Capstone Business Plan Competition

At the conclusion of both the fall and spring semesters Whitman's Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises hosts the Capstone Business Plan Competition. Student-teams present their business plans before panels of judges composed of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and others from the entrepreneurial community in Central New York. The competition takes place in two rounds over two days, with typically between 30 and 45 teams competing each semester. On the first day, all teams present their business concepts and plans to the judges, who evaluate their plans based on the business concept, and its viability as a sustainable and ‘grow-able’ business. Approximately five teams are selected to compete in the finals, held the next day using a similar format.

Cash prizes are awarded to the top three teams. In addition, two of the top teams are selected to represent the Whitman School and SU at national undergraduate business plan competitions. The EEE department covers all costs of sending the teams to these competitions.

For examples of past Capstone business plans, click here.

Capstone Business Plan Competition Winners

Award  Team Name Team Members Instructor Fall 2010 1st Place Versatiles Julie Ricchuito, Alex Hall, Sarah Johnson, Matt Sisk, Josh Anderson John Torrens, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 2nd Place Fueling Harmony Sierra Fogal, Kelly Ryan, Laura Reginelli, Jackie Tang, Sarah Bicky Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 3rd Place Ality Footwear Stephanie Miller, Alex Restivo, Brittany Ryan, Sarah Sedgwick, Sze Wong John Torrens, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice Spring 2010 1st Place TetraGoma Jason Calman, Eric Gursky, Ann Filkins, Mary Clare McGraw, Sonali Teli Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 2nd Place Peace & Sole Whitney Hurst, Lisa Lee, Daniel Powell, Ryan Saroya Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 3rd Place Craftee Couture Molly Hope, Blythe Kim, Jacob Kurosaki, Greg Sexton, Jeffrey Zhong Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice Fall 2009 1st Place Stick & Stay Wall Coverings Kristen Carmichael, Jenna Jabinsky, Bo Ram Lee, Kenneth Scher, Rachel Tovin Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 2nd Place Persephone Lynne Mundy, Jennifer Chang, Marissa Sandler, Andrew Ellis, Viviana Suárez Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 3rd Place BioFilter Enterprises Sarah Colson, Ghislaine León, Adam Shapiro, Viviana Rodríguez, Lanlan Liang Larry Bennett, Whitman Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurial Practice Spring 2009 1st Place HeadCase Helmets  Michael Loiacono, Neel Patel, Ryan Maybee, Alana Tendler, Kristine Mallon Alex McKelvie, assistant professor of entrepreneurship 2nd Place SwaggerDap Jemar Souza, John Dwyer, Alex Chung, Lindsay Sigmund, Courtney Smith Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 3rd Place Lassos Lindsay Chin, Jon Smolin, Adam Pope, Justin Cooper, Allen Xia Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice Fall 2008 1st Place Land Tracks Thomas Wichman, Briceland Bleem, Jamie Busch, Daniel Schwartz, Steven Neinstedt Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 2nd Place Tech-Eaze Inc Ryan Murray,Rick Peirson, Vanessa Berrios, Matt Kasparian, Kathryn Penney Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 3rd Place Campus Housing Communications John Cuyler, LaQuana McNeil, Salvatore D'Amelio, Matthew Bedard, Connie Yee Larry Bennett, Whitman Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurial Practice Spring 2008 1st Place RoomMate Fate Angela Cho, Matthew Fleming, James Coleman, Marie Webb Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 2nd Place RF Nocks Sean Murray, Nick Raulli, Jose Santiago, Jonathan Achor Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 3rd Place Theratainment Daniel Lostumbo, Anthony Malta, Justin Van Houten, Amro Elsarafy, John Stoviak Larry Bennett, Whitman Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurial Practice Fall 2007 1st Place BSApp Greg Ackerman, Rachel Baumann, Jaclyn Casavant, Michelle Caruso, Zackary Singer Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 2nd Place Guardian Inc. Jason Ireton, Michael McGrath, Nicole Negrin, Christopher Ruckert, Keisha Townsend Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 3rd Place Color Precision Mark Castellano, Yen-Fun Eng, Sophie Gates, Valerie Powers, Michelle Williamson Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice Spring 2007 1st Place Lighthouse Christine Fatcheric, Greg Morel, Inessa Levochkina, Ilsia Almonte, Lindsay Adler Susan Coombes, '08 PhD 2nd Place Digital Advantage Carlos Santana, Gabrielle Nelson, Meghan Ballard, Jillian Ring, Liang (Lance) Xiao Larry Bennett, Whitman Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurial Practice 3rd Place I’m Going Collegiate Isabella Cerrone, Brock Cady, Alicia Stutz, Tony Jenkins Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice Fall 2006 1st Place Intrepid Kayaks Christopher Scobell, Lauren Baker, Christopher Rahner, Katie Noonan, and Pei-Lin Yu Larry Bennett, Whitman Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurial Practice 2nd Place Toyvolution Diana Missert, Alex Gramajo, Matt Wall, Ryan Suser,and Brett Pahigiannis J. Michael Haynie, assistant professor of entrepreneurship 3rd Place  Sani Sleeve Andrew Lessner, Sean Haydon, Michael Macchioni, Gina Rufo, and Matthew Stevens Michael Schattner, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship Spring 2006 1st Place SaniShield Elise Fogle-Myers, Thomas Shupe, Jennifer Couturier, Mark Braatz, Melody Agnew Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice 2nd Place  OpenSpace Lee Goldberg, Luke Andrianos, Andrew Cheston, Jared Cohen, Roc Hargrove, Hans Smucker Eric Alderman, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship 3rd Place  UniKey Andrew Barnett, Ki Cheong, Jenna Dalto, Jake DiIorio, Kim Kazemi, Mike McCallion, Fred Shute Eric Alderman, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship Fall 2005 1st Place Fresh Cut Florals Erica Fand, Shelley Kohan, Meghan Kohl, Lauren Kopach, Erin Wilson 2nd Place  PermaFresh Anne Maged, Allison Schultz, Jason Shugg, Lorraine Suwala, Roxana Zudeh 3rd Place WebJam Laura Carucci, Jen Collins, Josh Riman, Dan Schwartz, Ryan York Spring 2005 1st Place The Scrapbook Lounge Emily Jayko, Matt Maurer, Seanna Sullivan, Caitlin Tasca, Kibra Yemane 2nd Place  The Pit Candice Morris, Tara Carr, Megan Cullen, Jamie Jones, Greg Quinn 3rd Place AdTrays Brian Levine, Tanisia Niever, Elizabeth Landsrag, Yvonne Lin Fall 2004 1st Place TraXafe Dan Sivecz, Dan Short, Igor Raskin, Tin Wong and Christian Widhalm 2nd Place  The Great Indoors Ben Clymer, JP Horton, Jun Him, Didem Molay and Rory O'Fee 3rd Place Skinswift Ashley Streeter, Robert Mannino, Brad Spuhler, Sam Klein and Chris Sharpe Fall 2003 1st Place CaptureCam Jeremy Calandrino, Maggie Chwaleba, Brian Nelson, Rich Reginelli and Kimberly Salle 2nd Place  BioPals Katie Flahive, Cindy Hart, Paris Schutz, Josh Verni and Robert Wallach 3rd Place Pallets to Pellets Julie Abrams, Kerri Flynn, Philipp Fuhge, Greg Guditis and Jeffrey Menard Spring 2003 1st Place Document Editing Alyssa Colonna, Spiro Dekantios, Nicholas Palermo and Christopher Rickli 2nd Place Tanglewood Gardens Don Stanton, Joseph Barone, Scott Bernstein, Damali N. Hicks and Jeremy Schafer 3rd Place Swingers Stephen Bates, David Eddy, Michelle Holl and Jareth Kelly