The Syracuse Student Start-Up Sandbox Demo Day was featured during an August 23 WRVO broadcast of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition.
WRVO Reporter Ryan Morden interviewed several student entrepreneurs who spent the summer working at the Student Sandbox business incubator at the Technology Garden in downtown Syracuse.
The 12 resident student companies presented their businesses during the public Demo Day on August 18 at the Tech Garden. They competed to earn the fake $100 bills that the investors (business leaders, community members, and educators) doled out to their favorite companies.
The Sandbox Demo Day is part of the Syracuse Student Start-Up Accelerator, a three-prong initiative developed by iSchool Assistant Professor Mike D’Eredita. The Accelerator involves: sequential coursework in fall and spring semesters; followed by the Student Sandbox experience; and incubation support in the form of mentors, professional legal, financial, and marketing services, and Orange Tree Funding.
Initially started at Syracuse University, the Start-Up Accelerator is now being expanded to include other Central New York colleges, including Le Moyne College, SUNY ESF, SUNY Morrisville, Onondaga Community College, and Cayuga Community College.
This year Demo Day’s winning team was a SUNY Morrisville student start-up, Black Orchyd, which produces Caribbean style hot sauce at the locally based Nelson Farms.
The event also received coverage from the Post-Standard and some local television stations.