MEET OUR
SPONSOR
J. Christopher
Burch (’76)
got his entrepreneurial start
while still a student at Ithaca College,
where he co-founded a clothing line,
Eagle Eye, with his brother. Eagle Eye
grew to become of the world’s largest
branded sweater makers.
In 2004, Mr. Burch helped launch
the fashion line, Tory Burch, with his
then-wife and served as co-Chairman
of the company until 2012. In 2006,
Mr. Burch founded J.B. Christopher, a
supplier of construction materials to real
estate developers. In 2008, Mr. Burch
founded J. Christopher Capital, LLC.,
later renamed Burch Creative Capital,
which manages venture investments and
brand development. In 2011, he invested
in clothing lines C-Wonder and Monica
Chiang. Mr. Burch’s other investments
include luxury real estate, Internet Capital
Group, Aliph, Powermat, and Voss Water.
Now, Mr. Burch is returning to
his Ithaca College roots to help the
entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Thanks to
him, Ithaca College students have had the
opportunity to bring their own big ideas
to life. We could not be more grateful to
Mr. Burch for his incredible generosity
and support of the brilliant minds within
the Ithaca College community.
THANK YOU
The First Annual Ithaca College Business
Plan Competition was made possible by the
generous help of Ithaca College administrators,
industry professionals, and students.
MENTORS
Brad Treat
Tom Schryver
STAFF
Mary Ellen Zuckerman,
Dean of School of Business
Maria Haner,
Assistant to Dean
Paul Deamer,
Marketing Communications Manager
Megan Harrison,
Marketing & Logistics Coordinator
Rachael Travers,
Student Event Coordinator for School of Business
Jennifer Forbes,
Temporary Administrative Assistant
SEMI-FINAL JUDGES
Duncan Duke
Lee Henderson
Charlie Mulligan
PRIZES
First Place — $20,000
Second Place — $10,000
Third Place — $5,000
Honorary Mentions — $500
Audience Choice — $500
Ithaca College
School of Business
presents the
Business Plan
Competition
ABOUT THE
COMPETITION
Since 2011, Ithaca College has hosted
the annual Ithaca College Business Idea
Competition, where students have been
encouraged to create business ideas and
practice pitching those ideas on a tight
timeline in business format. Now, Ithaca
College is very excited and proud to present
its First Annual Business Plan Competition.
New and past participants are encouraged
to expand upon their ideas and pursue their
own startup businesses. Out of 17 applicants
this year, 6 finalists will pitch their plans to a
panel of industry professionals to compete
for a total of $37,000 in prize money.
THE JUDGES
Michael Axelrod ‘91
Partner — LidquidHub
Co-Founder & Board of Directors —
QuiqMeds, LLC
Co-Founder & President — e-brilliance
Jerry Dietz ‘75
President — C.S.P. Management
Development Center
President — Temple Beth-El
Board of Directors — Chamber of Commerce
Founder — Just Be Cause Not-for-Profit
Mark French ‘97
Founder — Court Grip
Partner — Mission Athletecare
Co-Chairman — Revolver New York
Founder/Manager — NBC Universal’s NBC
Everywhere
FINALISTS
BACKWOODS TECHGEAR, LLC
Cody Ohlheiser, Jeff Jaquith
A snowboarding glove that integrates the
technology any snowboarder would need to stay
connected on the mountain, such as Bluetooth
and music control, without having to take their
gloves off.
SNOBALL
Antoine Connors, James Newton,
Bryan Blanchette
An individualized, multifunctional, and personalized
ice massager. It has the capability of treating a
variety of aches, pains, and ailments derived from
everyday activities, athletic events, and everything
in between.
CRAVINGS DELIVERED
PUSH INTERACTIVE
A delivery dessert shop that specializes in
customization and targets college students.
Delicious ice cream sundaes tailored to exactly
what students are craving can be delivered
to their doorstep, with the hot fudge brownie
still warm but the ice cream still cold! This will
be available during the peak “craving” hours,
between 6 PM and 3 AM.
A marketing consultation firm that utilizes
low-energy Bluetooth iBeacon installation
and programming to help businesses attract
consumers while collecting important marketing
data. These iBeacons can be tailored to fit the
need of the client and their own marketing goals.
KETTLESHELL
INSERTHEEL
A strong, steel “shell” that allows for the shaft
of a dumbbell to be locked securely within the
adapter, and a connected handle permits the
device to be utilized in a kettlebell-like fashion.
By converting any dumbbell into a kettlebell, the
KettleShell increases the versatility of preexisting
fitness equipment, and ultimately saves the user
money and space.
A set of orthopedics with varied patterns of heelstimulating studs to help increase stimulation for
patients with autism learning to walk correctly. The
product design mimics techniques used in physical
therapy sessions by applying pressure to the areas
of the heel that receive the most stimulation in
normal walking.
Elise Steele, Subin Lee
Tim Reynolds
Stephen Briggs, Calvin Chestnut, Austin
Shoecraft, Andrew Sowers
Mia Thomas, Matthew Fox