Adam Weitsman Awards $45,000 to 6 SUNY Cortland Startups at Innovation Day
Updated
Updated · WBNG · May 28
Adam Weitsman Awards $45,000 to 6 SUNY Cortland Startups at Innovation Day
2 articles · Updated · WBNG · May 28
$45,000 went to six SUNY Cortland student startups after Adam Weitsman, judging the university’s early-May Innovation Day, decided on the spot to back the pitches.
Three teams received $10,000 each—Next Life Junk Removal, Rockwood by Vinci and Shred Air—while Throwing Shade, Scrap Fit and Motion each got $5,000.
The funding followed a year of work in SUNY Cortland’s entrepreneurship minor, where students developed ventures ranging from recyclable junk removal and luxury furniture to a self-cleaning fan and a goal-betting app.
James Wilson, the economics lecturer who emceed the event, said the money could materially advance the businesses, calling that level of support rare for student competitions.
Innovation Day is in its second year under a format meant to connect students with local businesses, while some ventures already have momentum in the New York Business Plan Competition.
A scrap CEO faces industry fire risks. Why did he fund student ventures focused on recycling and sustainability?
How might a student's goal-setting app explain the dramatic personal comeback of its multi-millionaire benefactor?