Syracuse SummerStart Accelerator Global Innovation Showcase
Summer is a great time to explore ideas and we were thrilled with the great ones that came out of our first ever virtual Syracuse University LaunchPad SummerStart Accelerator which recently wrapped up with a global Innovation Showcase. More than 25 teams from around the world enrolled in the program and the top 12 were selected to be part of the on-line demo day to alumni entrepreneur judges from around the world. SummerStart teams participated in weekly workshops and guest presentations by top entrepreneurs and subject matter experts, along with sessions with world class mentors from the Techstars network during the six-week accelerator program. It was an intense and exhilarating bootcamp that rapidly accelerated ideas along the development cycle. Judges were impressed by how much work the teams accomplished over the summer, and by the professionalism of their final pitches were. Here are the teams selected for the Innovation Showcase. We are excited to continue working with them this fall at the LaunchPad:
- Blended, founders Manvi Upadhyay and Sonia Hui Ting Wee: Youth-led non-profit dedicated to empowering the international community studying at Syracuse University to make informed decisions about their futures through connections in the domestic and global space.
- EcoBamboo Living, founder Justin Diaz: A sustainable company focused on architectural design of bamboo homes, and construction of beautiful, affordable bamboo homes.
- GeckStrips, Calvin S Atieku, Gecko inspired adhesive technology that improves the way you hang or attach whatever you need. “It’s never too heavy to hang”.
- Inkdustrial, founder Courtney S Jiggetts: A software platform that integrates all components of design and project management into one seamless program.
- OthersideAI, founder Miles Feldstein: AI powered software to change the way we write, offering incredibly intuitive, accurate and efficient solutions
- OurChosenName, founder Aley O’Mara: Provides pronouns, gender, and preferred name advisory consulting to companies looking to build and maintain a welcoming and inclusive working environment.
- ShaMoon, founder Nicolas Alexander Misita: ShaMoon gives visibility and connection to the creative community by offering high- quality branded clothing in connection to relevant original content.
- Snow School Productions, founder Connor Lawrence Johnson: A Syracuse University based production company that will connect the arts like never before. Producing short films and other content while promoting communication and collaboration between SU programs.
- Solace Vision, founders Alec O’Del and Shawn Gaetano: Helping people overcome debilitating phobias by the use of Virtual Reality, which improves their quality of life by gaining control of the phobia.
- SYMBTC, founder Marin Grillo: A software platform to create networks and mentor relationships.
- Tableau Media, founders Gabriela Holliman-Lopez and Hanna Seraji: An online magazine centering marginalized voices through art, creative writing, poetry, illustration, de-stigmatization of topics around mental health awareness, and other inter- disciplinary writings in humanities and social sciences.
- TravSolo, founder Chizoba Anyaoha: A digital platform for travelers and adventurers on solo journeys, who want to meet people, and stay safe – all the while sharing memories on-the-go.
Alumni judges and guest evaluators were instrumental in making the program such a success:
Jason Kuperberg, Silicon Valley based, Innovation Specialist and Teaching Fellow, Stanford University Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Lab, former winner of Syracuse University Impact Prize and campus Hult Prize winner, expertise in innovation design
Elizabeth Ruscitto, Boston and Silicon Valley based consultant, formerly Director of Developer Programs and Platform Integration at Leap Motion, and Director of Developer Relations for HubSpot, now focused on mission-driven, tech-enabled innovation
Kennedy Patlan, Washington DC based, U.S. Venture Operations, Ashoka (world’s leading change-making nonprofit) , formerly Assistant Campaign Manager at the Ad Council, advertising, marketing communications expertise, with a passion for impact entrepreneurship and diverse, inclusive voices and perspectives
Mike Lemp, New York State based, Product Manager at Hill-Rom (formerly Welch Allyn), formerly Product Manager and Sales, CONMED Corporation, Fulbright Scholar, expertise in product development, particularly within the medical and health sectors
Caleb Obiagwu, New York, London and Nigeria based, consultant and triple serial entrepreneur, founder of three computer science, engineering and software companies, skilled in tech development, rapid prototyping, creation of MVPs, strategy, talent and team building
Jeannine Rogers, Syracuse based, Program Manager at The Tech Garden, formerly co-founder/“creative jedi” at leading communications and design company, Williams Sonoma manager, expertise in program design, marketing, as well as business development
The 2019 – 2020 LaunchPad student team worked with the SummerStart Accelerator participants as coaches and organized “Mentor Madness” as part of the summer experience. They included: Alec Gillinder ’20, Claire Howard ’23, Emma Rothman ’21, Matt Shumer ’23, Patrick Prioletti G 21, Quinn King ’20, Sam Hollander ’22, Victoria Lawson ’20, Will DeVito ’20, David Fox ’19, Kesley Davis ’19 and G 20 and Emily Pearson ’21. We are so grateful for their work supporting the summer program, as well as the invaluable contributions they made to the startups across the Syracuse University campus during the entire 2019 – 2020 academic year in their roles as Rubin Family Innovation Mentors and Global Fellows.
Nick Barba ’20, co-ran the summer program in his new role as LaunchPad project manager as an independent contractor. Nick is a Whitman finance grad, long-time member of the LaunchPad, venture founder, University Scholar and Whitman Scholar, and was also a 2020 Blackstone – Techstars LaunchPad Summer Fellow. Nick was an incredible asset helping organize and manage the summer program, and we are so delighted that he will be continuing in his role as project manager as an independent contractor this academic year at the LaunchPad.