Syracuse Sun

Syracuse University is set to honor the achievements of its alumni entrepreneurs for the second consecutive year through the ’CUSE50 awards. This annual event recognizes 50 of the fastest-growing businesses founded or owned by Syracuse alumni. The inaugural honorees included a diverse range of business leaders, from a marketing agency CEO to a party rental company owner.

Applications for the ’CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Awards are currently open. "Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management is home to one of the first academic entrepreneurship programs in the U.S., and we have a longstanding tradition of supporting and elevating the entrepreneurial aspirations of our students," said Vice Chancellor Mike Haynie. "The ’CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur program is a natural extension of that tradition, and a unique opportunity to connect our alumni entrepreneurs with our current students and faculty."

Eligibility extends to alumni from any school or college within Syracuse University, graduates of its executive education programs, and alumni from entrepreneurship programs operated by the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families.

"Syracuse University alumni are doing extraordinary work all over the world, and I am thrilled that we are going to recognize the business acumen they developed at Syracuse. What I’m most excited about is that our honorees will return to campus to pass along valuable insights to the next generation of Orange entrepreneurs," stated Tracy Barlok, Syracuse University’s chief advancement officer.

Honorees will be celebrated on campus on Thursday, Nov. 14, at the National Veterans Resource Center in the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building. They will also participate in engagement sessions with current students during the ’CUSE50 Symposium on Friday, Nov. 15.

To compete for recognition in this year’s class of ’CUSE50 awardees, applicants must meet several criteria:

- Be an alumnus of Syracuse University and either a majority owner or hold a C-suite level leadership position in their company.

- Have founded their business at least three calendar years prior to applying.

- Have verifiable revenues of $100,000 or more in 2021 and $250,000 or more in 2023.

- Meet additional criteria related to leadership roles held by Syracuse University alumni within their company.

Furthermore, companies must operate with high integrity and align with Syracuse University's values by accepting responsibility for actions, upholding personal integrity standards, practicing equality in human relations, respecting laws and rights, and contributing positively to both Syracuse University and broader communities.

The deadline for applications is Sunday, July 14. More information about the awards can be found at cuse50.syr.edu.