At a glance
“Winning this competition is relieving because it is going to help tremendously with website development and will allow us to purchase new tools like a larger laser engraver. Jon and I went into the beginning of the day just excited to pitch the business to the judges. We are looking forward to where this opportunity takes us.”
Edward Scroxton
The Alfred State team of Edward Scroxton (Jamestown, NY - Technology Management) and Jon Jacobs (Wappingers Falls, NY - Construction Management) and their company Pyur Tree Customs won the 2023 Allegany County Collegiate Competition.
Pyur Tree Customs were mentored by Alfred State alum Reuben Zielinski (co-founder and president of Redux Corporation) and ASC assistant professor of marketing Susan Gorman. The pair won the $5,000 grand prize.
Pyur Tree Customs aims to bring uniqueness and personalization into homes and restaurants. The company handcrafts fully customizable cutting boards while allowing the customers to choose from seven different woods.
The product is manufactured and assembled in Western New York and has been sold to several restaurants already. Sales have primarily been from word of mouth thus far with the hope that additional funding will allow for a more complex marketing campaign.
Scroxton is excited to use the prize money to develop Pyur Tree Customs even more. “Winning this competition is relieving because it is going to help tremendously with website development and will allow us to purchase new tools like a larger laser engraver. Jon and I went into the beginning of the day just excited to pitch the business to the judges. We are looking forward to where this opportunity takes us.”
Jacobs echoed similar feelings. “I am feeling extremely privileged and grateful to have had the opportunity to compete with such intelligent and creative individuals. Above everything, I am feeling excited and optimistic for what the future holds for Eddie and I.”
The Alfred University duo of Madeline Shaw (Buffalo, NY – Biomaterials Engineering) and Bianca Durso (Utica, NY – Ceramic Engineering) and their company Anie Organics finished in 2nd place and earned $2,500. The team was mentored by Shelly Freyn, assistant professor marketing at AU, and Nancy Golomb, die technology program manager at Corning Incorporated.
The Constructa-Byte team of Alfred State architecture students, Jennifer Meo (Oneonta, NY), Daniel Kyle (Hanibal, NY), and Cameron Burnett (Wappingers Falls, NY) finished 3rd and was voted as the Viewers’ Choice Award winner. The team was mentored by Dr. Reza Yahollahi, ASC assistant professor in civil engineering, and Michelle Engarto, director global innovation manufacturing at Corning Incorporated.
Remainder of the teams:
- Essence of Nirvana (Alfred State) – KeShawn Barksdale and Julius Korytkowski
- Personal Finance Now (Alfred University) – Ryan Hughes and Andrew Cisco
- Trunk Space (Alfred University) – Artem Kolisrychenko and Joseph Adipietro
- SOUND Consulting (Houghton University) – Matt Connolly, Mary Vandenbosch, and Jack Masterson
- Alfred Art Commission (Alfred University) – Franmy Mateo-Tapia, Earlington Walker, Tucker Jones, James Bisaccia, and Amoi Charles
- Nudge (Alfred University) – Nathan Croscut-Miller and Matthew Wedzik
The competition, titled “AHA” because it involved students from Allegany County’s three institutions of higher education (Alfred State College, Houghton University, and Alfred University), was based on solving problems faced by businesses, with a goal of promoting sustainability through entrepreneurship.
The event was hosted at Alfred State and was organized by IncubatorWorks of Alfred, a state-of-the-art incubator offering services and facilities to foster growth of entrepreneurial businesses.
Executive Director of IncubatorWorks Ashleigh Madison was impressed with the work of the students at the 3rd annual AHA competition. “The students provided well thought out and executed business pitches. Congratulations to the participating teams and winners! We look forward to continuing to work with the colleges every year and cultivating the entrepreneurial spirit within in the students. This is one more accolade that they will be able to use when they enter the workforce, or…start their own business.”
Amy Bennett, chief operating officer at Northern Lights Candles, Tom Murdock, clinical faculty at University at Buffalo and general manager Western New York Incubator Network, and A. Boh Ruffin, senior research manager at Corning Incorporated served as judges. The trio of judges evaluated pitches made by nine teams.
Madison continued, “Thank you to this year’s host, Alfred State College, to the Startup Allegany committee, sponsors, judges, mentors, and volunteers.”
Video of the 2023 competition
Photos from the competition
The 2024 AHA competition is slated to be held at Houghton University in early April.