Two Syracuse Surge Semi-finalists Launched from the College’s Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity

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The Syracuse Surge Accelerator program for BIPOC entrepreneurs recently announced 10 semi-finalists for its inaugural competition.  Of the 10 entrepreneurs selected, two were launched from the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity:

  • Clutch Delivery LLC – This food delivery service for college campuses was founded by Celestin Abwe ’23.
  • HippoH Apparel LLC – A boutique streetwear brand was co-founded by Hasan Stephens, who serves as the Keenan Center’s entrepreneur-in-residence.

The Syracuse Surge Accelerator is a one-year, in-person accelerator to provide direct resources and support for Black-Indigenous-Persons of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs who want to launch and accelerate tech-related and tech-adjacent startups. This includes funding, workshops, mentoring, coaching/advising and strategic connections with potential business partners.

Teams will now go through the next round of judging. Five finalists will be announced in the coming weeks for participation in the 12-month in-person accelerator. Read about the semi-finalists here.