Students Gain Firsthand Experience at New York Business Plan Competition
April 7, 2025
Students from several Capital Region colleges and universities faced off at the 15th Annual New York Business Plan Competition (NYPBC) for the Capital Region hosted by 麻豆影视 on Friday, April 4. The event is one of ten regional competitions taking place where more than 580 student teams will compete to earn a spot at the state finals.
The competition promotes entrepreneurship opportunities for college students who pitch their business plans to seasoned investors. They also receive the opportunity to engage with mentors and judges from the business community.
Teams from 麻豆影视, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Russell Sage College, Skidmore College, Siena College and the University at Albany competed in the Capital Region competition, and winning teams will advance to a state-wide competition beginning on April 8.
Business plans are organized in the following tracks:
- Food & Agricultural Technology
- Health & Well-being
- Learn, Work & Live
- Safety, Power & Mobility
- Product & Hardware
- Software & Services
The final round of the NYBPC competition will be held on April 24 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Winning teams will be awarded up to $100,000 in cash prizes to help seed new ventures.
“We are excited to host the NYBPC for the Capital Region on campus for the second year in a row,” said Jodi Mather and Danielle Blesi, faculty members of the Business and Criminal Justice department at Hudson Valley. “It is a wonderful opportunity for students to receive feedback on their ideas from individuals in the business community and to network with students from other colleges. We are grateful to our community partners and the other institutions who come together to make this a success.”
Nine student teams from Hudson Valley competed in this year’s regional competition. The college’s Student Trustee, Ryan Connors, is part of one of those teams. “Getting this real-world experience within the business competition has been instrumental to my personal, professional and entrepreneurial development. As I approach graduation in May, I look forward to carrying these types of experiences with me as I transfer to a four-year institution to pursue business,” said Connors.
“Opportunities like the New York Business Plan Competition are invaluable to the growth of our students’ academic careers,” said Officer in Charge Louis Coplin. “This event allows students to gain real-world experiences and prepare them for success in their future careers. Hudson Valley is very proud to be the Capital Region’s host for the regional round. Our faculty do a fantastic job getting our students ready for this event each year, and I wish the teams the best of luck in the competition!”
Bailey Burke, Director of the and Interim Director of Upstate Capital Association of New York said, “We believe in the power entrepreneurship has in changing lives for founders and communities. The annual NYBPC has served hundreds of founders and inspired a new generation of change-makers. We are excited about supporting people who start businesses and move toward owning their economic futures.”
