Alfred U, Houghton, Alfred State Teams Win AHA! Prize Money

Three college teams from the region earned cash prizes at the annual startup competition.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:43pm

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A minimalist studio still life featuring a laptop, a trophy, and small potted plants, conceptually representing the innovation and academic achievement celebrated at the AHA! startup competition.The annual AHA! startup competition celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit and innovative ideas of college students in Allegany County.Houghton Today

An Alfred University student team called ReGrow won the top prize at the 6th annual AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition hosted at Houghton University. Two teams from Alfred State College also earned prize money at the event, which showcases innovative business ideas from college students in the region.

Why it matters

The AHA! competition helps foster entrepreneurship and innovation among college students in Allegany County, providing them with funding, mentorship, and exposure to start their own businesses. The winning teams demonstrate the strong talent pool and entrepreneurial spirit at universities in the area.

The details

ReGrow, developed by Alfred University students Amina Shamshibayeva, Vladyslava Makarenko and Mike Maeda, took home the top prize at the AHA! competition. Two teams from Alfred State College also earned prize money for their startup ideas, though the specific details of their projects were not provided.

  • The 6th annual AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition was hosted at Houghton University on April 16, 2026.

The players

ReGrow

A startup developed by a team of Alfred University students that won the top prize at the AHA! competition.

Amina Shamshibayeva, Vladyslava Makarenko, Mike Maeda

The Alfred University students who created the winning ReGrow startup.

Alfred State College

Two teams from this college also earned prize money at the AHA! competition for their startup ideas.

Houghton University

The host institution for the 6th annual AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition.

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The takeaway

The AHA! competition continues to be an important platform for fostering entrepreneurship and innovation among college students in the Allegany County region, with the winning teams demonstrating the strong talent and creative potential at local universities.