RIT Venture Creations works with high-potential, technology-based startups to develop them into successful companies
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Release Date:
Sept. 27, 2018
Contact:
Vienna McGrain
Twitter: @viennamcgrain
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Brandon Hudson, a fourth-year student in RIT’s School of Individualized Studies, and his team representing Connexus won $250,000 in New York state’s 76 West Clean Energy Competition. Hudson, seen here presenting during the competition, is CEO of the heating and cooling company in Venture Creations that has developed a unique web-based thermostat system. Credit: A. Sue Weisler
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Company led by RIT student wins $250,000 at New York state business competition
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Rochester Institute of Technology
student-entrepreneur
Brandon Hudson is finding success thanks to original thinking and his desire to transform the energy landscape for HVAC customers.
On Sept. 25, Hudson, a fourth-year applied arts and sciences major in RIT’s School of Individualized Studies, and his team representing
Connexus
were awarded $250,000 at the
76West Clean Energy Competition
, sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Connexus
is a heating and cooling control and monitoring company that offers a suite of products designed to simplify the installation of any HVAC system and create unique whole-home solutions. The company offers an Internet of Things (IoT) platform for HVAC contractors that streamlines installation, maintenance and management for customers—while reducing costs, time and energy consumption.
“It’s an honor that our work at Connexus is being recognized at the highest levels in our industry,” said Hudson, CEO, who is from Buffalo, N.Y. “76West is pushing the clean- technology ecosystem forward with an incredible sense of urgency and commitment. We’re excited to be among the group of phenomenal companies leading that charge. The funding from 76West enables us to get a jump start on inventory and move our product manufacturing home to New York. I’m incredibly proud of my team, how far we’ve come to get here, and look forward to hitting some large milestones in the coming weeks.”
The 76West
competition, which offers winners $20 million in prize money and support services, is focused on growing entrepreneurs and attracting resources from the United States and around the world to build clean-energy businesses and jobs in New York state’s Southern Tier region.
No stranger to running a company, Hudson began his entrepreneurial ventures as a first-year RIT student with his business Click, a watchband adapter for Apple Watch. Today, Hudson’s parents operate Click so he can focus on his studies at RIT and Connexus, which is a member of RIT’s
Venture Creations
technology business incubator.
The Connexus team also includes Chuck Russo, HVAC engineering; RIT alumnus Eric Schumann, hardware engineering; Bill Cosselmon, mechanical engineering; and John Bisgrove, sales.
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The 76West competition brings together a strong group of more than 150 companies from more than a dozen countries and 27 states,” said Rich Notargiacomo, incubator director. “To be one of six prize winners is an outstanding achievement and to do so as an undergraduate student is truly remarkable. From the day of our first interaction, I knew that Brandon and Connexus would turn out to be the exemplary client that they are. Brandon is sharp, extremely coachable, completes tasks in very short order, and utilizes all that we have to offer here at Venture Creations and RIT.”
In addition to Connexus, Venture Creations companies Ecolectro, Crystal Creek Organics, Tyll Solar and Molecular Glasses were all named semi-finalists in the competition.
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