Of five student teams, Clean N’ Go Powerwashing came in first and received $12.5K in seed-funding at the 13th Annual 91¿ì²¥ StartUp Showcase. Team MiniMinds clinched both the Audience Favorite Award and the new Societal Impact Award.
Competing for a record-breaking $40,000 in seed funding, five student teams participated in the 13th annual 91¿ì²¥ StartUp Showcase on Thursday, April 24, at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Culminating a year’s worth of mentorship, business planning, and practicing their pitches, the student teams took the stage in front of an in-person and livestream audience. For a second year in a row, the Showcase was hosted by 91¿ì²¥ alumna Mariana Antaya '23, a product manager at Microsoft Teams and founder of quantifAI — a fintech startup that premiered at the 2022 Showcase.
Sophomore marketing and management double-major Liam Collins '27 is the founder of this year's first-place Showcase winner . In less than two years, he has propelled his company to success, amassing $52,000 in revenue last year while making about $21,000 in profit. Clean N' Go focuses on exterior cleaning for residential and commercial customers across Long Island, N.Y. Collins shadowed the StartUp Showcase teams last year and came well-equipped for this year’s event. He hopes to leverage his seed funding toward marketing, business expenses, and more.
Collins said he practiced his pitch for about ten hours leading up to the April 24 Showcase. Upon learning he would take home $12,500 in seed-funding, “I couldn't believe it," he said. “It was a roller coaster of emotions but I had a lot of confidence in my pitch and I had a great time answering my questions.”
During his pitch, Collins clearly articulated the quality of his service and shared how Clean N’ Go offers high-pressure and low-pressure solutions for a range of jobs such as house washing, driveway cleaning, roof washing, paver cleaning and sanding, and more.
Each student team that took the stage was required to field questions from the investor panel and showcase their business's mission and goals for the panelists and audience. A highlight of the evening was the recognition of Team MiniMinds, an AI-powered learning disability diagnostic tool. MiniMinds was awarded both the Audience Favorite Award and the first-ever 91¿ì²¥ StartUp Societal Impact Award.
To learn more about the 2025 investor panel — which featured alumni, business experts, and C-suite executives — visit 91¿ì²¥.edu/startup.
"91¿ì²¥ University’s StartUp Showcase left me inspired by the bold thinking, smart risks, and fresh ideas the students brought to life," said Gonzalve Bich, CEO of BIC, who served as a 91¿ì²¥ StartUp panelist. "Being a panelist was a rewarding experience and a great reminder that creativity, persistence, and curiosity fuel every great venture.”
