Press Release: 2024 NEW YORK BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Statewide, intercollegiate entrepreneurship competition includes more than 700 students from 58 colleges and universities FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: Bailey Burke bailey@upstatecapital.org (845) 204-8090 New Paltz, NY – The New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) announced its 2024 Grand Prize winner, as well as other prize winners at the state-wide finals competition event that took place at the ETEC center on the University at Albany campus hosted by the Upstate Capital Association of New York on April 25. Over the past few months, 340 student teams, made up of more than 700 students, from 58 colleges and universities, competed in their classrooms, on their campuses, in their regions and finally at the statewide finals. Through the competition, more than 200 judges volunteered, setting aside time from their work as venture capitalists, angel investors, investment bankers, experienced entrepreneurs, and leaders from the business community to share their input on these student-led ventures. On April 25, 2024, The NYBPC culminated with student competitors pitching live to judges at the ETEC center at the University of Albany in Albany, New York. Eutrobac from Hamilton College was selected as the NYBPC Grand Prize Winner. Eutrobac is a company started by Ellie Sangree and Jesse Wexler to commercialize Ellie’s invention that removes nitrogen pollution from water. The team founders Ellie Sangree and Jesse Wexler will be awarded $25,000 in cash to bolster their startup’s growth, mentorship, and connections from industry leaders throughout Upstate Capital’s ecosystem of innovators. Upstate Capital has led the NYBPC since 2018 to support New York’s next generation of entrepreneurs. The NYBPC has three goals: to develop entrepreneurial mindsets and skills, build personal networks connecting students with support organizations across New York State, and launch new ventures. The NYBPC is supported by more than 100 people and organizations with personal donations and corporate sponsorships, including Empire State Development and the SUNY Research Foundation. Upstate Capital President and CEO Noa Conger Simons said, “This program helps cultivate investable early-stage companies, provides a launch pad for all kinds of new ventures, and develops skills and mindsets that all competitors take forward with them in their careers. Since its inception in 2010, the NYBPC has impacted more than 7,000 students with more than $150 million of economic impact attributed to student-led ventures that have gone through the program and hundreds of innovations that have led to commercialization over the past decade.” 2024 New York Business Plan Competition Results Health & Wellbeing First place: PatchLife from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Second place: VAPGuard from the University of Rochester Third place: Aunt Flo’s Kitchen from Cornell University Concept stage award: GlobalKey Solutions from Cooper Union Food & Agtech First place: GreeneAcres Processing from Cornell University Second place: Dispose O’ Oil from SUNY New Paltz Third place: Shooka Sauce from Syracuse University Concept stage award: Finger Lakes Agricultural Tours from St Bonaventure University Safety, Power & Mobility First place and the concept stage award: Eutrobac from Hamilton College Second place: Exergi from the University at Buffalo Third place: On The Hook from Iona University Learn, Work & Live First place: Hirebird from University at Albany Second place: Rapid Review from Cornell Tech – NYC Third place: Emelies Minis from Clarkson University The Concept stage award: Game Day Ready from the United States Military Academy Software & Services First place: BuzzHive from Binghamton University Second place: Insight from SUNY College at Oswego Third place: Starlight from University at Albany Concept stage award: Latita Wellness from Syracuse University Products & Hardware First place: FixStix from SUNY Cobleskill Second place: Fish Mate from the United States Military Academy Third place: SipSmrt from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute The concept stage award: Em’s Threads from Hobart William Smith The winning teams win both prize money and ongoing support. The grand prize is $25,000. First-place teams win $10,000 each, second-place teams win $2,000, third-place teams win $1,000, and concept stage teams win $500. The Concept Stage Award is given to undergraduate competitors with strong concepts, to encourage continued advancement for the ventures. About Upstate Capital: The Upstate Capital Association of New York connects investors across the capital stack to opportunities across New York. The member-driven organization increases access to capital for companies and deal flow for investors by maintaining a robust, statewide network of capital providers, professional advisors, and supporting organizations. Through regular events and educational content, Upstate Capital facilitates the development of relationships and knowledge to support the PE + M&A community and the VC + Growth ecosystem. ###