Fall 2025 LaunchPad Competitions
Syracuse University Libraries’ LaunchPad announces its Fall 2025 lineup of competitions, where student entrepreneurs, founders, innovators and creatives have an opportunity to win prizes to support their endeavors. To participate in any of the LaunchPad competitions, the first step is to ‘Join the LaunchPad’ by signing up to receive our emails about upcoming opportunities. Joining the LaunchPad is free, easy and open to all members of the Syracuse University community. Following are Fall 2025 scheduled competitions (all competitions held in Bird Library, unless otherwise noted):
- Ideas Fest on Fri. Sept. 12, 12:30-3:30 pm: Pitch Your Idea in 90 Seconds for a chance to win $500! Ideas Fest is your chance to pitch your business, project or idea in just 90 seconds. No executive summary or pitch deck is required – just bring your idea and your passion. Online applications to participate are due by September 8.
- ’Cuse Tank on Fri. Sept. 26, 2-5pm: This Shark-Tank style business pitch is open to all student entrepreneurial teams, with judges comprised of Syracuse University family members and LaunchPad affiliates. Teams deliver a 4-minute pitch idea for a chance to win more than $10,000 in prizes. Online applications to participate are due by September 22.
- Orange Central Student Startup Showcase on Fri. Oct. 17, 11-2:00 pm: Students are invited to showcase their ventures and products with our Syracuse University alumni. Alumni are given fake ‘Cuse Cash to ‘invest’ in student start-ups. The top three student entrepreneurs receiving the most ‘Cuse Cash investments will receive cash prizes. Online applications to showcase are due by October 13.
- Halloween Freelance Small Business Competition on Fri. Oct. 31, 12-3:00 pm: Student entrepreneurs building a creative career, side hustle, providing consulting services or creating a product or service are invited to compete in the Halloween Freelance Small Business competition. Open to all undergraduate and graduate students, participants present their business, previous work and the unique value they bring to their product or service market for a chance to win cash and non-cash prizes. Online applications to participate are due by October 27.
- Impact Prize on Wed. Nov. 19, 12-3:00 pm: Open to Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF undergraduate and graduate students who are taking entrepreneurship courses at SU working on ventures with a social impact (such as energy, environment, employment, education and training, health and mental health, community and social networks, social inclusion, poverty and literacy, youth empowerment, food, sustainability, access, etc.) and ventures that support important public policy goals. Competitors will present a 4–5-minute presentation followed by Q&A from judges for a chance to win up to $15,000 in prizes. Online applications to participate are due by November 14.
LaunchPad staff and mentors are available to support student entrepreneurs, founders, innovators and creatives interested in participating in LaunchPad competitions. There are a number of scheduled workshops available in the LaunchPad around presentation skills, pitch preparation, business development ideas and other skill-building opportunities. For more information on competitions or how you can get involved with the LaunchPad, contact launchpad@syr.edu.