UB Startup and Innovation CoLabHenry A. Panasci Jr. Technology Entrepreneurship Competition
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Ready · Set · Pitch

Your idea. The Panasci stage. $25,000.

Panasci in 90 seconds

UB's startup pitch competition. First place gets $25,000 plus up to $40,000 in services. Second place gets $10,000. Pre-apply in 5 minutes, and a CoLab Venture Coach helps you with the rest. Apply by Nov 20 for the most help.

Pre-apply in 5 minutes Not ready? Application workshop Nov 18 · 30 seats

What is Panasci?

UB's startup pitch competition

You're not just pitching for money. Whether it's an idea, a side hustle or a business you already run, you learn how to grow it.

Every applicant gets this

6 private bonuses, never shared before

Private materials and real decks we've never handed out. Apply and they're yours.

Bonus 1
Bonus 2
Bonus 3
Bonus 4
Bonus 5
Bonus 6

Unlocks when you apply. Only for applicants.

The prizes
1st place$25,000In seed funding
Up to $40,000In in-kind services: legal, accounting and business counseling
Total value for the winning teamUp to $65,000
2nd place$10,000In seed funding
Apply here to get started
Past winners
Zyad Zahra, Arjun Kodial and Zaid ElNasser of LAZZCO Rocketry
2026 · LAZZCO RocketryModel rocketry company. A year earlier, two of the founders were in the Panasci audience.Photo: Nancy J. Parisi, UB News
Shuwei Hou and Wei Bo of SATE with Hadar Borden
2025 · SATEAI speech analysis tool for speech language pathologists, built by two UB PhD students.Photo: Nancy J. Parisi, UB News
Matthew Mullens and Neharika Korati of Empasta
2024 · EmpastaPlant-based "cheeze" sauce, from two first-year MBA students.Photo: Nancy J. Parisi, UB News
Courtney Burris and Brandon Davis Burris of RHM Innovations
2023 · RHM InnovationsAssistive bathing tech. Finalists in 2021, second in 2022, first in 2023.Photo: Dylan Buyskes, Onion Studios, via UB News
Sonya A. Tareke and Malkijah Griffiths of Team Real Talk
2022 · Real TalkA platform for guided conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion.Photo: Nancy J. Parisi, UB News

Why wait?

3 reasons you shouldn't wait to apply

Reason 1
"I'm worried my first draft won't be perfect."
Apply by Nov 20

You get one resubmit, any time up to Jan 4.

Reason 2
"I'm nervous about pitching. I'm not good at it."
Apply by Nov 20

We put you in a small group to learn how to pitch from a Panasci finalist who has helped train many students to pitch.

Reason 3
"My answers aren't complete yet. My idea isn't fully there."
Only for early applicants

You get feedback from a venture coach on what to improve, so your resubmit is even better.

LAZZCO Rocketry on the Panasci stage, 2026
Practice it 1-on-1 first, then do it on this stage.
First20teams
Bonus for the first 20 teams

1-on-1 pitch practice with a coach

The first 20 teams to apply get a private pitch run-through with a CoLab Venture Coach, on top of everything else. You pitch, the coach stops you where judges would lose interest, and you run it again.

20 spots. Once they're gone, they're gone.
Claim your spot

The early-apply offer

The earlier you apply,
the more you get

Nov 20 perks Dec 18 perks Jan 4 perks

How the dates work: pre-apply here first (5 minutes), then submit the full application on StartupTree. The date you submit the full application decides which column you get.

Most help
Apply by Fri Nov 20
Before Thanksgiving break

Bonuses:

Only for Nov 20 applicants
  • Private Application ReviewA venture coach goes through your application line by line, before break
  • Pitch LabSmall-group pitch practice with a coach, groups of 4
  • Private invite: "How I Placed Twice at Panasci"A workshop breaking down what worked, week of Nov 30
  • First 201-on-1 pitch practice with a coachOnly the first 20 teams to apply. Once they're in, it's gone.
  • One resubmit, any time up to Jan 4
  • Live Pitch WorkshopOnline, with Q&A, mid-January
  • Winning Decks VaultA copy of the winning decks and presentations from the past 3 years, plus a breakdown of each
  • Judges' Room MasterclassWhat judges score and why, from a past Panasci judge
Apply by Nov 20
Apply by Fri Dec 18
Before winter break

Bonuses:

  • One resubmitDue in January, so it isn't break homework
  • Live Pitch WorkshopOnline, with Q&A, mid-January
  • Winning Decks VaultThe past 3 years of winning decks and presentations, broken down
  • Judges' Room MasterclassWhat judges score and why
Apply by Dec 18
Apply by Mon Jan 4
Applications close

Bonuses:

  • Winning Decks VaultThe past 3 years of winning decks and presentations, broken down
  • Judges' Room MasterclassWhat judges score and why
  • Pitch Workshop replay
Apply by Jan 4
Second-shot guarantee
Your first try, a coach's markup, then your best version. Resubmit any time up to Jan 4.

Apply early. You're not locked in.

Get your application in early and you get one resubmit. Use the coach's markup, tighten your deck, and send the better version. If your first version was already your best, keep it.

What happens after you pre-apply

From pre-application to the finals stage

Two parts: the steps you do with a CoLab Venture Coach, then the official rounds.

With your CoLab Venture Coach · now to Jan 4
  1. 1NowPre-apply here5 minutes. You’re in our system and matched with a coach.
  2. 2Within a few daysMeet your coachThey help you shape the full application.
  3. 3By Fri Nov 20Submit the full applicationOn StartupTree. Nov 20 gets every perk. Closes Mon Jan 4, 11:59 PM.
The official competition · Jan to Apr
  1. 4Jan 19Round 1 resultsJudges review every application. Results by email.
  2. 5Jan 28–29Round 2 pitch340 Student Union. Teams must meet a CoLab Venture Coach first and bring a pro forma cap table.
  3. 6Feb 16–17Round 3 pitchBy invitation, 340 Student Union.
  4. 7Feb 18SemifinalistsMeet the UB E-Law Clinic and legally form your company. Materials due Mar 17.
  5. 8Mar 25FinalistsPractice Apr 14 and a long-form pitch day Apr 22.
  6. 9Apr 23The finals4:30–7:30 PM, Center for the Arts Mainstage. Live.
Why start now: Round 2 teams have to meet a CoLab Venture Coach before they pitch. Pre-apply and you already have one.
Pre-apply in 5 minutes
Capped at 30 seatsFor now. One session this semester.

Not ready to apply yet?

The Panasci Application Workshop

Daniel Chan
Led by Daniel ChanPlaced in Panasci twice · Venture Coach

In one hour, Daniel walks you through how to put together a strong application. You leave with a checklist and a head start, then apply by Nov 20 to get every perk.

Daniel hosting a pitch breakdown session at the CoLab
Daniel hosting a pitch breakdown after Startup Boot Camp

Past Panasci winners

First and second place, the last 4 years

Every one of these teams started with an application like yours.

2026
LAZZCO Rocketry, Panasci first place1st
1st place · $25,000 + up to $40,000 in services

LAZZCO Rocketry

Arjun Kodial, Zyad Zahra and Zaid ElNasser

Certified rocket motors, reusable motor hardware and avionics for hobbyists and schools.

Photo: Nancy J. Parisi, UB News
RecycleVision AI, Panasci second place2nd
2nd place · $10,000

RecycleVision AI

Karthik Dantu and Vaishali Maheshkar

Adaptive AI that sorts plastic recycling more accurately.

Photo: Nancy J. Parisi, UB News
2025
SATE, Panasci first place1st
1st place · $25,000 + up to $40,000 in services

SATE

Wei Bo and Shuwei Hou, PhD students

An AI tool that cuts the time speech language pathologists spend on manual notes.

Photo: Nancy J. Parisi, UB News
NIA, Panasci second place2nd
2nd place · $10,000

NIA

Mariam Sadawi and Arianna Wink, MBA students

Fresh juice with natural ingredients and no added sugar.

Photo: Nancy J. Parisi, UB News
2024
Empasta, Panasci first place1st
1st place · $25,000 + up to $40,000 in services

Empasta

Matthew Mullens and Neharika Korati, first-year MBAs

A plant-based "cheeze" sauce made from potatoes and carrots.

Photo: Nancy J. Parisi, UB News
Exergi, Panasci second place2nd
2nd place · $10,000

Exergi

Dominic LaVigne and Daniel Chan

Solar energy generators for homes and small businesses.

Photo: Nancy J. Parisi
2023
RHM Innovations, Panasci first place1st
1st place · $25,000 + up to $40,000 in services

RHM Innovations

Courtney (CJ) Burris and Brandon Davis Burris

Assistive bathing tech. Finalists in 2021, second in 2022, first in 2023.

Photo: Dylan Buyskes, Onion Studios, via UB News
Exergi, Panasci second place2nd
2nd place · $10,000

Exergi

Dominic LaVigne and Daniel Chan

Affordable clean energy products. The same team came back in 2024 and placed second again.

Photo: 2024 (stand-in until a 2023 photo is found)

Questions

Before you apply

My idea isn't ready yet.

That's normal. Panasci is built for early-stage ideas. Apply early and use the coach's markup to make it stronger before Jan 4.

I'm swamped with finals.

That's why the first deadline is before Thanksgiving. Apply now, get your markup before break, and resubmit later.

What's the difference between the pre-application and the full application?

The pre-application here takes about 5 minutes and gets you matched with a CoLab Venture Coach. The full application is the official one on StartupTree. It's longer, your coach helps you with it, and it closes Mon Jan 4 at 11:59 PM. Your perks depend on when you submit the full application.

What happens after I apply?

See the timeline above: Round 1 results on Jan 19, Round 2 pitches Jan 28 to 29, and the live finals on Apr 23 at the Center for the Arts.

Who can apply?

Any UB student. Undergrad, grad and doctoral students are all welcome. Any major, any stage, from an idea to a business that already makes money. The one requirement: the idea is yours, and UB students hold at least majority ownership of it.

Do I need a pitch deck?

No. The first round is a written application. If you have a deck, add the link. If not, early applicants get help building one.

Questions?

Email [email protected] or stop by the CoLab, 340 Student Union, North Campus.

Not sure yet?

Come to the application workshop on Wed Nov 18 first. It's capped at 30 seats for now. Then decide.

See the workshop
Most perks end Fri Nov 20

Your first draft doesn't have to be your last.

Apply early, get a coach's markup, and take your second shot.

Apply by Nov 20 Save a workshop seat (Nov 18)
SATE celebrating first place at Panasci 2025
SATE, first place 2025
Most perks end Fri Nov 20 in 00days 00hrs 00min 00sec Apply now →