LaunchPad Awards Spring 2026 Student Start-Up Fund Grant
Syracuse University Libraries’ LaunchPad has awarded a $1,000 Student Start-Up Fund grant for the Spring 2026 semester to GladysTastyMeals, LLC. GladysTastyMeals is co-founded by Schneider Joachim ’26 (School of Information Studies) and Sherly Joseph.
The company is the only authentic Haitian cuisine caterer in the Central New York community and has plans to introduce a Haitian food truck by the end of 2026. The business prepares home‑style dishes rooted in family recipes and strengthens local ties by partnering with food suppliers, commissary kitchens and cultural associations. With plans to expand its reach, Joachim said, “I’m so grateful to the Launchpad! Being awarded the Start-Up Fund has allowed me to strengthen my business and officially transition into an LLC."
Start-Up Fund Grants are awarded on a rolling basis to undergraduate and graduate students who need help moving an idea from concept to commercialization. Applications must specifically define the need for identified outcomes to be achieved within a set time. The fund is possible because of generous donors like Library Advisory Board members Jeffrey Rich ’67 and Yvonne Hyland.
Story by Subhin Park ’29 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)