Virtual Summer Internship Recap

Blackstone Launchpad at UAlbany facilitated virtual summer internships with startups and organizations in upstate NY.  18 interns worked on 8 projects over 10 weeks. Student got to experience working with a startup first hand with a variety of technical and business tasks.  At startup Chaasm, interns conducted customer discovery, worked on developing a business plan, researched venture capital firms.  At startup Data Spotlite, interns crosswalked the functions and features of our Cyber Security Solution CYRISMA to controls from different compliance mandates.  Two teams of students conducted a technical and a business project at the startup Iconoclasm.  The technical team performed software and infrastructure audits, detail threat models, conduct introductory level digital forensics, and contributed to documentation.  The business team conducted market research, customer outreach, completed a swot analysis, and drafted a white letter.  At Alchar Printing the team helped convert their business to an ecommerce busines model.  Other interns were deployed to the SBDC and worked on projects here at UAlbany conducting research, creating guides and doing data analytics. 

Blackstone LaunchPad will be facilitating this program again during the semester. For more information visit: www.launchpadalbany.com/cares

5th Annual Innovation Competition Results

Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars at UAlbany held our 5th annual Innovation Competition on Friday, April 24th.  21 teams from across the university participated in the two-round event for a chance to win the $1,000 top prize.    

Teams competed in two rounds and were divided into five categories: Environment, Health and Wellness, Social; Food; Products; Services; and Technology and Entertainment.  Teams were scored on their presentation, innovativeness, financial understanding, a growth plan.  The top team from each category advanced to the final round which was held live via zoom in in front of the judges.  Teams presented their ventures to a panel of 10 judges consisting of Entrepreneurs, Financial Advisors, Bankers, Consultants, and Healthcare Executives. 

The third place team was TrashlogiX, founded by MBA students Josh Frederick, Sumit Mondaiyka, Michael Houghton, and Tony Andrews.  TrashlogiX is an idea for a  classic waste transfer station with the focus the recycling and reuse of materials, as opposed to landfilling. Construction and Demolition debris will be brought to the facility and sorted and separated into different categories. Categories will include wood, plastics, ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, asphalt roofing, gypsum board, concrete and CMU block, brick, and finally items that will need to be landfilled.

The second place team was Duct LLC, founded  by school of business undergraduate students Joe Schnetzler and John Dibernardi.  Duct is a Construction Technology startup.  Duct is a subcontract management platform for general contractors and subcontractors. Duct looks to get projects done faster and easier leading to higher cost savings and boosted productivity. They also ensure that work done properly is properly paid for eliminating mechanic liens and the need for surety insurance.  Duct was recently accepted into StartCo accelerator in Memphis TN.  Visit them at: www.ductllc.com

The winning venture was LUXLife, founded by Human Biology undergraduate student Marielle Apronte.  LUX Life is a beauty and health company that offers custom wig services and quality hair extensions.  They pride themselves on offering customers superior quality virgin human hair extensions.  They are committed to offering our customers the products and support that they need so that each customer has the best experience possible.  None of LUXLife’s extensions have been chemically processed.  Visit them at: www.luxlifehair.com

Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars at UAlbany would like to thank all the teams for their hard work preparing for this competition, and the Judges their support, time, and feedback.  We would also like to thank William Newman of Atrium Financial Group for donating a portion of the prize money. 

About Blackstone LaunchPad at UAlbany:

The Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars entrepreneurship network helps University at Albany students succeed. Open to all students and alumni in all majors, the campus-based Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars enables participants to access mentoring, grow their network, and access the resources to accelerate the success of their business.