The Long Island High Technology Incubator (LIHTI) held its Spring 2025 Stony Brook Venture (SBV) Challenge, tasking 14 startups with creating a 10-minute presentation describing their business to a panel of judges.
“We run this challenge to identify high-potential ventures to receive more dedicated support for turning their concepts into successful businesses,” said Andrew Wooten, executive director for LIHTI. “I am pleased with the ongoing strength of the deep tech venture pipeline at Stony Brook University and the surrounding Long Island innovation ecosystem.”
LIHTI is a mixed technology incubator assisting Long Island hard tech companies since 1992. As a non-profit organization dedicated to helping new technologically innovative companies and strong ties to Stony Brook University’s Office for Research and Innovation, LIHTI is now working with Research and Innovation on a comprehensive strategy for building an inclusive, thriving and dynamic startup ecosystem. LIHTI’s proximity on the Stony Brook University campus creates a supportive environment to transfer cutting-edge ideas from the University to the private sector.
“The SBV Challenge is a great example of how Stony Brook focuses on getting new, innovative technology out of the laboratory and into society,” said Kevin Gardner, vice president for research and innovation at Stony Brook University. “Technology-based companies are the lifeblood of American prosperity and the Long Island economy, and Stony Brook inventions continually lead to new company formation, wealth creation and jobs on Long Island.”
“SBU is dedicated to enabling and expanding innovation and entrepreneurship, not just on campus, but to realize the extraordinary untapped potential all throughout Long Island,” said Michael Kinch, chief innovation officer at Stony Brook.
This year, 14 startups competed in the April 29 event in three tracks: Health, Energy, and Information. Four prizes were awarded: two in the Health track, and one each for Information and Energy. Winners receive $5,000 awards to use towards commercialization activities and continued support and guidance from LIHTI.
“The pitch competition is a vital tool for pipeline identification and initial diligence for LIHTI,” said Shruti Sharma, associate director, Venture Development for LIHTI. “Through the SBV Challenge, we gain valuable insights into both the technologies and the founders behind them. After the pitch competition concludes, a lot of long-term, curated support kicks in such as timely and warm introductions to resources in our networks as well as opening doors to exclusive, invite-only opportunities.”
The ventures each answered a round of questions to conclude their…
Read More: The Stony Brook Venture Challenge
