Darren Samson of Poughkeepsie among winners at regional competition

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SUNYIT Student Darren Samson

UTICA, NY (04/12/2013)(readMedia)-- SUNYIT student Darren Samson of Poughkeepsie, NY was among the winners at the regional semifinal round of the fourth annual New York State Business Plan Competition, April 10 at SUNYIT. Samson and other students pitched their innovative ideas in a competition much like the popular network TV reality show "Shark Tank." Each team of would-be entrepreneurs attempted to present the most compelling pitch-and the best business plan. Samson's MailTheHouse.com project was selected by the judges to advance to the final round of competition April 26 at UAlbany's College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering (CNSE).

Sponsored by the State University of New York (SUNY) and State Employees Federal Credit Union (SEFCU), the annual competition encourages student-led start-ups from accredited colleges throughout the state to submit business plans for a variety of business and industry innovations. Student team efforts are judged by national venture capitalists, angel investors, investment bankers, and entrepreneurs; more than $225,000 in prizes is awarded to winning teams. Regional semifinal rounds-one in each of the state's 10 regions-are new to the competition this year.