Chancellor Kent Syverud | Syracuse University
Chancellor Kent Syverud | Syracuse University
Syracuse University Libraries' Blackstone LaunchPad recently held its annual ’Cuse Tank competition, coinciding with Family Weekend on September 27 at Bird Library. Over 35 student teams from different schools and colleges participated in a business pitch event styled after the popular "Shark Tank" show, competing for $20,000 in cash prizes.
The judging panel comprised University parents and family members affiliated with Syracuse University. Two teams were awarded first place, each receiving $10,000, while two other teams were named as honorable mention runners-up.
Iconnic.Cloud, led by Waqar Hussain from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, secured first place for the second consecutive year. The company offers a fully managed cloud hosting platform designed with proprietary software to provide customized hosting solutions.
Phloat also claimed a first-place victory. This startup was founded by students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science who took part in the 2024 Invent@SU program. Team members Elijah Alexander, Joshua John Varkey, Malak Aljerari, and Nathan Thor Brekke developed a phone case that features a compact flotation device activated when a phone falls into deep water.
Gym-In was one of the runner-up teams. Founded by ECS students Alexander Hamza, Antonio Goncalves, Jack Friedman, and Armani Isonguyo through Invent@SU, Gym-In offers an app that shows real-time gym occupancy and equipment usage.
Papa Box shared runner-up honors as well. Co-founded by Aleks Djordjevic from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and Amos Kiplimo Bungei from the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Papa Box focuses on expanding battery-charging infrastructure using PAPA Boxes swapping stations in Kenyan transportation hubs.
This year's panel of judges included:
- Todd Arky: Executive Vice President at Sharebite and co-founder/CEO of TipOff Sports
- Anthony Campagiorni ’91: Vice President at Central Hudson Gas & Electric Company
- Melinda Dermody: Associate Dean of Academic Success at Syracuse University Libraries
- Melissa Gwilt ’15 G’22: Director of Budget and Administration at Syracuse University Libraries
- Corey Lieblein ’93: CEO of CP8 Capital
- Ajay Nagpal: President and COO at Millennium
- Alice Villafana: Retired
- Tonya Villafana: Global Franchise Head for Research and Development at AstraZeneca
- Mark Wassersug: Former COO at Intercontinental Exchange
Alerts Sign-up