Bernard Kozel StartUp @ Saunders
Bernard Kozel Startup Program at Saunders College of Business Recap
Open Seek, Kozel Startup Quick Pitch
Bone Bros, Kozel Startup Quick Pitch
Group Soup, Kozel Startup Quick Pitch
Bernard Kozel StartUp Program Demo Night Recap
About the Bernard Kozel StartUp Program

The Bernard Kozel StartUp Program @ Saunders provides entrepreneurial-minded students with the resources, mentorship, and funding necessary to bring their innovative ideas to life.
Formerly known as the RIT Student Accelerator, the Bernard Kozel StartUp @ Saunders empowers students of all majors by offering hands-on learning experiences, networking opportunities, and strategic mentorship from RIT advisers, industry experts, and investors. Student teams accepted into the program receive a summer stipend and participate in an immersive, experience-based curriculum. The program culminates in a high-profile Demo Night, where teams pitch their ventures to the RIT community and beyond.
The effort is made possible by support from RIT’s Bernard Kozel Endowed Fund for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Kozel was well respected for his roles as a businessman and entrepreneur, innovator, investor, and connector. Kozel’s entrepreneurial journey began post-World War II, when he successfully established various companies dedicated to structural steel, semiconductors and high-tech electronics. Central to his accomplishments was a deep belief in mentoring, evident through his co-founding of KG Capital Associates and his emphasis on guiding and investing in emerging entrepreneurs.
Barbara Kozel, longtime donor and daughter of the late Bernard Kozel, is the fund’s creator and a dedicated supporter of RIT and its entrepreneurial initiatives.
2026 Teams
Teams Presenting at Demo Night
DealFlow
Uses AI agents to draft, evaluate, negotiate, and manage RFPs, keeping you in full control of the RFP process.
- Hassan Ul Haq
- Eric Huang
- Sabina Sabitzhanova
Guardivo
A rights management platform built to help freelance digital artists monetize their work and protect it from digital theft.
- Colin Rills
- Ekam Ghai
- Dan Weil
- Austin Schmidt
CR3D
A platform where everyday athletes coordinate games, stay connected with their group, and find motivation to keep playing.
Intuitic
A firewall that continuously checks Agentic AI workflows to prevent failures while keeping data secure and costs in check.
*Sponsored by the Ramsey Family Innovation Fund*
Impulse
Helps coaches, trainers, and athletes find and prevent dangerous head impacts by providing data and insights otherwise not available.
- Luca Chiossone
- Eric Choi
- Nick Velasquez
- Dillon Gallo
- Vivienne Quarshie
Savora
Developing an operational brain for independent restaurants, turning scattered data into clear, profitable decisions.
- Samay Shetty
- Vighnesh Budharapu
- Ethan Maharaj
- David Zhao
OpenCTF
An open-source educational platform for STEM professors that gamifies learning through customizable competitive challenges and class-wide board games.
- RenAaron Ellis
- Emilio Gracia Rabell
- Raynard Miot
- Blessing Smith
- Collin Thompson
Open Pitch
Helps recreational soccer players discover, create, and organize games by connecting them with local facilities and available fields.
- Mamadou Bah
- Mailu Musila
Stinger
A safer, multi-shot alternative to modern law enforcement tools, delivering an untethered electroshock projectile causing neuromuscular incapacitation.
Honorable Mentions
ASND
A vetted discovery network connecting agencies to trusted creative talent in India.
- Aryan Irani
- Palash Nagar
Elders Den
Provides homes built for caregiving, so seniors can age in place with affordability, comfort, sufficiency, community, and independence.
- Stefan Rogowski
A hardware-agnostic enterprise dashboard unifying cleanroom environmental data into a single platform, providing actionable recommendations and compliance guidance for reliable decision-making.
- Nitish Kumar Singh
- Niharika Ahirekar
- Jason Feng
- Sindhu Munugoti
Rose
Analyzes outdated codebases, modernizes them to current standards with human oversight, and ensures existing functionality and business logic are preserved.
Exuvia
A hybrid roguelike/colony-simulation game about managing, defending, and evolving a colony of trilobites.
- Noah Shin
- Emily Lu
Lex Baker Spirit Award
Presented annually in honor of the late Lex Baker, a former RIT student and participant in the Kozel StartUp Program. This award recognizes a student in the program who exemplifies a collaborative spirit and a commitment to uplifting their peers. The award will be presented each year during Demo Night.
Bernard Kozel Mentor Award
In 2022, the Bernard Kozel Mentor Award was established by his daughter, Barbara, to commemorate his legacy. It acknowledges Kozel StartUp program mentors who emulate his commitment to guiding young talent. Award recipients demonstrate unwavering dedication to nurturing student growth and encouraging their pursuit of excellence. The award underscores the lasting impact of mentorship and Bernard Kozel’s enduring belief in the potential of individuals to shape a better future.
Program Details
Each team receives a stipend, mentoring, coaching, and workspace for your team. The program culminates in a Demo Night where each student team has an opportunity to pitch their business to the greater RIT community.
Applications for the Bernard Kozel StartUp Program are now open
Eligibility
The Bernard Kozel StartUp is for teams and does not accept single-person applications. Each team must be well-rounded and multi-disciplinary in order to have the skills necessary to accomplish the program goals.
Requirements
Students should expect to work significantly more than 40 hours per week. Students in the past have worked upwards of 50-60 hours because they were driven to make their idea a reality.
Teams are not allowed to take classes during this program but may be considered for co-op credit, pending department approval.
Funding is available for teams with a max of three students, with each student receiving a $4,000 stipend and access to a small prototyping fund (based on pre-approval).
Start Your Application
The Summer 2026 Bernard Kozel Startup at Saunders application is now closed.
Stay tuned later this year for the 2027 application.
International students are welcome but must consult International Student Services (ISS) regarding eligibility and work authorization requirements; acceptance to the StartUp Program does not guarantee eligibility or confer work authorization under federal regulations.
