Stony Brook University's Wolfie Tank, a pitch competition inspired by the television show Shark Tank, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. The event was created in 2015 by two students who envisioned merging innovation and entrepreneurship to impact student lives positively. David Ecker, an adjunct faculty member at the College of Business and founder of the event, remarked on its growth beyond just a competition: "Something inside me knew that these students were right," he said.
Last month, the milestone was marked with collaboration between several university departments, including the College of Business and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Derek Peterson, Stony Brook alum and CEO of Soter Technologies, served as a judge for the tenth year alongside Professor Manuel London and Danielle Tedesco from HealthPlan Services.
"This event highlights the creativity, ingenuity, and exciting programs that Stony Brook is committed to do from the business and engineering schools," Ecker stated. He emphasized Stony Brook's dedication to fostering creative ideas across all disciplines within the university.
The competition has inspired additional initiatives like SUNY LI Pitch Fest in collaboration with SUNY Old Westbury and SUNY Farmingdale. Furthermore, an Art Tank event was introduced by Stony Brook’s Campus Beautification committee.
Ecker commented on these developments: "Wolfie Tank is that catalyst that we’ve used to spark business ideas and Art Tank sparks art ideas."
This year's winning team consisted of Mayur Talele and Kishan Patel. They presented Antigence, an AI technology aimed at revolutionizing antibody research in biotech. Their project earned them a $2,500 prize. Patel described their innovation as "a revolutionary technology at the crossroads of therapeutics, AI, and machine learning."
Patel also shared his aspirations: "My goal is to make an impact in the healthcare field by being a provider." Talele plans to pursue an MD-PhD: "My ultimate goal is to be an entrepreneur at the intersection of science, medicine, and technology."
Reflecting on his experience with Wolfie Tank in 2021 when he won with his brother Satyam Talele ’22 as a high school senior, Talele acknowledged how it prepared him for this year's competition.
Ecker concluded by noting Wolfie Tank's role in encouraging student innovation: "This commitment has been the mission of the university since its inception in 1957."