SUNY Ulster Student, Marissa Dawson Takes First Place at Business Plan Competition

SUNY Ulster Student, Marissa Dawson Takes First Place in Services and Software Category at New York State Annual Business Plan Competition

Dawson outpaces tough competitors from undergraduate and graduate students of four-year universities to secure funding for her new business.

May 25, 2023 – Stone Ridge, NY – The New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) announces 2023 prizewinners at Venture, NY, and the marquee event for early-stage companies, investors, and innovators hosted by the Upstate Capital Association of New York. SUNY Ulster’s very own Marissa Dawson of New Paltz, a Business & Entrepreneurial Studies student placed first in the Services and Software category.

Since March, Student competitors have been competing at the semi-final competitions hosted by partner colleges and universities held in all 10 regions of New York State. Top teams from each region advanced to the statewide finals. In all, a total of 75 teams placed in the top of their tracks during regional competitions and advanced to the NYBPC Finals. SUNY Ulster was one of only two community colleges to compete in the NYBPC finals.

On April 27, 2023, The NYBPC culminated with student competitors pitching live to judges at the OnCenter in Syracuse, New York. Over the course of the competition, over 150 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.

Marissa presented her business, Sage’s Sudzee Dudz, which provides horse blanket cleaning. Business Professor, Daniel Boice, was her coach with support from Adjunct Professor, Pat Phelan and the entire SUNY Ulster Business Club. Daniel Boice said SUNY Ulster was the
“only community college represented at the Regional” level. The ten state finalist teams in the Services and Software category included teams from Cornell University, Binghamton University, Wagner College, and many more. Each first place category winner, including Marissa, received not only a once in a lifetime opportunity to gain feedback from industry leaders but also a cash prize.

Marissa said, “Thanks to SUNY Ulster I was given the opportunity to learn about business and entrepreneurship. The bonus launch of my own small business has been a rollercoaster, but it is well worth it.”

Upstate Capital Association 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 6,000 students with more than $150 million of economic impact that can be attributed to student-led ventures that have gone through the program and hundreds of innovations that have led to commercialization over the past decade.”

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