Fast Pitch for Biz Plans 

School of Business Hosting Competition for Capital Region College Students

The event is sponsored by Innovate 518 and the UAlbany Innovation Center. Photo by Brian Busher.

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 20, 2018) – College students from around the region will compete in the Capital Region Collegiate Business Plan Competition on April 5.

The event, hosted by the University’s School of Business, will take place from 5-9 p.m. in the Massry Center for Business. Event sponsors include Innovate 518 and the UAlbany Innovation Center.

The competition is open to all enrolled undergraduate and graduate students from schools and colleges in the greater Capital District of New York, according to Robert Manasier, UAlbany’s entrepreneur in residence and new ventures manager.

“These competitions are great for experiential learning and skills development regardless of whether or not you start a business, and the networking and relationship building opportunities are priceless,” Manasier said. “We at Innovate 518 and the UAlbany Innovation Center are proud to sponsor the competition and to continue our mission of bringing more collaborations and resources to this vibrant region.”

All applicants must submit an idea or venture in one of the following six categories:

• Information technology/software
• Social entrepreneurship/non-profit
• Clean technology
• Advanced technology
• Products
• Services

Each team will have 10 minutes to pitch followed by five minutes of Q&A with a panel of investor judges. Winners of each track will receive a $200 prize. The team or individual that wins the regional final across all tracks will receive a $1,000 prize.

All winners will be eligible to compete in the statewide final hosted by Upstate Capital at the SUNY Polytechnic Institute on April 27.

Suraj Commuri, associate professor of business, said students should take advantage of the chance to practice pitching and to gain advice from experts.

“Many dreams remain as ideas and do not turn into reality because students are often unsure about the viability,” he said. “There’s no better opportunity than a competition like this to get feedback from professionals, investors and entrepreneurs who want to give their undivided attention to these ideas.”

For more information and to register: http://www.busplan.info/

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