Winners of LaunchPad’s 2026 Ideas Fest
Syracuse University Libraries’ LaunchPad, the University’s entrepreneurial hub, kicked off the Fall 2026 semester with its annual Ideas Fest pitch competition, held across five rooms in Bird Library on September 16, 2026. The event drew student entrepreneurs from various schools/colleges across campus, where they delivered a 90-second ‘elevator’ pitch to a panel of judges. Judges in each pitch room selected two winners, with the first-place winner receiving $500 and the runner-up receiving $250. Prizes provide early-stage funding for student founders to help offset startup expenses.
First Place 2026 students winners were:
- Yanira Johnson ’27, College of Professional Studies
- Samuel Benoit ’28, School of Information Studies
- Stephen Swope ’26, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
- Keni James ’28, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Imad Adam ’30, College of Arts and Sciences
2026 Runners-Up winners were:
- Evghenii Kiselev ’29, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Agbor Edouard Ransom ’27, School of Information Studies
- Taite Paradise ’29, College of Visual and Performing Arts
- Sunpaire Tagel ’30, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
- Yuila Ivanova G’27, Martin J. Whitman School of Management and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
The next LaunchPad pitch competition for freelancers, small businesses and creatives is scheduled to take place in Bird Library on Friday, October 2, 2026, from 12 pm to 3 pm. Students interested in pitching should complete the registration form by September 28.