IC News

At the 12th annual Ithaca College Startup Demo Day, held at Rev: Ithaca Startup Works, a business incubator in downtown Ithaca, a new generation of up-and-coming entrepreneurs presented their business ideas to a panel of experts to secure a portion of funding.

Each student presented a slide show featuring their business concept, market projections, prototypes, plans for the future, as well as the amount of seed funding they were seeking and how they hoped to use it. The panel of judges — Lou Magrone ’04, DPT ’06, Leza Raffel ’89, and Chelsey Kingsley — had five minutes to ask questions and gain deeper insight into each concept. 

Newman described how she always struggled with finding adequate golf clothing that fits all her needs.

“I've been looking to start this for a long time, I just didn't know how to actually start,” she said. “This semester, [school of business instructor] Ed Catto inspired me to simply start speaking to people about my idea, and I quickly realized that my vision could help many more female golfers than I initially thought.

“As a result, I was able to finally bring my idea to life and begin speaking with industry professionals, conducting market research, and reaching out to women golfers in my network,” she added.  

Newman was awarded $1,500. She plans to utilize this money to work with a designer to solidify a logo and brand image and for travel expenses to attend the PGA Show in Orlando, to speak in-person with other companies in the industry and continue to get the word out about her idea. The money will also be utilized to help create prototypes for her first three products, which include a high-waisted pant, a skirt, and a modern take on the classic golf polo.

“It was inspired by my own postpartum recovery journey,” she said. “I had my son 5 years ago at 18 and I remember the struggle of recovery like it was yesterday. It is very hard to find products that will support you. The mother’s recovery is often overlooked. However, it is very difficult to care for a baby when your body is healing from severe trauma.”

La Reprise received a $500 Audience’s Choice Award as well as $3,000 from the judges. The money will be used to file a provisional patent and to create a prototype and to then move to manufacturing.

“I hope to help women worldwide to have access to products made entirely to support needs and comfort after childbirth,” Bataille said. “I plan on filling a patent soon and have hired a seamstress to help in the production of the prototype and we are on our way to finalizing the design.”

He and his co-owner, Jose, met in the Marines and after getting their business off the ground, Williams returned to Ithaca College to complete his degree. He was awarded $1,500 and plans to use the money for new state of the art projector systems.  

Williams also appreciated the opportunity to take part in the event. “It was a good experience,” he said. “When we pitch for future investments, we’ll definitely be ready.”

The result was an inexpensive, fair trade African organic remedy to dry skin. Gene, a television-digital media production major, and Beye, and integrated marketing communication major, were awarded $2,000 plus an additional $250 sustainability award. They plan to use their winnings to purchase more raw materials and to market their product.