In the Business Plan Contest, students work in teams to research, develop and present quality business plans that are feasible, profitable and novel. Those who have participated in the contest felt it was a great opportunity to be involved in a real business project and gain experience that cannot be learned in the classroom. Students said they learned important skills they will need in their careers, such as teamwork, communication, leadership and networking skills.
The Business Plan Contest is a course (BUS457 for undergraduates and BUS587 for MBA students) in the spring. The presentations before a panel and judges for a chance to win a scholarship and award ceremony will be held in early May. Please contact Danielle Tomczyk by phone at 845-257-2932, or by e-mail at tomczykd@newpaltz.edu, for more information.
Upcoming Dates
For Businesses
Highlights of last year's Contest
Final Reports Due- Wednesday, April 24 at 12 p.m.
Presentation & Award Ceremony- Wednesday, May 8 in the Student Union room 62/63. The time will be announced.
For Businesses
There are opportunities for businesses to participate in the contest by:
• Being a sponsor: Your support will help build a scholarship fund for student participants and cover the teams’ operating costs.
• Mentoring a team: Teams are paired with mentors in fields related to the business ideas. Mentors are valuable resources who provide guidance, encouragement and feedback, and share their expertise and knowledge with the teams.
• Providing ideas: Our students have demonstrated that they can develop creative and practical plans. They can take your ideas for a new business and turn them into solid business plans.
Please contact Danielle Tomczyk at 845-257-2932 or tomczykd@newpaltz.edu for more information, or if you wish to submit an idea or serve as a mentor to a team.
Highlights of 2012 Contest
The School of Business at the State University of New York at New Paltz and Campus Auxiliary Services, Inc. held its Business Plan Contest Presentation and Award Ceremony on May 9.
The nine teams of students presented their business plans before a panel of judges consisting of local business leaders. The winning team researched and developed a plan for a business that will convert local farmers' dairy waste into a source of renewable energy to power homes and businesses in the Mid-Hudson Valley. The runner up team created a plan for a Web-based design management software which bridges the gap in design projects between Web and graphic designers or design firms and their clients. Both teams were awarded scholarships.
MooTech- A company that provides a cattle waste solution to local farmers and converts dairy waste into a source of renewable energy to power homes and businesses in the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Students: Maria Izquierdo, Joe Lahita, Fiona Lee, Eddie Monroy
Mentor: Carl Meyer, The Solar Energy Consortium
DesPro- A Web-based design management software which bridges the gap in design projects between Web and graphic designers or design firms and their clients.
Students: Anthony Church, Kevin Finnegan, Jason Nordlund, Christine Rieth
Mentor: Peter Gregory, Orange County Business Accelerator
DEEDS- A business-to-business company relying largely on student volunteers that connects World Vision, which has a warehouse of donated goods in the Bronx, with local charities.
Students: Jobymon Augusthy, Drilon Gojani, David Ro, Stephany Robison
Green Lake Hotel- An upscale hotel on Lake Placid which provides a differentiated experience based on its environmentally friendly orientation, its motivated staff and the unique location.
Students: Christopher Chevreuil, Benjamin Fiere, Thomas Ravel, Mehmet Erce Sermet, Alexandre Tavernier
Mentor: Rick Alfandre, Alfandre Architecture, PC
SMART House- An intermediary business between big companies, their employees who are looking for housing in Europe, and construction firms.
Students: Adrien Forest, Jeremy Olivier, Zeynep Onaran, Gokce Yucel
Mentor: Lance Matteson, Ulster County Development Corporation
Cargofy- An online business-to-business company with a reverse auction platform that connects ocean-freight carriers with available cargo around the world.
Students: Dimitris Alexiou, Evan Martel, Michael Santalesa, Thomas Viscardi
Word of Mouth- An e-commerce company that offers local businesses advertising opportunities and SUNY students coupons and discounts to these businesses.
Students: Alexandra Sanky, Thomas Van Durme, Anais Wilbrod, Junki Yoshino
Mentor: Rachel Reuben, Ithaca College
Teddy's Square- A business-to-business company that provides sponsored daycare services for infants to 5-year-olds in White Plains.
Students: Ipek Demirci, Ilkcan Ocal, Zineb Tazi, Remi Van Durme
Mentor: Amanda Barney
FoodGuru Marketing- A restaurant marketing agency which provides online presence and business consulting services to a variety of restaurants in the Hudson Valley region.
Students: Martin Deramecourt, Fuat Kapucu, Leslie-Jane Nataf, Murat Orhan
Special Thanks to our Judges
Christina Bark, Christina Bark & Associates
Melinda Beuf, Ulster County Development Corporation
Steve Deutsch, Campus Auxiliary Services, Inc.
David Freer, A&M Enterprises/United Financial
Robert Michaud, Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union
Chelen Reyes, Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union
April Volk, Key Bank
Thanks to Our Sponsors
We would like to extend a special thanks to the following companies for their contributions towards this program:
Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS), Inc.
Sodexho Food Services
M&T Charitable Foundation
Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union
Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union
TD Bank
Ulster Savings Bank
Everton H. Henriques '78, '83g & Jeannie Irvine '78
Ulster County Development Corporation
A&M Enterprises/United Financial
Mid-Hudson Small Business Development Center
