Applications Open for 2025 Orange Central Student Startup Showcase
by Renée Kurie '26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and College of Arts & Sciences)
Applications are open now for the Blackstone LaunchPad’s Orange Central Student Startup Showcase. The event will be held during Orange Central Alumni Weekend this Friday, October 17 from 11:30 – 2:30 pm in Bird Library. Students interested in showcasing their businesses and products as alumni and other guests invest “‘Cuse Cash” into their favorite ventures can email launchpad@syr.edu. The top 3 businesses to receive the most “‘Cuse Cash” funding will be awarded cash prizes. This event is designed to put early-stage funding into founders’ hands to help offset startup expenses as well as an opportunity to practice their elevator pitch and public speaking skills. The Orange Central Student Startup Showcase is open to all full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students at Syracuse University. Individual students or teams can promote ideas for products, services, technologies or creative ventures as either for-profit or nonprofit enterprises and can be conceptual ideas or go-to-market businesses.
Last year, $1,500 was awarded to Celes Buffard ’27 (School of Information Studies), founder of Return 2 Reality, an entertainment company focusing on a podcast for entrepreneurs around navigating and getting past the hurdles and challenges throughout the entrepreneurial journey. $1,000 was awarded to Olutosin (Tosin) Alabi G’25 (Whitman School of Management), founder of Diabetech, a med-tech venture for a diabetic foot ulcer wearable. Two $500 prizes were awarded to Alie Savane ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences), founder of Bete Kola, a health and wellness venture focusing on kola nut food and beverage products; and Mian Hamid ’26 (School of Information Studies), founder of Chai YEAH, a beverage venture offering authentic Indian chai tea to the U.S. market.
Last year’s participants used this event as an opportunity to pitch their business to investors, network with industry professionals, and invest prize money to develop specific areas of their ventures. If you want the chance to do the same, join us and share your most ambitious and creative entrepreneurial idea at the Student Showcase!