On Thursday, March 27, two New York Institute of Technology student entrepreneurs who participated in the Necessary Eleven Steps to Tech Startup (NESTS) course excelled at the premier statewide startup competition and progressed to the next round of judging.

In just six months, Necessary Eleven Steps to Tech Startup or NESTS, an experiential learning course designed to help students launch startups and bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, has grown from a single startup to nearly 30 student-led tech ventures across our New York City and Long Island campuses. Through a blend of lectures, case studies, guest speakers, and hands-on projects, students leave the course equipped with the tools and frameworks to transform innovative ideas into actionable business ventures.

The New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) is the primary intercollegiate startup challenge showcasing the most innovative student-led startups in New York. The 2025 NYBPC Regional Rounds offered $100,000 in funding prizes. After a rigorous multi-step application process, several NESTS students were invited to participate in the competition. In fact, New York Tech sported the largest university representation, demonstrating our school’s continuing success at fostering robust student entrepreneurship.

Our students went head-to-head with top startup teams from universities including Stony Brook, Hofstra, NYU, FIT, Adelphi, and others—and showcased the strength of New York Tech’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Two New York Tech student entrepreneurs received praise and recognition in this year’s competition.

Jaan Malik, a senior studying computer science, won an award at the Long Island Regional Competition at Farmingdale State University for his startup Kreativio, an AI-powered app simplifying 3D print design and direct-to-consumer shipping. Malik will take Kreativio to the state finals competition. This marks New York Tech’s second consecutive year of recognition at the Long Island regionals, following last year's success with Niura.

“The feeling I got from being a finalist in the NYBPC was surreal! It felt like all the hard work I put in, especially through NESTS, led up to this moment! I see Kreativio being a global leader in the 3D printing industry.” — Jaan Malik, B.S. Computer Science 

Gunn Aggarwal, a junior studying computer science, won an award at the New York City Regional Competition at Touro University. Her startup is Livelihood, a platform that helps students secure reliable housing in NYC with local property inspection support. She is also moving on to the state finals.

“It felt incredibly rewarding! Being selected as a finalist validated all the hard work and late nights we put into building the startup… NESTS provided the structure and guidance I needed to channel the entrepreneurial spirit I felt was missing. It gave me the foundation to not only develop my idea but also to formally launch my business.” — Gunn Aggarwal, B.S. Computer Science 

The College of Engineering and Computing Sciences (CoECS) is grateful to the NESTS team, to our student entrepreneurs, and to all who foster a culture of innovation at New York Tech. The future of tech entrepreneurship is being built right here!

^{This article was contributed by Sophie Yoakum, Programs & Retention Coordinator, College of Engineering and Computing Sciences.}