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SUNY Canton Hosts Second Launch Day for Student Entrepreneurs

Canton, NY (12/03/2025) — Enterprising students from area North Country colleges collaborated at the second North Country Launch Day at SUNY Canton Friday, Nov. 7.

Launch Day is a collaborative, day-long event designed to spark entrepreneurial thinking and hands-on learning. Organized by SUNY Canton and Clarkson University's Shipley Center for Innovation, this dynamic challenge brought together diverse teams from Jefferson Community College, St. Lawrence University, SUNY Plattsburgh, SUNY Potsdam and the host institutions. Open to students from all majors, the event reflects a shared effort to strengthen the region's innovation culture, deepen cross-campus collaboration, and build practical problem-solving skills that benefit North Country communities.

This year's theme focused on real environmental issues affecting the St. Lawrence River and local freshwater ecosystems-an area central to the region's quality of life, economy and long-term sustainability.

Opening remarks were given by James Merrill, a St. Lawrence University graduate and Forbes Entrepreneur of Impact nominee.

Interdisciplinary teams practiced using AI tools to help them refine ideas faster, test assumptions, design early prototypes and strengthen their problem-solving skills-giving them hands-on experience with technologies shaping modern entrepreneurship and helping the region build a more future-ready workforce.

Teams were comprised of students from a mix of the participating colleges, allowing them to share varied perspectives and skill sets as they worked together to develop their business pitches.

Matthew Gattus, a Cybersecurity major from SUNY Canton, said his team was in the process of writing their pitch for the final presentation about microplastics in the St. Lawrence River. "We're focusing on repurposing microplastics taken out of wastewater," he said. "Our business model involves collecting microplastic waste, repurposing it, and then selling the materials to produce items such as filament for 3D printers, nanotubes for chips, and components for batteries."

Zachary Love, a Business Studies major from Jefferson Community College, was working with a group that was proposing a solution to trap agricultural pollutants in stormwater runoff. "We came up with a rod that we insert into the ground in the farmer's fields that absorbs nitrogen and phosphorus, as water runs off," he said. "We'd remove it to calculate what we have collected."

Philemon Mulunda, a Physics major from St. Lawrence University was building a website for his team's proposed company. "We're trying to grow a duckweed farm in the St. Lawrence River to absorb heavy metals and pollutants out of it, and then sell that to biomass manufacture, or biomass fuel manufacturers," he said. "They would turn what we sell into a fuel like gas or wood, which people can use for heat."

Katie Kearney, a Marketing and Public Relations major from SUNY Plattsburgh, said her team was researching zebra mussels. "We're making a test kit that's kind of like COVID-19 tests to see if there is zebra mussel DNA," she said. "People could test the water, and then we're going to have an app that's included with it, so that they could upload their results so other people in the area will be able to know that that water's contaminated."

SeaComm Federal Credit Union sponsored the event, as well as Empire State Development through their Innovation Hot Spot Program.

SUNY Canton leadership praised the collaborative spirit and hands-on learning the event fosters.

"Launch Day is higher education at its best-students working across disciplines, across institutions and on problems that matter. These experiences prepare our students for real-world innovation," said Lenore VanderZee, SUNY Canton Vice President for Strategic Relations and Communications.

Clarkson University's Shipley Center for Innovation echoed the significance of the day.

"The North Country is becoming a hub for sustainability-focused innovation, and Launch Day gives students a platform to build skills, confidence, and solutions for the future," said Shipley Center Director Jamey Hoose.

Students are encouraged to continue developing their ideas-or any other entrepreneurial idea they wish to pursue-with support from the Shipley Center for Innovation and the North Country Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at SUNY Canton.

In March, interested students can pitch in the first round of the New York State Business Plan Competition (NYSBPC), hosted by Clarkson University, which serves as the next major opportunity for emerging entrepreneurs to present their work. Winners from the March competition will go on to compete in the statewide NYSBPC taking place in April, where up to $50,000 in prizes will be awarded.

For more information on North Country Launch Day and future events, please visit nocolaunchday.com.

Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college's career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 25 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.

Media Attachments

St. Lawrence University Student Samira Muthoni works with a group focusing on industrial pollutants in the St. Lawrence River as part of Launch Day.

SUNY Canton student Owen Brace works with his team on a Launch Day project. Each team was comprised of students from multiple colleges to encourage networking.

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