The Koffman Southern Tier Incubator in downtown Binghamton is home to over two dozen start-up companies turning ideas into businesses. So where better for Windsor students spending the year building their own products to go for inspiration?

Windsor Central High School seniors Samantha Sova, Parker Phillips, Ian Shaffer, and Eric Lin toured the facility and spoke to some of the business owners in hopes of getting a spark for their next big idea. The students are taking the Project Lead the Way Design and Development class. They need to develop a product and pitch its viability as their capstone project this year. 

 

 

“There’s a lot of opportunity out there. You just have to plug into it,” said Lin.

“Taking a risk is a good thing. If you have an idea, go for it,” said Sova. 

Sova’s potential idea for her project was inspired by her recent stint on crutches. 

“One, they hurt really bad. Two, it’s hard to go up and down stairs. So, I have an idea to make the top more comfortable. Then, when it comes into contact with a step, the bottom could rotate and hit the next step, so the crutches could walk up with you,” said Sova. 

Both Sova and Lin plan to major in mechanical engineering at Binghamton University. During the trip to the Incubator, the students met with Andre Haykal, a sophomore at Binghamton University’s School of Management who is the student ambassador to the Incubator.

“I’m always here, trying to get work done, meet other entrepreneurs, and get inspiration,” said Haykal. 

Officials at the Incubator invited PLTW teacher Mark Wentka to keep them updated on the students’ projects. Business owners and others at the Incubator may help along the way, and listen to their final presentations.

 

 

“When you’re pitching to an investor, the investor invests more in the person than the idea,” Laura Holmes, Director of Incubator Operations, told the Windsor students. “A lot of people have ideas. Very few have the desire and aptitude to truly execute those ideas.”

This trip helped put the Windsor students in front of the rare breed who are executing on their ideas.

“I want them to recognize someone who is passionate and enthusiastic about their projects,” said Wentka.