Winners of the 2025 'Cuse Tank Competition Announced

Sept. 29, 2025, 5 p.m.

students posing with giant checks
Winners of 2025 ‘Cuse Tank Competition. Photo by Lars Jendruschewitz

by Anthony Thomas ’24 (School of Information Studies) and Renée Kurie '26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and College of Arts and Sciences)

Syracuse University Libraries' Blackstone LaunchPad hosted its annual 'Cuse Tank entrepreneurial competition this past Friday, September 26, during Family Weekend in Bird Library. More than 50 student entrepreneur teams from various schools and colleges across campus participated in this "Shark-Tank" style business pitch to compete for $20,000 in cash prizes from parent donors.

The judges selected a first place and runner-up winner, followed by three honorable mention teams who walked away with cash prizes to help support their up-and-coming businesses. Winners can use the funds to help kick-start their innovative ideas as a whole or to further develop specific areas of their ventures.

First Place Winner:

W.W. Productions, founded by James Oliver Welch ’28 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) and Reid Willar ’28 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) won the first place prize of $10,000. W.W Productions is a film production company aimed at empowering the next generation of filmmakers who want a chance to have their short-film productions reach some of the world’s biggest stages. Their website provides a platform for students to submit their films which are screened for quality, packaged with other shorts of the same genre, and distributed to major production companies.

Runner-Up:

ReVamped, founded by Ava Ray Lubkemann ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), was the runner-up with $7,000 in cash prizes to help further fund her venture. ReVamped is a movement that has identified the ability to mobilize the collection of clothing and textile byproducts and then turn them into useful assets for underserved communities. ReVamped repurposes post-consumer textiles at no cost, refurbishes them and recirculates them through a resale network and fabric recycling mechanisms. ReVamped has hosted curated pop-up events selling surplus items at discounted rates to the Syracuse University and surrounding community, ensuring affordability and inclusive market access.

Honorable Mentions:

EmboldIN, founded by Nia Griffin ’28 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), earned an honorable mention as well as $1,000 in cash prize. EmboldIN is a Christian media company that helps people discover their worth in God through BOLDR (Bold, Original, Lucid, Deep, and Relatable) Christian media. Their devotional website, DevoTime, allows users to find scripture, submit prayer requests and shop an online store. In the future, EmboldIN plans to produce Christian pop, rock and genre-blending music at the rhythmic level of Doja Cat, Sabrina Carpenter and Michael Jackson, to help younger generations focus on God in a creative way.

Papex Inc., founded by Nicolas Courbage ’26 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), received an honorable mention and $1,000 in cash prizes. Papex is developing a digital platform and mobile application that will eliminate the need for physical, email or text receipts. Currently, the team has successfully developed an almost fully functional integration for the Clover Point of Sales system. Their business model aims to help vendors unlock new data from their customers, cut receipt costs and improve checkout speeds.

WashSentinel, founded by Luzceleste Delgadillo ’28 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), Andy Rivera ’28 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), Mikel Aizpurua ’28 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) and Peter Slabaugh ’28 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) received an honorable mention in the competition with $1,000 in cash prizes. WashSentinel is a washer/dryer security system designed with public laundry spaces in mind. Their device detects doors opening and sends a notification that lets you know that your laundry is being tampered with. WashSentinel is connected through QR codes and managed through an app for users to watch over their laundry from any distance. The target market for this product is public laundry spaces, including universities, apartment buildings and more.

The panel of judges consisted of University parents and affiliated family members, bringing real-world business and entrepreneurial expertise to evaluate the innovative student ventures. This year’s ’Cuse Tank judges included:

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