Panasci Business Plan Competition
Objective
The Panasci Business Plan Competition is a campus-wide student business plan competition, hosted by the Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship, and made possible by long-time Whitman supporter, the late Henry A. Panasci, founder of Fay's Drugs.
Description
While there are many steps involved in translating great ideas into great businesses, a key step is the creation of a business plan. A business plan may address the uncertainties surrounding the many decisions you have to make about your businesses. It is a blueprint and a roadmap.
The Panasci Business Plan Competition is a campus-wide student business plan competition made possible by long-time Whitman supporter, the late Henry A. Panasci, founder of Fay's Drugs.
Competing gives collegiate entrepreneurs real-world experience to pitch their startups, enhance their business strategy and learn what it takes to launch a successful company.
The competition is open to students at Syracuse University. Applicants will write and submit a business plan for the chance to advance to the finals on April 4, 2025 With more than $40,000 in cash prizes, this competition is a great opportunity to compete for seed funding for your business (or idea).
Qualifications
Team leader must be a full-time or part-time matriculated student, undergraduate or graduate level, who is currently enrolled in and pursuing a degree program, and who is registered at Syracuse University or SUNY ESF. Other team members can be non-SU/ESF students or community members.
Ideas submitted as part of a team's new business venture must represent the original work of the team members.
If the new venture has already received funding from any outside sources (angel investors, other competitions, etc.), amounts, investors and dates of funding must be disclosed in the initial entry – funding must not exceed $100,000.
Prize money is granted only to the business entity that the winning team forms, e.g. a corporation or LLC.
Deadlines
January 31, 2025, Information Session and Q&A: 7 p.m. via Zoom
February 15-16, 2025, EEE 458 Learn to Write a Business Plan: 2 day, 1 credit course
March 23, 2025, Deadline to Submit your Business Plan: 11:59 p.m. If you are ready to submit your business plan click here and follow the instructions. Judges will review all entries, and will choose a set of teams to participate in the final event.
April 4, 2025, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Panasci Business Plan Competition finals, First Floor of the Whitman Building. Teams will first present in front of judges in classrooms, and the top 4 teams will present in the Flaum Hall to Angel investors, mentors and others.
Overview and Judging
The Panasci Business Plan Competition rewards both the innovativeness of the idea and the quality of the plan, including innovative thinking regarding new markets, products and services, coupled with the ability to strategize on how to make it happen.
April 04, 2025
March 23, 2025
Private
Business School
Finance
Prof. Cristiano Bellavitis crbellav@syr.edu
Syracuse University
1st Place: 20,000$
2nd Place: 7,500 $
3rd Place: 2,500 $
Fetner Prize in Sustainable Enterprise is $5,000 (which will be awarded to the most green and sustainable business idea)
Student CNY Business Start-Up Award ($3,000)
Carol Nulman Social Enterprise Award ($1,000)
Gilded Social Rising Entrepreneur Award ($5,000)