Program

Final presentations: 4:30-7:30 p.m. on April 24, 2025
$75,000 in startup funding and business services

Overview

The Henry A. Panasci Jr. Technology Entrepreneurship Competition was created by the UB School of Management and the UB Office of Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships. Funded with a $1 million endowment from the late Henry A. Panasci Jr., the program brings UB students from science, technology, business and other disciplines together to maximize their potential to create viable businesses in Western New York.

The competition is hosted by UB’s Startup and Innovation Collaboratory powered by Blackstone LaunchPad.

Agenda Judges Panel Finalists Special Thanks Sponsors

This competition is possible thanks to the late Henry A. Panasci Jr. and the many individuals who graciously provide their time and expertise.

Emcees

Hadar Borden
UB Startup and Innovation Collaboratory powered by Blackstone LaunchPad

Thomas Murdock
UB School of Management

Entertainment

Luminary Awardees

Shonda Brock
StartSmartPlus

Pete Cimino
Lloyd Taco Trucks & Catering

Shanna Crump-Owens, BA ’94
UB Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program 

Antonella DiGiulio, MM ’12, PhD ’21
Woom Management Inc.

Jacqueline Ghosen, MBA ’94
UB School of Management

Zack Glick
Zatik Security

Julia Jornsay-Silverberg, BS/MBA ’12
Bravery Beats

Sean Lewis, CEL ’10
SLC Advisory Group

Stephanie Peete 
Say Yes Buffalo

Janna Willoughby-Lohr
Papercraft Miracles

Mentors

Brooks Cressman, BS ’87
The Aerospace Corp.

Merry Constantino, CEL ’08
Big Daddy Garden Company / ProductLogic LLC

Alan Belicha, BS ’03, PhD ’08
ABV Consulting LLC / Mount Sinai Innovation Partners

Shannon Johnson
M&T Bank

Jonathan Dunsmoor, LLM ’11
Dunsmoor Law

Pete Cimino
Lloyd Taco Trucks & Catering

J.D. White
Elentra

Adam Utley, PhD ’19
Immunaeon

Joel Colombo, CEL ’10
ThreeSixty

Ryan Young, MD ’20, MBA ’21
Opollo Technologies

Jacob Michalski
ComprehendPT

Jack McGowan, MBA ’88
Insyte Consulting

Michael Canzoneri, BS ’09
Technology Task Group

Geoff Bocobo, MD ’23
Boston Consulting Group

Reactors

Round 1 and Round 2 Judges

David Bachowski, BS ’06
Trusted Nurse Staffing

Joel Colombo, CEL ’10
ThreeSixty

Merry Constantino, CEL ’08
Big Daddy Garden Company / ProductLogic LLC

Brooks Cressman, BS ’87
The Aerospace Corp.

Allison DeHonney, CEL ’23
Urban Fruits & Veggies LLC

Jonathan Garriques, BS ’22
JAG Media

Dan Gigante
19 Ideas 

Shannon Johnson
M&T Bank

Jack McGowan, MBA ’88
Insyte Consulting

Isaac Navias, BS ’10
LocalFi

Whitney Singleton, BA ’18
KeepUpRadio LLC

Adam Utley, PhD ’19
Immunaeon

Janna Willoughby-Lohr
Papercraft Miracles LLC 

Ryan Young, MD ’20, MBA ’21
Opollo Technologies

Tamara Zantell
Raising A Mogul

Semifinal Judges

Guatam Agrawal
Stealth Startup

Krishna Chatpar
Cura

Juweria Dahir, BA 14, MUP ’20
Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Inc.

Nick DiRienzo, BS ’15
Mirage Security

Charles Jones, PhD '16
Alcon

Cassidy Malough, BS ’16, MBA/MSW ’21
Launch NY Inc.

Susan Steffan, BS ’90, MBA ’91
UB School of Management’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

David Teske, BS ’90, JD ’93
Alston + Bird LLP

Samuel Valenti, BS ’89, MS ’92
L3Harris Technologies

Final Judges