16 Buffalo Business Spring 2021
2001 Winner: Student Voice
Team: Eric Reich, JD/MBA '02,
and Michael Weisman, MBA '01
HOW IT STARTED: In 2000, Reich and Weisman came up
with the idea for a business focused on collecting student feed-
back to improve campus services. The idea was validated in
2001 when Reich became the student representative on the
UB Council.
WHERE IT WENT: Student Voice grew to more than
$10 million in annual sales with more than 650 clients when
it was rebranded Campus Labs and acquired shortly aer for
more than $40 million. Following another round of funding,
the company was acquired for $91 million in 2015. In 2020, it
merged with two other companies to form Anthology, now
among the largest tech companies in education.
WHAT WE LEARNED: "Developing a pitch and being ready
for judges' questions forced us to distill our vision, which was
helpful discipline to keep us focused," says Reich. "Then, the
responsibility of being the first winner and knowing we had
to be successful for the credibility of the competition was extra
motivation. It was an awesome experience that set the stage for
creating a cool company and lots of jobs in Buffalo, which we
need more of."
By Kevin Manne
TWO DECADES
OF INNOVATION
Panasci competition builds a legacy
of WNY entrepreneurship
For 20 years, the Henry A. Panasci Jr.
Technology Entrepreneurship Competition
has brought together UB students from
science, technology, business and other
disciplines to maximize their potential
and create viable businesses in Western
New York.
Hosted by the School of Management's
Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and
UB's Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars,
the program was created by the School
of Management and the UB Office of
Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships
and is funded by a $1 million endowment
from the late Panasci.
Winning founders have sought to
innovate in a wide range of fields, and
as the competition reaches a milestone
year, some of them reflect on their
entrepreneurial journeys and share
how their ideas—and businesses
—have evolved.
Reich Photo: Mia Quinn
For a full list of past winners and to learn
more about the Panasci competition,
visit mgt.buffalo.edu/panasci.
