Orange Innovation Fund Opens Spring 2026 Grant Applications
Syracuse University is now accepting applications to its Orange Innovation Fund for its Spring 2026 grant cycle, with submissions open from January 26 through February 27. Graduate and undergraduate innovators are encouraged to apply for funding to build prototypes or test projects to advance early-stage ideas with commercial, social impact or translational research potential.
The Orange Innovation Fund is a university-wide competitive internal grant program administered by Syracuse University Libraries. The fund provides grant awards to help move promising concepts from idea to impact by supporting prototype development that supports proof-of-concept, market validation and early commercialization milestones. Ideas must be past the idea stage and have identified a clear product development roadmap. Grants are designed to help de-risk innovations and position teams for external funding, partnerships, or advanced venture creation.
Submissions must clearly identify specific, tangible needs related to the product, service, technology or venture being developed and include a defined project with a clear timeline and outcomes related to the development of a working prototype and proof of concept. Applications must follow the official template and be submitted according to the program’s instructions. An interdisciplinary committee of faculty and alumni experts review applications.
Prospective applicants should email orangeinnovation@syr.edu to request an application template and schedule a one-on-one consultation to discuss their project scope and readiness.
The Orange Innovation Fund was initially funded by a gift to Syracuse University Libraries from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, a member of the University’s Board of Trustees and an operating partner at Silicon Valley Quad, an angel investing syndicate. The program is designed to provide funding up to $50,000 per academic year, with individual grants of up to $5,000 per award to help student innovators move toward commercialization.
Previous winners have included:
- Tosin Alabi G’25 (Whitman School of Management) for Diabetech
- Trey Augliano ’27 (Whitman School of Management) for Utopia Beauty
- Natasha Brao ’22 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), G’23, G’24 (Whitman School of Management) for Shooka
- Mitchell Breakstone ’28 (Whitman School of Management) for EXCHKR
- Nathan Brekke ’26 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), G’27 (Whitman School of Management) for Phloat
- Nicholas Courbage ’26 (Whitman School of Management) for PapeX
- Carolyn Fernandes ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) for SOLACE Collective
- Brianna Gillfillian ’24 G’25 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) for STEAMfluence
- Tony Goncalves ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) for GymIn
- Haley Greene ’26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications) for Miirror
- Ronan Hussar ’26 (Whitman School of Management) for MacroFlow
- Waqar Hussain G’25 (Whitman School of Management) for Iconnic.cloud
- Gabi Josefson ’28 (Whitman School of Management, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications) for EXCHKR
- Jacob Kaplan ’28 (School of Information Studies) for The Other Glasses
- Alex Levy ’25 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications) for Optimal Assessment
- Ava Lubkemann ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) for Revamped
- Dr. Cory Mitchell G’24 (Whitman School of Management) for EntreVita
- Thomas Monfort ’24 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) for Agora Labs
- Sam Schreiber ’25 (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs) for Optimal Assessment
- Angelo Niforatos G’25 (Whitman School of Management) for Niffy Drone Solutions, now Vigilare AI
- Aidan Turner ’25 (School of Architecture) for SOLACE Collective
- Joshua Varkey ’26 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) for Phloat
- Emeka Ossai G’25 (Whitman School of Management) for Campus Labs Nigeria
- Ashtha Singh G’24 (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs) for Step Ahead Tech
- Xheneta Sopjani G’24 (Whitman School of Management) for Revive
- Max Sulik ’23 G’24 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) for Vital Air Quality Sensor
- Jack Venerus ’27 (School of Information Studies) for WingStat
- Brielle Young (School of Information Studies) for Aggregate