’Cuse50 Alumni Entrepreneur Award Winners Impart Valuable Information at Student Summit

Anytime a group of entrepreneurs get together, there is an air of excitement, as innovative ideas are discussed, stories of success and obstacles are told and a “no fail” attitude permeates the crowd. This entrepreneurial spirit was in full force at the ’CUSE50 Student Summit on Nov. 14, held in conjunction with Syracuse University’s 2025 ’CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Awards presented the previous day. The ’CUSE50 represent the 50 fastest growing businesses owned or led by alumni across the University. The winners were eager to stay an extra day for the opportunity to network and share their wisdom with young entrepreneurs on the rise.

“The ’CUSE50 Student Summit is a great opportunity for students to connect with alumni and walk in the footsteps of those who went out into the world and made it happen,” said J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and Whitman executive dean, as he welcomed the attendees. “Thank you to the alumni winners for being here today to help foster our next generation of entrepreneurs. Students, you have been given a rare opportunity to learn from some of the best today, so take it all in.”

Added Whitman Interim Dean Alex McKelvie, “All the alumni sitting here today had someone—a friend, a mentor, a hero—who inspired them to make their ideas happen. And, that’s why you are here today to start some fires that are essential to success. Syracuse University and the Whitman School put a flag in the ground on entrepreneurship a number of years ago, and today the Whitman School is No. 2 in the world for entrepreneurial scholarship, as well as No. 11 in the country for its undergraduate entrepreneurship program and No. 17 for its graduate entrepreneurship program. And, all of you have helped to make this possible.”

The Student Summit was coordinated by Linda Dickerson Hartsock, Syracuse University Libraries Strategic Initiatives Advisor and Whitman faculty member; Indaria Jones, program manager, Whitman Couri Hatchery Business Incubator; and John Torrens G’93 (EDU) Whitman’s professor of entrepreneurial practice, deputy department chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises and a ’CUSE50 alumni entrepreneur.

Ava Lubkemann ’27 (ESC), founder of Revamped and entrepreneur-in-residence at the Couri Hatchery served as emcee for the event.

Panelists Share Expertise at Master Classes

Following introductions, the day kicked off with two Master Classes held in Flaum Grand Hall. Panelists for each session were made up of 2025 ’CUSE50 award winners.

Master Class 1 was facilitated by Kelsey Davis ’19 (NEW), ’20 M.S. senior manager, global communications, content experience, Walmart, and founder of Every Human. Panelists were Jon Eisenberg ’12, senior product manager at Amazon, and founder of All Personalization and All Cutouts; Scott Koondel ’85 (VPA), president and CEO of Sox Entertainment; Gaurav Sarraf ’23 M.S. (ECS), founder of Black Lotus Labs; and Scott Yager ’08 (VPA), CEO of Sacs Entertainment, and founder, host and producer of Challenge Mania. The group discussed the changing world of entrepreneurship in the face of the creator economy, as well as risk-taking, pivoting, being nimble and the advantages of having the autonomy to make your own decisions. Each talked about their journey through entrepreneurship, giving students key advice to help them move their own ideas forward.

Master Class 1 participants Scott Yager, Scott Koondel, Jon Eisenberg, Kelsey Davis and Gaurav Sarraf. 

“Smaller companies either get bought out or fail, so to survive you have to innovate. As we talk about the creator economy, it’s a really wonderful time for young, talented people. Tech controls Hollywood now, good and bad, but you don’t have to succumb to getting that job at Amazon or Netflix. You can create your own content. The next generation doesn’t need the big Hollywood studios, and they know that,” said Koondel.

Saraff commented on risk-taking and the ability to pivot if a business isn’t working. “I’m not going to risk more than would take me out of the game,” he explains. “I take calculated risks that I know I can recover from. If something happens, I know I can start something else.”

Master Class 2 was moderated by the Couri Hatchery’s Indaria Jones and consisted of 2025 ’CUSE50 winners Gabriel Sepulveda-Sanchez L’11, founder of law firm Sepulveda Sanchez Law; Jason Simmons ’00 (ARC), Vice President, IN/EX Architecture; and Holly Conti ’09 (VPA), partner and head of digital marketing, Full Swing Public Relations. The conversation focused on how entrepreneurship allows you to gain experience quickly, client relations and sticking to a vision.

Master Class 2 participants Jason Simmons, Gabriel Sepulveda-Sanchez, Holly Conti and Indaria Jones.

“I didn’t like the feeling of waiting for someone else to recognize I was doing good, and I got trial experience as soon as I started my own firm, where others I went to school with were barely getting any of that,” said Sepulveda-Sanchez of founding his own law firm. “It was more risky to waste my life and hope that something happened than just take a leap of faith.”

Conti addressed aligning clients with company values. “Ninety percent of clients are great,” she said. “But you’re not going to make everyone happy. As I’ve scaled, I’ve been more selective of the clients we take on. It’s hard to say goodbye to a client, especially a big one,  that isn’t working— but if the client isn’t coming to the table, you have to let go. That makes room for somebody who is more aligned, and you grow as a person and a business.”

Grand Rounds: Table Hopping from Topic to Topic

Following the Master Class panels, students were invited to table hop from one ’CUSE50 honoree to the next in Flaum Grand Hall for short, informal discussions on “How to Build…” topics like how to build a network for success, how to build a personal brand, how to build a side hustle and how to build better wellbeing.

Students Compete in Five-for-Five Pitch Competition

Wrapping up the day was the Five-for-Five Pitch Competition, a “Shark Tank”-style setting where selected student teams had just five minutes to pitch their ideas for a winner-takes-all grand prize of $5,000. The event was moderated by Nicolas Courbage ’26, founder of PapeX, and winner of last year’s competition.

After all ’CUSE50 honorees in attendance cast their ballots, the $5,000 grand prize was awarded to Yas Apothacary and founder Yasmine Madmoune ’27 MBA.

Yas Apothecary is a natural body care brand rooted in Moroccan hammam traditions. Inspired by consumers experiencing challenges like topical steroid withdrawal, the company focuses on clarifying, moisturizing, and strengthening the skin with ethically crafted ingredients. The brand has already generated over $150K in revenue, fulfilled more than 4,500 online orders, secured six wholesale partnerships, and won multiple pitch competitions.

Other pitching teams include: Trey Augliano ’27 founder of Utopia Beauty; Ronan Hussar ’26 founder of MacroFlow; Nathan Brekke ’26 (ECS) ’26 MBA and Joshua Varkey ’26 (ECS) co-founders of Phloat; and Haley Green ’26 (NEW), founder of MIIRROR.

“At the ’CUSE50 Summit, our student innovators didn’t just hear insightful entrepreneurial success stories. They directly engaged with them,” said Hartsock. “Hundreds of students participated in ideas exchanges with top alumni, learning that the next great Orange success stories can start right here. These kinds of immersive opportunities and powerful networks are part of why we are one of the top entrepreneurial programs in the country.” 

For a list of all ‘CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Award winners, visit the Syracuse University website.