The Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University has launched the Orange Business Angel Network, a new experiential program designed to give students direct exposure to seed-stage startup investing while strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem across the Syracuse community. Beginning in spring 2026, the inaugural cohort will include approximately 15 upper-level undergraduate and graduate students, along with a founding class of accredited angel investors.
The initiative is structured to give students substantial responsibility for sourcing, evaluating, and supporting early-stage companies affiliated with Syracuse University. Participants will complete professional-grade due diligence, organize investor pitch sessions, collaborate with entrepreneurs, and earn academic credit through a rigorous three-credit course taught by Whitman Professor Jeffrey Gish.
More than 40 universities nationwide operate angel investment programs, but Whitman’s model puts students at the center of real investment processes rather than simulations. Students will evaluate real ventures, assist in deal flow and guide investor discussions while angels make independent investment decisions. This approach aligns with Whitman’s continued investment in experiential education and its recent rise to No. 11 nationally among undergraduate entrepreneurship programs in The Princeton Review’s 2026 rankings.
The program is built around three constituencies. Students learn the fundamentals of angel investing through hands-on activity. SEC-accredited investors with Syracuse ties serve as mentors and potential capital partners. Syracuse-affiliated entrepreneurs with valuations under $10 million and less than $2 million in raised capital can apply to pitch for seed funding beginning in early 2026. Applications are now open for all categories, with entrepreneurial submissions due by January 12, 2026.
OBAN also differentiates itself by forgoing a pooled investment fund, enabling each participating angel to negotiate and make decisions independently. All startups must have a meaningful university connection across founders, alumni, faculty, staff, or parents.
Applications are available for students selected by the Whitman School, accredited angels seeking to join the founding cohort, and Syracuse-affiliated founders preparing for the spring pitch cycle. Additional program details are available on the Orange Business Angel Network webpage.
KEY QUOTES:
“OBAN represents the next evolution in entrepreneurship and experiential education at Whitman. We are giving our students authentic responsibility in the angel investment process, preparing them to lead in entrepreneurial finance or informed founder roles. For the Whitman School, this program strengthens our position to grow into a top 25 business school while building critical connections for our students and alumni within the Syracuse University network. It is yet another commitment by Whitman to experiential programs, which is central to our education.”
“We’re creating something truly unique with the Orange Business Angel Network. This program delivers experiential education and real investment activity to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Our students gain unparalleled experience, and we help each member of our network to thrive through their passions.”
Alex McKelvie, Dean, Whitman School of Management
“What excites me most about OBAN is how it transforms the traditional boundaries between classroom and deal room. Students aren’t just observing the investment process within OBAN. They’re essential to it. And our angels are actively mentoring the next generation of investors and entrepreneurs. This creates a virtuous cycle that benefits everyone involved.”
Erin Draper, Director Of Experiential Programs, Whitman School Of Management
