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Samuel Corso
Lubin School of Business
Company Description
TechSuite is the software developer for promising startups, innovative enterprises, and ambitious SMBs with no time to waste. We design, develop, and deploy digital products more efficiently than anyone else, ever. We support challenger brands wholeheartedly with lean and flexible offerings to help them scale rapidly. We bring new, disruptive technology and creative solutions to key industries to accelerate innovation worldwide. We want to democratize the whole product development process so that the most powerful ideas in the world can come to life.
Biography
Samuel Corso is an BBA, Business Management student with minors in Finance and Quantitative Business Analysis at Pace University on the New York City campus. He has diverse professional experience as an entrepreneur, software developer, and product manager. He spent eight years as a recreational coder, web freelancer, and bot developer before becoming the CEO and Co-Founder of TechSuite. He has worked with over 50 startups on product strategy, design, development, and digital marketing.
John Harrison
Lubin School of Business
Company Description
MugClubs.com is a technology based marketing and selling tool what will be marketed to bars, brewpubs, and breweries. We will operate using a SaaS model, providing our service for the nominal cost of $60 - $100 per month. Our customers will utilize our product to host an online Mug Club for their patrons, who can interact with the product by downloading a free app for their phone or tablet. Company Background: MugClubs.com was founded in 2015 as a result of the founder’s desire to develop a platform that would leverage SaaS principles to the bar and nightclub industry. Specifically, the first product platform will target Mug Clubs, which are a popular marketing and sales tool employed by drinking establishments. To date nobody has brought forward a digital solution to facilitate their adminstration and execution, thus putting the investment of time, resources, and money solely on the establishment’s management. Management: MugClubs.com is run by Founder and Managing Director, John Harrison. Mr. Harrison has extensive experience in corporate finance, strategy, M&A, market research, new product analysis, and commercial management. In addition, he is a small business and bar owner, which has given him unique insight into our market and target customer. Products/Services: MugClubs.com will offer an online portal so the customer can manage their mug club, and will provide free access to a linked app that patrons can download to their smartphone or table. Technologies/Special Know-how: The technology platform will include a website (portal) and associate app, which when used in tandem will be the means by which the Mug Club is hosted for the customer. We have contracted a third-party technology firm to execute the development of the technology and will establish a retainer agreement for tech support. Market: We estimate, based on various websites and market analysis reports, that there are between 150,000 and 300,000 drinking establishments in the United States. Of this amount, we believe that roughly 10% would be categorized as our "target customer". This subsequently leaves us with 15,000 to 30,000 in our addressable market. Distribution Channels: our product will be sold via our website, MugClubs.com, which will provide access to the customer’s management portal. The apps will be distributed via the Apple and Android app stores. Competition: At this time we have no direct competition. Mug Clubs that exist today are administered locally by each bar, and are not executed using a technology platform. In a sense, we are competing against the bar owners themselves as we must strive to justify that our product is worth paying $60 a month for, as a means of avoiding the “Do It Yourself” model.
Biography
Mr. Harrison is presently a full-time student at Pace University pursuing his MBA in Strategic Management, where he is also a Graduate Assistant at the Entrepreneurship Lab. Beyond his studies, Mr. Harrison completes consulting work for a technology start-up in the food service industry and as the Finance lead for a Biopharma start-up that is specializing in stem cell research. Furthermore, Mr. Harrison is the acting Controller for Some Spider LLC, a digital media start-up with annualized sales of over $1.5 million. Lastly, John has been a small business owner since 2014 when he purchased, remodeled, and rebranded a bar & restaurant in San Angelo, TX. Having graduated Lehigh University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting and Finance in 2005 John chose to pursue his professional interests at Johnson & Johnson. Over the next eight years John took on increasing levels of responsibility rising to the position of Senior Manager before leaving J&J in 2013. Mr. Harrison left corporate life to pursue his MBA as he desired the opportunity to be in a faster paced and more agile environment. The opportunity to make decisions that actually impact business outcomes has led John to make the leap into entrepreneurship, and has inspired his efforts to create MugClubs.com.
Andrew Morales Lubin School of Business Nikita Ptchelka Lubin School of Business Batyr Kanzitdinov Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems
Company Description
Sharped is a mobile application that serves as an on demand platform that connects students within the same university only for tutoring purposes. Qualified students have the choice to either sign up as "student tutors", or students can just sign up when they need help for the class. This service will help students who need immediate help for a class, who want to keep their grades up, and who want to save money. The average tutoring session will cost $15-25 an hour, and students can save up to $10 dollars when going as a group. Student tutors will also benefit by being able to have a job that offers them a flexible schedule to tutor at their convenience. This is a win-win situation for both parties.
Biography
Andrew Morales is the co-founder and president of Sharped. He is pursuing a Marketing degree with a concentration in Advertising and Promotion. Andrew is one of the founders of Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Pace University. He is also Director of Events of the Advertising Club. Andrew grew up in England and Italy and is fluent in Italian and Spanish. He enjoys travelling, exploring new places, participating in competitive soccer and playing guitar.
Douglas Pope
Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems
Company Description
Cross River Games is a video game development studio dedicated to producing quality games. Its first game, Endless Fall, is currently in development for iOS. Cross River Games intends to expand to other platforms including Android, PC, and consoles.
Biography
Douglas Pope is the founder and sole proprietor of Cross River Games and a senior at Pace University majoring in Computer Science. He started his first business, Pendleton Summer Duck Cookies, at the age of nine and since then knew that entrepreneurship would be the career for him. In his spare time, Douglas enjoys playing computer games.
Daniel Shaffer
Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems
Company Description
Piximity is an anonymous location-based picture feed that lets users see what is happening in their area or anywhere around the world. Users can filter pictures by when they were taken, how close they are, or how popular they are.
Sharing through the app is easy - take a picture, add a hashtag and upload. It’s all anonymous so users can focus on the pictures, not the people taking it. It’s a brand new way to discover through photography.
App Store Link: http://piximity.me/download.html
Biography
Daniel Shaffer is a senior at Pace University. In 2008, he started Redwheel Apps, an iPhone application company, launching his first app the day the store launched. 6 years later, he has accumulated over 1.5 million downloads, with two apps reaching #5 on top free and top paid.
Besides running his own company, he spent two years interning at UBS, making mobile software for the executive team, and recently spent a summer at The New York Times, where he worked on the main news reader app and created a new app. Currently, he is the CEO of Piximity, an anonymous location-based picture feed. In addition to software, Daniel is an avid drummer and stock market investor.
Amit Shah
Lubin School of Business
Company Description
AIT was founded by a high school sophomore in 2010 and is continuing to grow across various sectors, including Franchises, Corporate Chains, Small Businesses, Technology Startups, Counties, and eCommerce. AIT has enabled its customers to be game changers in their industry through disruptive and innovative solutions.
Our excellence and performance has facilitated our clients ranging from individual entrepreneurs to fortune 500 companies in reducing costs and making operations smoother and more efficient. Today, AIT continues to grow by gaining market share rapidly through innovation. We enjoy bringing solutions to our customers that contributes towards their success, we believe as our customers grow, we grow.
At AIT, we believe in quality over quantity, innovation over what the market already has and desire to succeed over accepting failure. Our team consists of experts who feel there is always a way and do not accept NO as an answer. We always find a way to make the impossible possible
Biography
Amit Shah is the Founder of AIT Consulting Solutions, and started the company during his sophomore year of high school. He wants AIT to provide technology solutions that can impact individuals and businesses in a positive way.
Amit was recently recognized as one of the top 40 entrepreneurs under the age of 40. Amit enjoys working with the entire AIT team because his technology skills were born from passion and curiosity. He enjoys solving challenging issues and being a team player. Exceeding our customer’s expectations is a core principal to Amit.
Mehran Tehrani
Lubin School of Business
Company Description
Cairan provides online courses to Iranian students planning to study in the United States. Online courses deliver content on everything that an Iranian student should know before coming to the USA such as advice on preparation, budgeting, and visa process. The company is revolutionizing the whole process of study abroad by bringing the content with online videos. Our mission is to bring the highest value content in the market online where prospects can access wherever they are.
Biography
My name is Mehran and am founder of Cairan Consulting Agency. I came abroad to study when I was 16 years old. I first went to England and then I decided to finish my high school in the United States. After my high school graduation, I made the decision to join entrepreneurship journey because you do what you like and serve your community at the same time. I like entrepreneurship because we create products and services that improve your life. “We rise by lifting others”.
Spiridoula Cardona
Dyson College of Arts and Science
Company Description
Brownstone Bee (BB) will be a manufacturing business that will sell all natural beeswax cosmetics and candles. The company has three missions: a social mission, sustainable mission, and an economic mission. Brownstone Bee will sell their products business to business. Its target businesses are boutiques, all natural food stores, eco-friendly cafes, hair salons, nail salons, and eco-friendly restaurants. BB will officially launch this summer 2013 and begin selling in Astoria, NY. As the business grows, BB's target locations are L.I.C., Williamsburg, West Village, East Village, and Soho.
Biography
Spiridoula is a senior Political Science student concentrating in International Relations. Political Science has enabled her to think critically and analytically about the world. She has conducted theoretical, qualitative, and quantitative research in the topics of her interest. Spiridoula's academic, professional, and personal work experience has helped her to discover that she has a real passion for social entrepreneurship.
Spiridoula sets out to creatively apply her skills and experience to building a strong business model for Brownstone Bee. On her spare time, she also runs a small business painting and selling Byzantine icons. Her interests are Theology, foreign politics, social entrepreneurship, the arts, architectural design, crafting, creating, and green living. Spiridoula is an action oriented visionary and aspiring social entrepreneur. She will combine her skills to serve a single purpose (@BrownstoneBee).
Javier Dutan
Lubin School of Business
Company Description
Nova Software designs software designated for food and beverage establishment. It will create programs that will handle financials and logistics of running small businesses all the way up to large facilities such as hotels or franchises. They key focus is to make a restaurant owners life more organized and efficient.
Biography
My name is Javier Dutan, I am a Junior in the Lubin School of Business at Pace University. My major is Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship with an expected graduation date of May 2014. I have experience in many different fields ranging from Photography, Web Design, Marketing, and Financial Analytics.
I have worked in startups such as Applico Inc. that is now the market leader in its mobile development field. I have worked in financial analytics with Cians Analytics and have learned a great deal of business to business communication as well as managing a team overseas. My marketing experience with business to consumer has come from working with Apple and its award winning marketing team. My ambition to target an obstacle in the restaurant industry stems from my experience with restaurants. I grew up with restaurants as part of my childhood. I have seen my parent’s small restaurant slowly evolve through market changes, expansion, and innovation. I inherited my parents drive to succeed and as a result I would like to create my own success through an entrepreneurial endeavor.
Jon Hand
Lubin School of Business
Company Description
Kuztomyze.com will be website where you can customize everything from t-shirts to iPhone cases, creating a unique, one-of-a-kind product, just for you. Upload your own images, or import photos from Facebook or Instagram to create a memorable accessory or to give to someone special as a gift.
Kuztomyze.com is at the forefront of printing technology, using a unique printing process called dye sublimation, which produces superior image quality with vibrant colors and intricate details.
Biography
Jon Hand is the founder and owner of Custom Athletic Promotions. He has four years of experience in producing experiential marketing events for brands such as Walmart, Sara Lee, Fox, and Nike. It was during his time producing Nike events that Jon was exposed to the technology of dye sublimation and saw an opportunity to combine his passion for fitness with his desire to be an entrepreneur. kuztomyze.com
Jewel T. High
Lubin School of Business
Company Description
The Jewel High Collection provides exquisite luxury footwear for women of sizes 6 to 15. Each shoe offers comfort and is enriched with our signature orange lining. I introduce "Poison" and "Tami", which are the first two styles of my collection. "Poison" is a 5.5 inch platform sandal that will leave others breathless. "Tami" is a beautiful 5.5 inch D'orsay platform pump with an interchangeable ankle strap that represents growth and elegance. I have worked extremely hard over the past 5 years to make my childhood dream a reality.
Biography
Jewel T. High is a Pace University BBA General Accounting candidate for May of 2013. During her college experience, Jewel became a certified HIV/ AIDS Awareness Trainer for CDC and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., scholarly writer for Dyson Society of Fellows, and a Northeastern Regional and International Award Recipient of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. for outstanding achievement and providing meritorious service. She is now the CEO and Creative Director of Jewel High Collection, exquisite luxury footwear for women of sizes 6 to 15.
Jewel T. High strives to make sure all women have a chance to walk with style and confidence by accommodating women with large shoe sizes. While rigorously studying accounting, Jewel took art classes at the Art Institute to enhance her design skills, researched the footwear industry, and studied under a mentor with over 30 years of experience in the footwear industry. Jewel High Collection is currently an e-commerce business with plans to be accessible at high end department stores and boutiques.
Tarun Kalra
Lubin School of Business
Company Description
Ravasco Transmission Pvt Ltd. is one of the largest manufacturers of conveyor belts, rubber and electric sheets, EPDM roofing membranes and PVC fabric. The company was established in Mumbai, India, in early 1980s and has since been a key competitor in the Indian market as well as the global market. It has four different manufacturing units located in the state of Gujarat, and serves markets such as mining, steel, cement, OEM (original equipment manufacturers), shipping, etc.
The company has grown consistently and rapidly, year after year and so has been able to expand its portfolio by acquiring Madura Industrial Textiles (MIT) in 2003. MIT produces polyester and nylon fabrics, which have many applications such as automotive, aviation, conveyor belting, medical, etc. MIT recently expanded its operations to create a phase II and has set an example of how operations should be run in the industry.
To find out more about Ravasco's operations and products, please visit:
Ravasco
MadhuraTex
Biography
Exports are very crucial to a producer of commodities or finished products because increasing number of producers are coming out from every corner in the local market. To be able to hedge the risk of losing customers in India, Tarun Kalra, Director of Ravasco, has taken the initiative to establish a strong clientele in North and South America. 40% of Ravasco’s annual revenue is from exports, but Tarun wants to grow that number.
He started working at Ravasco in May’09 as a personal assistant to the CFO of the company where he created pricing quotes for products and interacted and negotiated pricing with clients. He went on to train as a floor manager for one of the manufacturing facilities and acquired comprehensive knowledge about the products and the industry.
Tarun Kalra is a senior at Pace university pursuing a BBA in finance, and wishes to create a financing part for Ravasco and MIT, like GE Capital, sometime in the future.
Colin O'Leary
Lubin School of Business
Company Description
UrbanNYCProperty is an exclusive real estate firm that focuses on new developments in the Downtown Brooklyn area. Our strategy is to become the one of the most reputable real estate firms in Brooklyn. We offer round the clock service to a few well qualified individuals. Our goal is to make buying and selling of real estate as simple as possible while maintaining the highest level of service. We offer an efficient buying process and sound real estate advice. Our negotiation skills and ability to close deals saves our clients both time and energy. We strive to make the process of buying and selling a memorable experience for our clients.
Biography
Colin O'Leary is a Senior at Pace University. He served in the United States Air Force for 4 years. He was stationed in Texas, Idaho, Alaska, Afghanistan, and South Korea where he worked as an Aircraft Armament Systems Technician for the Air Force. After leaving the military in January of 2011, he enrolled in college at Pace University where he studies Entrepreneurship. He served as the President of Student Veterans of America at Pace for 1 year. He is a Real Estate Salesperson at Manhattan Residential Group where he has worked for the past 2 years. Colin is originally from Long Island but now lives in Brooklyn where he practices real estate and entrepreneurship. In his spare time Colin enjoys spending time with close ones, sports, reading, and traveling.
Leah Norris
Lubin School of Business
Company Description
Venture Forth Analytics is a question based tool for identifying and evaluating the business opportunity present within the user’s idea for producing a product or service. The idea presented for evaluation can be a new, innovative concept based on cutting edge technology, or it can be a new incarnation of a long lived and proven product or service.
The output of the program is a comprehensive, cross-section report that details the strengths and potential key weaknesses of the business concept. Though no explicit advisement is provided on whether to pursue the new business, the report is intended to act as a guideline for the potential founder(s) on the odds for success should they decide to do so. The report is also intended to provide constructive criticism on how the idea could be improved, as well as identify key factors in the success or failure of the business that the founder(s) either didn’t recognize or didn’t prioritize in thinking up their concept.
Biography
Leah is an MBA student in the Lubin School of Business majoring in Entrepreneurship and Information Systems. She has an academic background in both finance and computer science and is committed to helping startup businesses increase synergy where technology intersects with business operations. In addition to developing the analytics program that is the cornerstone of her business, Leah is currently working with several small businesses as a freelance consultant. She has professional experience as a data analyst, writer, and event analyst.
Geordi Taylor
Dyson College of Arts and Sciences
Company Description
Blue-Green Solutions (BGS) is Jamaica’s only producer of B100 biodiesel. BGS strives to provide its customers with quality biodiesel and timely delivery to meet their energy needs.
Biography
Geordi Taylor is an undergraduate Economics Major who is currently utilizing the tools of the entrepreneurship lab at Pace University to construct a business plan and for a biodiesel production facility in his home-country of Jamaica. Geordi hopes to provide Jamaican businesses and citizens with a cheaper alternative to high-priced petroleum diesel by producing B100 (100% biodiesel) while providing a means for them to reduce their carbon footprint on the environment and our atmosphere.
