Students to ‘pitch’ business proposals in Startup Allegany Collegiate Competition
The second annual Startup Allegany Collegiate Competition will be hosted by Alfred University on Saturday, April 9 beginning at 1 p.m. The competition, titled “AHA” as it involves students from Allegany County’s three institutions of higher education—Alfred University, Houghton College Alfred State College, and—is based on solving problems faced by businesses, with a goal of promoting sustainability through entrepreneurship.
ALFRED, NY – The second annual Startup Allegany Collegiate Competition will be hosted by Alfred University on Saturday, April 9 beginning at 1 p.m. The competition, titled “AHA” as it involves students from Allegany County’s three institutions of higher education—Alfred University, Houghton College Alfred State College, and—is based on solving problems faced by businesses, with a goal of promoting sustainability through entrepreneurship.
Hosted by Alfred University’s College of Business, the competition is being held in person and virtually via Zoom. Students from the three institutions will pitch their ideas and compete as teams to solve a challenge focusing on sustainability. “Have an idea or business that promotes sustainability? Then grab a team and PITCH IT!” the AHA promotional poster proclaims.
Teams of students will come up with ideas for promoting sustainability in business, with the winning plans determined by a panel of judges. There are $6,500 in cash prizes available, with a $5,000 grand prize; top winners will receive cash toward the launch of their business as well as in-kind donations of professional services. Undergraduate students of any major are welcome to participate. Please email or call 312-799-1839 to sign up or get more information. The deadline for registering up is March 1.
The competition is a partnership of Alfred University, Alfred State College, Houghton College, Allegany County, the ACCORD Corp., IncubatorWorks, the Western New York Incubator Network and Western NY Wilds. The Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology (CACT) at Alfred University and Sealing Devices Inc. are event sponsors. Sealing Devices, a Lancaster, NY manufacturing firm that produces o-rings and gaskets, was founded by late Alfred University alumnus Terry Galanis Sr. ’40. His son, Alfred University Trustee Terry Galanis Jr., is company president and CEO.