Orange Tank Competition Marks 10 Years of Driving Entrepreneurial Success at Whitman

From a mobile solution where diabetics can use analytics to manage foot ulcers to the ability to integrate large language model (LLM) technology into drone systems, the ideas definitely did not disappoint as the Whitman School of Management marked 10 years of the Orange Tank Pitch competition, held Nov. 1 in the Helaine and Marvin Lender Auditorium.

Serving as emcee was Former Syracuse University and NFL football player Derrell Smith ’10 (IST), G’13 (NEW), CEO of 99EATS, LLC, a virtual culinary brand connecting people through food. With a format much like the popular television show “Shark Tank,” the competition showcased the innovative thinking of students and alumni, as they competed for cash prizes and valuable feedback from alumni entrepreneurs and other business professionals who serve as judges.

“This year’s finalists not only represent how we are driving entrepreneurial success at the Whitman School but also the 10-year legacy of Orange Tank’s contribution to making big ideas become even bigger realities—and that is a fantastic milestone,” says Interim Dean Alex McKelvie. “Our thanks to John Couri whose commitment to entrepreneurship at Whitman and generosity over the years has made this competition possible. And, we couldn’t make this happen without our judges who share their expertise and provide invaluable feedback that will surely help to move our competitors’ ideas forward. The Orange Tank competition is an entrepreneurial highlight at Whitman each year, but this year was extra special as we marked a decade of demonstrating our students’ talent and innovation through this event.”

Twenty-one ventures were submitted to the initial round of this year’s Orange Tank with five selected to pitch at the competition. These finalists were selected based on market potential and sound execution strategy, as well as the ability to protect the intellectual property and the scalability of the business. Thirty-five thousand dollars in cash prizes was awarded for first, second and third place thanks to the continued generosity of Syracuse University Life Trustee and Whitman Advisory Council (WAC) member John Couri ’63 (A&S), H’08.

The five finalists were given just 5 minutes to pitch their ideas followed by a Q&A period from the judges: Buddy Valastro; celebrity baker and television personality; Vinny Lobdell Jr., an entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and founder of VinnyLobdell.com, a website sharing his journey of entrepreneurship and creating positive change; and Stacey Tank ’02, CEO of Bespoke Beauty Brands and former chief transformational and corporate affairs officer for Heineken.

While the judges deliberated, Maria Minniti, Bantle Chair in Entrepreneurship and Public Policy and chair of Whitman’s Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises (EEE), gave a brief update on the EEE department’s recent activities, including special events, new classes, the expansion of activities at the Couri Hatchery business incubator, a newly created master’s degree program on sustainable organizations and policy joint with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the work of the Institute for an Entrepreneurial Society (IES), and highlights of a number of faculty accomplishments and alumni ventures.

“This competition is a true sign of the commitment Whitman and the entire University have to entrepreneurship,” says Minniti. “We are one of very few universities to have a dedicated department of entrepreneurship, no less one that is at the core of the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem of Syracuse University. This is evident in our research, teaching and the innovative ideas coming from our students, faculty and alumni.”

When the judges returned to announce the winners of the 10th Annual Orange Tank Competition, it was Tosin Alabi ’25 MBA who took first place with a cash prize of $25,000 for DiabeTech, an innovative mobile solution for diabetic patients that uses AI analytics to manage foot ulcers.

“I am really excited to win the $25,000 cash prize because I know this will help get my product closer to market to help people and their families,” she says. “When I received the check and looked around at some of the people who had been mentoring me, I could not contain my happiness. This award will hopefully help me get this product mass produced soon.”

Second place ($7,500) was awarded to Angelo Niforatos G’20 (ECS), ’25 MBA, of Niffy Drone Solutions, LLC, which specializes in integrating LLM technology into drone systems, allowing for language control and enhanced autonomous decision making; and third place ($2,500) was awarded to Natasha Brao ’22 (VPA), ’23 M.S., ’24 MBA, for Shooka, a spicy tomato sauce inspired by the Mediterranean Middle Eastern dish shakshuka.

Lobdell surprised the other finalists with awards of $1,500 each: Waqar Hussain ’25 MBA, for Iconnic.cloud, which offers small and midsize enterprises a fully managed cloud server management platform that simplifies the deployment and scaling of web applications; and Emeka Ossai ’25 MBA, for CampusLabs, which is a social enterprise with mentorship programs at universities equipping students with employability and entrepreneurial skills.

Following the competition, students and alumni gathered in the Flaum Grand Auditorium to network and enjoy Syracuse Samplings, a taste of local eats from Whitman alumni businesses.