LaunchPad Hosts 2026 Afropreneurship Celebration and Pitch Competition
Syracuse University Libraries’ LaunchPad is hosting its Annual Afropreneurship Celebration and Pitch Competition on Friday, February 6, 2026, from 12 to 4 pm in Bird Library’s Peter Graham Scholarly Commons (room 114). The event will include a panel discussion featuring Black Indigenous People of Color student and alumni entrepreneurs who will answer questions about their entrepreneurial experience and provide advice to attendees on how to grow their business. The discussion will be followed by a pitch competition for student teams across campus. Those interested can apply to pitch in either the Concept/Idea Track, where participants will deliver a 90-second pitch on their idea for a chance to win $250-$500, or Proof of Concept/Prototype/In Market Track, where participants will deliver a 4-minute business pitch and Question and Answer for a chance to win $1,000-$2,500. The entire event and competition are open to all Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF students to participate.
This year’s panelists/judges include:
- Neil Adams ’24, founder of a successful social media management business called Brand Launch Media that he built while an undergraduate working in the LaunchPad.
- Kofi Addai, founder of People in Action for Community Enhancement-Ghana. He also works as associate director for Bias Education and Response at Syracuse University.
- La'Kesa S Allen, a student conduct advisor in the Office of Community Standards at Syracuse University.
- Ousmane Diallo ’25, founder of Valotelli streetwear company and an Our Time Has Come scholar.
- ana gil, founder of ana gil Studios, specializing in video production, event planning consultation, corporate and personal branding headshots, high school senior portraits and event photography.
- Christie Jasmin ’16, G’17, social media strategist for Syracuse University’s Marketing and Communications unit.
- LS Jones, owner of LS Jones & Co, an event planning/production company. She also works at the University in the Center for International Services.
- Dr. Chantz Miles, an entrepreneur in residence and visiting assistant professor at St. John Fisher University.
- Ebony Pengel, owner of Unique Consults LLC, providing support in facilitation, documentation development, process implementation and business operations.
- Phahsa Ras, co-Founder of UMi, the world’s first Conscious Attention Economy, at the forefront of pioneering the new Phygital World, navigating this transition and creating economic opportunities for entrepreneurs of the future through the concept of data sovereignty.
- Amber Saint Joy, a case manager in Student Outreach and Support at Syracuse University.
- Ibou Thior, a Syracuse University parent and medical doctor with an MBA who works in health research and program implementation. He is currently working as senior technical adviser in the department of HIV/tuberculosis/viral hepatitis at PATH.