Five Syracuse University Libraries’ Blackstone LaunchPad (LaunchPad) student start-up teams have made it to the finals of the New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC), hosted by Upstate Capital in Albany on April 25. The teams included Natasha Brao ’22, founder of Shooka Sauce, and Motolani Oladitan ’24, founder of Tá Beautie.
Shooka Sauce won the 3rd place prize of $1,000 in the food and agriculture track. Shooka Sauce is a Mediterranean-spiced tomato sauce inspired by the dish Shakshuka, aimed at promoting creative cooking by blending cultural flavors. On the other hand, Tá Beautie received the Concept Stage Award of $500 in the software and services track. Tá Beautie is a virtual marketplace connecting African beauty and wellness brands with the diaspora to make it easier for consumers to access authentic African products.
Apart from these two teams, five other LaunchPad student start-up teams participated in the 2024 NYBPC, including Frank Marin ’24 (Marhold Space Systems), Adya Parida ’25 (Scale Sense), Dylan Bardsley ’26 and Mark Leaf ’27 (Clarity). These students were given an opportunity to pitch their business ideas to experienced investors and engage with mentors and judges from the business community. The event provided valuable networking opportunities for students to connect with business professionals and access resources at the Entrepreneurship Expo. Cash prizes totaling up to $100,000 were awarded to help kickstart new ventures.
The NYBPC is a platform that brings together some of the best student entrepreneurs in New York state. Participants are given an opportunity to refine their concepts and pitches while engaging with mentors and judges from the business community. This competition provides an excellent opportunity for young entrepreneurs to launch their businesses successfully while gaining valuable knowledge about entrepreneurship.
