91吃瓜网

The annual听Shark Tank-style contest is part of Adelphi’s approach to experiential learning and the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business (WSB) approach to providing students with a competitive edge to advance their careers. The competition puts students’ entrepreneurial skills to the test while also giving them the opportunity to win $11,000 in prizes to help fund their businesses.

91吃瓜网’s 2022 Business Plan Competition

Tuesday, April 26
Innovation Center at Swirbul Library
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Introductions and presentations
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Announcement of winners

Offered by WSB, the competition is made possible by support from alumnus Kevin Mahony ’83, first vice president of wealth management and financial advisor at UBS Financial Services.

鈥淥ver two semesters, students worked independently and with the advice of faculty mentors to develop their unique businesses,” said competition director and associate professor of management Murat Sakir Erogul, PhD, who has provided mentoring, structure and advising throughout the planning process since launching the competition a few years ago鈥攚ith support this year from Lori Cary, MBA ’20, interim director for student success.

All Adelphi students were eligible to submit a preliminary proposal either individually or in teams. Students have been working on their proposals and presentations since the contest opened in November 2021. Out of 15 submissions, the finalists who will be competing in this year’s event are听Shuriz Hishmeh ’21, an MBA student from Dix Hills, New York;听Matthew Kessler,听a senior nursing major from Brooklyn, New York;听Ruiqin Fu,听a biology graduate student from Suzhou, China, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and听Kayla Strayhorn, a senior speech-language pathology major from Brentwood, New York.

Shuriz Hishmeh ’21, Matthew Kessler,听Ruiqin Fu and Kayla Strayhorn

Prizes include $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second, $2,000 for third, and $1000 in prizes for Environmental, Sustainable, and Governance (ESG). Cash prizes are funded through Mahony’s contributions. Finalists also receive a one-year Wix Business Basic Premium Plan subscription to start their corporate websites, in addition to mentoring and coaching from Adelphi faculty.

Each finalist will present their business plan to a panel of judges of Long Island business founders and owners. The panel will review student proposals, provide feedback and determine the winners. This year’s judges include CEO of听听Jennifer DeVito, co-founders of听听Mark X. Cronin听and听John Cronin, alumnus and head of听听Eric Alexander ’92, owner of听听Lisa Marie George, and co-founder and CEO of听听and Adelphi alumnus听Matt Tesoriero ’07.

鈥淲e identified a panel of business leaders who are transforming their industries and have met requirements related to sales, sustainability, employees and/or commitments to Adelphi,” said Zachary Johnson, PhD, interim associate dean of undergraduate students for the business school and co-founder of a small business,听. He added, 鈥淓ach of these entrepreneurs represents the type of entrepreneurial leaders we hope our students will become.”

The finalists’ proposals include:

• Shuriz Hishmeh: Black Soldier Fly Composting听will sell poultry feed while simultaneously trying to reduce methane emissions from landfills
• Ruiqin Fu: Boom I Rang, a new type of dental practice with hours to accommodate shift workers, particularly in healthcare, and later hours for emergencies
• Matthew Kessler: Typ Mental Health, an artificial intelligence journal that references clients’ therapeutic media and services based on users’ journal entries
• Kayla Strayhorn: BU Rooftop Farming, a rooftop farming operation using urban farming techniques to increase available fresh food, using the Internet of Things (which transmits farm data), as well as various substances for soil

2022 Judges

• Enabling donor,听
• Evolution Real Estate & Renovations CEO听
• John鈥檚 Crazy Socks co-founders听听and John Cronin
• Vision Long Island Director听
• Anne Brower School and Camp ABC owner Lisa Marie George
• Guac Shop Mexican Grill co-founder and CEO听
• Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C corporate attorney

See more about Adelphi’s听Business Plan Competition. Activities similar to the competition can be supported via contributions to the WSB听Student Success Fund.

鈥淭he听Robert B. Willumstad School of Business听offers career-focused curricular and cocurricular opportunities that immerse students in real-world projects,” said MaryAnne Hyland, PhD, interim dean. 鈥淲e are grateful to Kevin Mahony for his generous support for this competition and we thank each of our judges for participating in this year’s program.”