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BUFFALO, N.Y. —  Five teams will vie for more than $75,000 in startup funding and in-kind services in the final round of the Henry A. Panasci Jr. Technology Entrepreneurship Competition (Panasci TEC).

Who: Selected from a record 41 first-round pitches and 13 semifinalists, the five finalists feature a diverse array of business plans:

• AGROWBOTICS is an autonomous robot that combines AI-based detection with precision laser technology to target and eliminate weeds on small-scale vegetable farms to save time, reduce labor costs and keep fresh produce toxin-free.
• HINT Juice and Smoothie Bar provides freshly made, high-quality juices using natural ingredients with no added sugars or artificial flavors.
• Lanatis uses yeast bioengineering and natural plant products to produce small-molecule therapeutics.
• Nara Therapy Inc. provides users with 24/7 mental health support before, during and after therapy sessions.
• SATE (Speech Annotation and Transcription Enhancer) is an AI-powered smart audio application that saves speech language pathologists time on manual annotation work, allowing them to focus on their patients.
  

What: Each of the final teams will present 5-minute pitches, 43North-style, to a panel of judges and other viewers, and will be evaluated on how well they describe the feasibility and marketability of their venture, prove the need for their product or service and present potential sources of capital.

The team that presents the best plan for launching a viable new business in Western New York will earn $25,000 in seed money plus in-kind awards valued at more than $40,000. The second-place team will collect $10,000 in startup funding.

In addition to the competition, organizers will recognize the event’s 25th anniversary while celebrating the future of entrepreneurship and innovation at UB through a series of special initiatives. For example, this year’s event will introduce the Queen City Connectors — a group of regional leaders who will engage with student entrepreneurs and their supporters at a dynamic networking session to foster connections that will drive economic growth in Western New York. And, guests can enjoy free food from nine local “foodpreneurs” linked with UB’s entrepreneurial initiatives.

Why: Hosted by UB’s Startup and Innovation Collaboratory powered by Blackstone LaunchPad, the event brings together UB students from science, technology, business and other disciplines to maximize their potential and create viable businesses in Western New York.

When: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on April 24 (detailed schedule below).

Where: The Center for the Arts on UB’s North Campus.

Details and Photo Opportunities:

• 4:30-5:30 p.m. - Foodpreneurs and networking with the Queen City Connectors 
• 5:40-5:55 p.m. - Welcome remarks 
  
• 5:55-7 p.m. - Team presentations and Luminary Awards
• 7-7:20 p.m. - Short-form improv show with Buffalo Comedy Collective’s ComedySportz
• 7:20-7:30 p.m. - Presentation of awards

For additional details, visit the . 

Anyone interested in attending the presentations on April 24 should register for free at .

Created in 2001 by the UB School of Management and the UB Office of Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships, Panasci TEC is funded with a $1 million endowment from the late Henry A. Panasci Jr. to facilitate and promote the commercialization of UB-generated technologies.