Queensborough Students selected as finalists in the CUNYCapOne Innovation Challenge for Student Entrepreneurship Program
Event was moderated by Steve Blank, creator of the Lean Startup movement and
Harry Smith, contributing correspondent for NBC and CNBC
On January 13, Queensborough Engineering Technology students Kelvin Henry and Brian Munevar were selected as two of eight finalists to make it to the final phase of the CUNYCapOne Community College Innovation Challenge competition. More than twenty teams participated in the Challenge, which was held at Baruch College. In May, the finalists will compete for over $25,000.00 in prize money.
The event featured a fireside chat with Steve Blank, creator of the Lean Startup movement and Harry Smith of NBC and CNBC. Both keynote speakers participated as a result of special invitations by Queensborough.
Kelvin, a person with a 
disability, pitched his winning idea for fashion-forward adaptive apparel designed for the mobility impaired. “This competition has provided me with an opportunity to turn my dreams into a viable business that would not only challenge the industry I choose to change, but also challenge myself to push forward.” Kelvin plans to graduate from Queensborough in the spring of 2016 and continue his education at a four-year college.
“It is extremely gratifying to see our students develop their business skills, knowledge and goals. I have no doubt they will make stellar entrepreneurs,” said Dr. Christine Mooney, Associate Professor in the Department of Business. Dr. Mooney and Dr. Edgar Troudt, Assistant Professor in the Department of Tourism and Hospitality at Kingsborough Community College, are Co-Principal Investigators of a grant that is supporting the competition.
Dr. Mooney added that Kelvin was mentored by several colleagues from her department and Brian was mentored by Professor Michael Lawrence in the Department of Engineering Technology.
In May, 2015, two Queensborough students, Luc Vaval and Felipe Hoyos ʼ15, won first and second place awards for their entrepreneurial acumen at the Capital One CUNY-wide Challenge competition finals.
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