April 18th was a high-energy day at Rowan University as the Rowan Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (RCIE) hosted its annual New Venture Expo and Rohrer New Venture Competition – a campus-wide celebration of student innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

The day began with the New Venture Expo, a showcase of 56 interdisciplinary student teams presenting idea-stage ventures for a chance to win $7,000 in funding. Nearly 70 community judges evaluated ideas across industries, and students also participated in the annual stARTup Gallery, curated by RCIE’s Creatives 230 in partnership with the Department of Photography. The gallery featured student artists competing for $600 in prizes, and sales exceeded $2,700, all of which went directly to the artists.

The afternoon transitioned into the Rohrer New Venture Competition, the culmination of a yearlong series of RCIE-led programs. Five finalists pitched on stage for a share of the $50,000 prize pool to a panel of judges including Steven Silverstein (CEO, Spencer Spirit Holdings), Reuben Bell (Co-founder, Ematic Enterprises), Mengyue (J.P.) Li (CEO, Merdian Universal Health Group), and Wendy Verna (Founder, Octo Design Group).

Finalist ventures included a chicken sandwich venture with a line of house-made sauces; a referral management company; a bakery; an online production management platform; and a would-be seller of nutritional supplements for children.

The top prize went to Circlez, the production management start-up founded by Aiden Tahmazian (Mechanical Engineering ’26). Making his presentation, Tahmazian predicted that the company he co-founded with two friends, one a neuroscience student and one a computer programmer and coder, could change the future of manufacturing.

Tahmazian credited his success to Rowan’s entrepreneurial support system. “Without the support from the people here in the center and the greater Rowan community, we would not be where we are today... it’s been a chain reaction of support, guidance, and mentorship.”

One thing judge Wendy Verna hopes students take away from the day – regardless of what phase their business is in or where they placed – is the courage it takes to even step into entrepreneurship. “The percentage of people who are doing what they're doing, that are going to be an entrepreneur, is so small… it already sets you apart from every single other human,” she said.

Judge Steven Silverstein was also struck by the energy in the room. “I’m just so impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the students here and the way they pull for each other… it really speaks well of this program.”

Read more about this year's event on Rowan Today.

RCIE Student Funding Request

🗓 Registration Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

The Rowan Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RCIE) now has a student request form available for all students who are seeking assistance with their startups and professional development opportunities, like competitions and accelerator programs. The application is open now and will remain open for students to use.

🔗 Learn more & apply

Propelus I-Corps at Rowan

🗓 Program Dates: May 30, June 6, June 13, June 20

📝 Registration Deadline: May 9, 2025

Propelus I-Corps is an interdisciplinary program and collaboration between the Rowan University Office of Technology Commercialization, the Rowan Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering. Through this program, research teams will analyze and ideate on how their finding can be applied to customers and industry needs.

🔗 Apply now

Think Like an Entrepreneur Summer Academy

🗓 Program Dates: June 23, 2025 - June 26, 2025

📝 Registration Deadline: May 18, 2025

Applications are now open for this year’s Think Like an Entrepreneur Summer Academy, a free, four-day educational experience for rising high school juniors and seniors. Participants will learn how to conceive, develop, prototype, and pitch ideas, collaborate with Rowan’s faculty and student leaders, and earn 3 college credits upon successful completion.

🔗 Learn more & apply

The 2025 New Venture Expo brought together over 50 student-led teams from across Rowan to showcase their early-stage ideas and creative ventures. Students had the opportunity to pitch to judges, network with peers, and gain real-time feedback to help move their ideas forward. From tech solutions to perfume startups, the expo highlighted the diversity and innovation within Rowan’s thriving entrepreneurial community. Read the full story here. 

After winning first place in this year’s Rohrer New Venture Competition, Aiden Tahmazian (Mechanical Engineering ’26) is looking ahead to the future of Circlez, his production management startup designed to streamline manufacturing processes. Tahmazian plans to continue scaling the company, using the momentum from the competition to secure funding, build partnerships, and grow the platform’s capabilities. Read the full story here.

Alyssa Curley, a senior photography major, was named the winner of the Spring 2024 stARTup Gallery for her series Life in the Unexpected. Curley’s work explores themes of uncertainty and finding beauty in the everyday, earning her top recognition in the student-led gallery curated by RCIE's Creatives 230. Read more here.

Samantha Tamtama (Entrepreneurship ’27) took home first place at the 2025 New Venture Expo for her growing food venture, Sammi’s Chicken Sandwiches and Sauce. Known for her flavorful house-made sauces and signature chicken sandwich, Samantha impressed judges with her passion, samples, business model, and bold vision for the brand. Read the full story here.

RCIE hosted its final Think It, Pitch It competition of the semester, giving students another chance to share early-stage ideas in a low-pressure, feedback-driven environment. Congratulations to our winners: Sierra Finn (Biomedical Engineering ’26), Kashmala Khan (Computer Informatics and Systems ’26), and Ave Corbitt (Music Performance ’25) for their ideas.

Matthew Leoncini, a technologist in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, was honored with the Rowan University Employee Recognition in Innovation & Entrepreneurship Award. Since 2022, he has worked to improve the functionality, safety, and accessibility of the Mechanical Engineering Machine Shop. Congratulations, Matthew!

This semester, RCIE launched the Student Entrepreneurship Advisory Council (SEAC), a student-led initiative designed to expand entrepreneurship outreach at Rowan. The inaugural ambassadors represent nearly every Rowan college and are working to embed entrepreneurial thinking within their academic communities. Read more about the students leading the charge here.

The stARTup Gallery, curated by Creatives 230 in partnership with Rowan’s Department of Photography, officially opened this month in Business Hall. The exhibit features a collection of student-created artwork, all of which is available for sale, giving student artists the opportunity to build their brand, showcase their work, and practice creative entrepreneurship. Read more here.

Nicholas Denzer and Ricci Hausley, both Marketing and Entrepreneurship seniors, placed in the top 7 at the Global Scaling Challenge, hosted by the UNM Anderson School of Management. They competed against 47 teams from around the world in the final round. Congratulations to both on this outstanding achievement!

NextGEI, a partnership between the College of Education and the RCIE, welcomed Nick Bayer, CEO of Saxbys, for an inspiring conversation on entrepreneurship and experiential learning. Bayer shared the story behind Saxbys' growth as an “education company disguised as a coffee company” and highlighted the power of student leadership, the value of mentorship, and the importance of saying yes to challenges.

Harrison Nastasi (Management & Entrepreneurship ’26) and Justin Iannelli (Marketing & Entrepreneurship ’26), co-founders of Bobica Bars, have expanded their line of superfood snacks into ShopRite locations in Washington Township, Sewell, Upper Deerfield, Millville, and Delsea. Congratulations to the Bobica team on this exciting retail milestone!

The Student Entrepreneurship Advisory Council (SEAC) kicked off its first event with a Music Industry & Entrepreneurship Panel. The event brought in professionals from across the music and entertainment industries to talk with students about their careers, challenges, and the role entrepreneurship plays in creative work. Read more here.