Young and hungry enterpreneurs filled the class and conference rooms at Utica College's Clark City Center, in downtown Utica Friday, taking part in a day-long business plan competition. Students from six local colleges took part.

"These are all student-conceived companies, half of which have already incorporated as real businesses," said UC Professor of Media and Management, Brett Orzechowski.

At stake-nearly $10,000 in cash and in-kind services, which the start-ups could really use.

"That's really important, because the three things a lot of startups are lacking are acccounting support, digital marketing support, and legal support," said Orzechowski.

The keynote speaker was someone who sat in the classroom not all that long ago: Ilion native Adam Day, now creative director for Helios & Matheson.

"We essentially created a company that is now a NASDAQ company publicly traded. Along the way, we acquired Movie Pass, last summer....so, we own Movie Pass. We just acquired movie phone yesterday," said Day.

Day's advice to the students looking to glean his wisdom?

"I wouldn't say I'm an expert in anything I do; I wouldn't say I'm particularly experienced in anything I do, but I just go out and do it."

The grand prize winner of the business plan competition: MVCC. Utica College's Jennifer Waters and Becky Vennero won in their divisions.