Second Place at AHA! Collegiate Startup Competition

Houghton, NY — Houghton University students earned second place at this year’s AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition, highlighting the university’s growing strength in entrepreneurship and applied learning.

The team behind Ignite Discovery Center, Katie Berghorn, Corban Gibson, and Elijah Fox, was awarded a $2,500 prize for their business concept focused on creating a hands-on creative and educational space for children in Allegany County. Their idea emphasizes community engagement through interactive exhibits, events, and learning experiences designed for families.

“Our students came up with some very innovative ideas this year,” said Mark Borchert, Dean of Management and Creative Arts. “They learned about entrepreneurship, teamwork, creative product development, marketing, finance, and oral communication skills. We were very proud of their work.”

Houghton University was one of three institutions represented in the competition, alongside Alfred University and Alfred State College. The annual event, hosted in partnership with IncubatorWorks and sponsored in part by the Hoselton Foundation, brings together student teams from across the region to pitch business ideas to a panel of judges and compete for top honors.

In addition to the second-place team, Houghton students also participated with ventures such as Dorm Sweep and Bliss Planners.

The Ignite Discovery Center team was supported by faculty mentor Elissa Tyrrell, adjunct professor of business administration at Houghton University, and industry mentor Jennifer Byrnes of the Monroe County Library System, who provided professional guidance throughout the development of the concept.

The AHA! competition aims to cultivate entrepreneurial thinking among college students while encouraging solutions that address local needs and contribute to regional economic development.