will be awarded to each winner following the end of the competition. The winning NY StartUP! 2024 entrants or teams will have sole responsibility for deciding how to allocate or otherwise use the prize proceeds. Please note that the awards are taxable and that The New York Public Library must have the winner’s Social Security number before a check can be issued.

18. Selection of Winner

All decisions of the judges are final.

19. Confidentiality

By the submission of your Business Plan, you understand and agree that a short description of your Business Plan will be considered a “public summary” of your plan and may be used in public documentation related to the competition. The Library will provide a copy of your business plan to competition staff and judges and will inform them that no additional copies are to be made. 

20. Disqualification

​​​ Violation of any one or multiple rules for eligibility will result in disqualification from NY StartUP! 2024 at any point.

Please Note: Interpretation and enforcement of these regulations are at the sole discretion of The New York Public Library and the decisions of the judges are final.

Questions about the StartUp! Competition?  Contact [email protected]

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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 .

For more details and to apply, visit the NY Business Plan Competition site.

NY Business Plan Competition

The NYBPC is the annual competition featuring the best teams from every region of New York since 2010. Each year, student teams compete for prize money and recognition across tracks including:

• energy & environment
• medtech & well-being
• military & first responder
• technology & entertainment
• food & agricultural technology

The NYBPC provides opportunities for students enrolled in colleges and universities across New York to gain entrepreneurial skills and compete on their ingenuity, first on campus, then in the region, and for top teams, the statewide finals.

• Over $150M+ economic impact including follow-on funding for over 100+ startups
• Hundreds of innovative solutions, including patented technologies

Address & Contact

https://www.capitalfoundation.org/nybpc

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NY StartUP! Past Competitions

2023 competition winners & finalists.

• First Place: Maria Silvestre and Jennifer Silvestre,  Nasir + Idie
• Second Place: Giana Quinterno and Sara Czworniak, Social Skills in Motion
• Third Place: Kevin Vittayarukskul and Shu Jie Zhang, HummingBio, Inc.

Honorable Mention & Finalists

• Honorable Mention: Kelli Lipson,  FLUF
• Honorable Mention: Richard Liriano and Reed Blee, The Alcove NY
• Finalist: Michelle Obine Galvin, Snaggletooth, Inc.
• Finalist: Alex Guillaume, APPAOLLO
• Finalist: John A. Marshall, NYC Borough Pass
• Finalist: Stephanie Rogers and Adrienne Walker, Menopause Pack
• Finalist: Osariemen Uwaifo, The Yani Experience

2022 Competition Winners

• First Place: Melanie Davis, Cutie Box
• Second Place:  Stephon Vaughns & Kaela Shelby,  Everchild 
• Honorable Mention - Terry Proctor - VIMooZ 
• Honorable Mention - Kelvin Estevez and Harrison Rodriguez - Café Cyclista
• Honorable Mention - Karen Heredia and Michael Braithwaite -Next Big Thing Consulting
• Finalist - Neyanel Vasquez-Garcia - La Joya Cosmetics LLC
• Finalist - Yvonne Liao - Yvonne Liao
• Finalist - Tameka Skipper - VELVET
• Finalist - Kelvin Estevez and Harrison Rodriguez - Café Cyclista  

2020 Competition Winners & Finalists

• First Place, Bank OZK Community Impact Award: La Shay B. Green, SoulBites
• Second Place:  Madelyn Scarpulla, New York Ninja Academy NYC
• Honorable Mention: Constance Barnes, The Bronx Learning Lounge
• Honorable Mention: Monica Mohan and Wendy Qiu, May’d Fit LLC
• Honorable Mention: Stacy McCoy Prime, Midnight Club
• Finalist: Courtney Stern, Park Watch
• Finalist: Sabrina Ortega, ZOA Health
• Finalist: Julia Kim, Cloudflow 
• Finalist: Christian Tirtasengadja and Aura Estrella, That Looks Good
• Finalist: Jacqueline Martoral and Javier Ceja, Myproperdeets

2019 Competition Winners & Finalists

• First Place:    Maurisa Westbury, Adirah Inc .
• Second Place: Leslie Raucher & Maegan White, Rescue Toolkit, LLC.
• Honorable Mention: Ashley M. Scott, The Happy Glow
• Honorable Mention: Stacy McCoy Prime, Upstream Design Lab, Inc.
• Finalist: Adrienne Walker & Stephanie Rogers, The Menopause Pack
• Finalist: Diane Tinsley, Kids Dance Revolution
• Finalist: Elona Bilovol, Cosmetics Manufacturing

2018 Competition Winners & Finalists

• First Place: Ken Moore, Kweer Cards Kweer Cards’ crafts unique greeting cards for the LGBTQ+ community. The growing line of high-quality greeting cards strives to capture the experiences and sentiments of a currently underserved market through inclusive and whimsical designs.  Read the press release .
• Honorable Mention: Josalyn Mayfield, Co.Co. ( Coffee & Cocktails)
• Honorable Mention: Pooja Khanna, Begin-to-Heal, LLC
• Finalist: Gladys Henriquez, Know My Rights Clothing Co. 
• Finalist: Kariyma-Hamilton, Defy Lingerie
• Finalist: Maureen Miller, Mo Possibilities Inc. 
• Finalist: Pamela Hawkins, Organic Love Beauty, LLC
• Finalist: Siu-Kwan Tsui, CyberGuardian
• Finalist: Steve Roberts, Mangi
• Finalist: Ventrice Lam, Classkite

View the finalists talking about their business plans.

2017 Competition Winners 

• First Place: Tara Holloway, All Things Fitness All Things Fitness is a lifestyle and social fitness company that emphasizes group engagement and accountability to promote healthier lifestyles and physical activity for communities with health and weight challenges.  
• Second Place: Alexandria Carroll, License to Drift License to Drift is a business cultivating a passionate community of travelers, influencers, and partners who are invested in helping you take your ideal trip.  
• Third Place: Noelle Minter, 3rd Wind Network Bronx-based 3rd Wind Network is an organization that supports the recently retired and helps them transition into their new lifestyle with classes and events focused on personal growth and social connection.

2016 Competition Winners & Finalists

• First Place: Patrick Connorton, Jason Pessel, and Andrew Betlyon, Reefill Inc.
• Second Place: Noelle Santos, The Lit Bar
• Third Place: Christina Clark, Manhattan Mushroom Company
• Jacqueline McCabe, Urby Lifestyle LLC
• Kellie Lipson, Spoonable Spirits
• Scott Pere, Cooked Cards & Comics, Inc.
• Evette Zayas, Food Sin Fronteras
• Carlos Vassallo, Newsbyte
• Michelle Galvin, Snaggletooth
• Aaron Laroc, SPEIDR, Inc.

Read the press release about the winners .

2015 Competition Winners & Finalists

• First Place: Jessica Spaulding, Harlem Chocolate Factory
• Second Place: Evelyn Vargas, Just Jazzy Cakes
• Third Place: Annie Etheridge, Field & Clover
• Mikahila Bloomfield, Fashion League, Inc.
• Natasha Green, WeIntervene

2014 Competition Winners & Finalists

• First Place: Lennard Camarillo and Arlene Lozano, Chicali R&B Concepts
• Second Place: Eleanor Luken and Mark Blackman, Harlem Independent Theater
• Third Place: Autumn Adeigbo, Makoko
• James Lowery and Phylline Loza, Snowdow
• Jemini Patel, Barcode5

Read the press release about the winners.

2013 Competition Winners and Finalists

• First Place: Steven Kaufman, Quikiks
• Second Place: Michael Frankel, HULEDET
• Third Place: Deborah Walker and Larry Liu, Pomegranate Lab
• Christie MacKinnon, Kicky's Kitchen, Inc.
• Caryn Neary, Popshops

2012 Competition Winners & Finalists

• First Place: Dwayne Samuel and Jason Funes, Curatio HCS Curatio HCS is a full-service home health care agency in the Bronx  
• Second Place: Bernice Mast and Richard J. Becker, Wheatless and Meatless Wheatless and Meatless is a line of gluten-free vegan burger mixes and meal starters  
• Third Place: Rina Mansukhani and Christi Helsel, iEvoke iEvoke is a plan to create a line of products that uses the powerful connection between scent and memory
• Jean-Pierre Adechi, Wheelie
• Monica Sharma and Kim Nguyen, Runway Exchange
• Case Carpenter
• Regina Clark  
• Precious L. Williams, Esq.
• Shaunte L. Williams 

Read the press release about the 2012 winners .

2011 Competition Winners & Finalists

• First Place: Denise Adusei, Peartree Preschool
• Second Place: Lillian Lee, The Grand Assembly
• Third Place: Davinder "Bobby" Singh, Kashpile
• Brian Foo, GiveLoop
• Jon Gray and Elizabeth Kim, Jon Gray International
• Dave Pulito, Fradius
• Devon Prioleau, Fresca Gourmet Market
• Taiwo Odunsi and Julia Maksimova, HY-Gear
• Danielle Schiffren, Schiffren LLC
• Melissa Haines, Where Is This Going?

Read the press release about the 2011 winners .

2010 Competition Winners & Finalists

• First Place: Jennifer Chu, Chu Shu
• Second Place: Carol Santiago, SafeSnack Vending, Inc.
• Third Place: Eileen Kim, Ann, Kim & You

Watch a video about 2010 winners .