FAU Business Pitch Competition
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN - DEADLINE: FRIDAY, FEB 6, 2026
SUBMIT APPLICATION: 2026 Florida Atlantic Business Pitch Competition Application
There is no entry fee. Late applications will not be accepted.
Click HERE for full Rules & Eligibility.
The annual Florida Atlantic Business Pitch Competition is hosted by the College of Business and the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship with support from local partners and sponsors. The competition is open to Florida Atlantic students and community members and features multiple tracks, including a Veteran Track, The Runway Accelerator Track, and a Spanish-Language Track. Participants pitch their game-changing ideas for a chance to secure seed funding for their new ventures, with finalists competing for cash prizes and preferred access into the Florida Atlantic The Runway Venture Program. Throughout the competition, founders have the opportunity to present to local angel and venture capital groups, connect with successful entrepreneurs, and access resources that support the creation and growth of their businesses.
2026 Tracks
Student Track - Sponsored by the Florida Atlantic Adams Center for Entrepreneurship. Open to current Florida Atlantic students and recent graduates (December 2025). At least one member of the team must be a current Florida Atlantic student or recent graduate. Current students must be in good academic standing and enrolled in classes, part‐time ok.
Blue/Ocean Economy Track - Sponsored by Marine Research Hub, in collaboration with the School for Environmental Coastal & Ocean Sustainability (ECOS). Open to student founders and teams developing solutions, business ideas, technologies, or services connected to ocean, coastal, marine, or water-dependent industries.
Veteran Track - Sponsored by The Dr. Eric H. Shaw endowment for the Veterans Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards. Open to Florida Atlantic Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program alumni.
The Runway Track - Sponsored by The Runway at Florida Atlantic University. Open to participants of The Runway at Florida Atlantic Venture Program.
Track en Español - Sponsored by Hispanic Unity of Florida. Para los graduados del programa intensivo de Hispanic Unity of Florida en otoño de 2025. For graduates of the Spanish-language Entrepreneur "Level-Up" Boot Camp facilitated by Hispanic Unity of Florida in Fall 2025.
2025 Student Track Winners:
| Title | Student Founder Name(s) | Venture Name |
| Winner - $2,500 | Daniel Guido | FireCodes AI | firecodes.ai |
| Runners Up - $1,000 | Cesar Oneid | Chum Bomb LLC |
| Donata Amineva | BioSeq AI | |
| Innovators - $500 | Priscilla Xu | OrthoGenetic |
| Melina Micallef | Yarn Over | |
| Daniella Cracknell | The Spa Dress® | thespadress.com | |
| Ayan Sanaullah | SynthData |
Click Here to Meet the STUDENT VENTURES
2025 Veteran Track Winners:
| Title | Veteran Founder Name | Venture Name |
| Winner - $1,500 | Andrew "Devon" Stephenson | Zera TechBridge | zeratechbridge.com |
| Runner Up - $1,000 | Drew Williams | WALL-R, LLC | wall-r.com |
| Innovators - $300 | Scott Tolbert | CatJets | catjets.com |
| Kelsey De Santis | OFP K9 | |
| Robert Wheeler | BattleFitted | battlefittedbrand.com |
Click Here to Meet the VETERAN VENTURES
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2024 Business Pitch Competition Winners!
The Florida Atlantic Annual Business Pitch Competition features four distinct tracks, each highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit of different groups within our community:
Meet the Student Track Winners:
Students: Emerging student entrepreneurs will present their innovative business ideas and compete for valuable prizes and recognition. Participants are Florida Atlantic undergraduate and graduate students.
| Title | Name | Company Name |
| Winner | Noor Habona & Abigail Sinu | Nanosense |
| Runners Up | Charles Russo | Aldental |
| Julia Mosher | Happy Hearts | |
| Vivian Yu, Yuji Kitamura, & Giuliana Comini | JOYN | |
| Yashwin Adusumilli | MarineGuard | |
| Innovators | Joey Watson | Port-A-Bana |
| Tarruck Wheeler & Ellie Pfahler | N.E.T. | |
| Brianna Carnaval & London Powell | Purity | |
| Hannah Whitcomb | QuickBLD | |
| Alberto Hernandez | Stone Pine Productions |
Meet the Veterans Winners:
Veterans: We honor the dedication and leadership of our veterans by providing a platform for them to showcase their entrepreneurial ventures. Participants are from the 2023-2024 Florida Atlantic Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program.
| Title | Name | Company Name |
| Winner | Angelo Martinez, Natalia Earle, & Duke | The Barracks Legend Foundation |
| Runner Up | Robert Vasvary "Tennessee Bob" | Tennessee Bob's Hot Sauce |
| Innovators | John Wilkinson | Smart-Tech Farms |
| Ben Ergina | Canon Events | |
| Michael Trelles | Christ Empowered Fitness | |
| Richard Raines | Pix Now |
Meet the Spanish-Language Winners:
Spanish-Language: This track celebrates the diversity of our community by providing Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs with the opportunity to present their business concepts. Participants are from the Spring 2024 Spanish-language Entrepreneur Boot Camp.
| Title | Name | Company Name |
| Ganadora | Monica Zuluaga y Nancy Moreno | Pa' Picar & Llevar |
| Subcampeona | Rosario Montilla | MamaMía Maternity |
| Innovadora | Janessa German | Case de Fleur |
Meet the Youth Track Winners:
Youth: Fostering the creativity and ambition of young minds, this track is dedicated to youth entrepreneurs who are making their mark in the business world. Participants are from grades 6-8 from A.D. Henderson.
| Title | Name | Company Name |
| Winner | Aryana Sahai | Ladlis |
| Innovators | Jennifer Placide | Smart Garden |
| Ella Grimaldi | Scentillow | |
| Nathan Fils-Aime | Fryify |
How You Can Support:
- Spread the Word: Share information about the competition with your networks to help us reach a wider audience and support these budding entrepreneurs.
- Become a Mentor or Judge: If you have expertise in entrepreneurship or business, consider volunteering as a mentor or judge to provide valuable feedback and guidance to the competing teams. Email adamscenter@fau.edu or call +1 561-297-3653.
- Become a sponsor. As a sponsor, you have the opportunity to:
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- Make a Difference: Your financial support will directly contribute to the success of aspiring entrepreneurs and help them turn their dreams into reality.
- Gain Visibility: Showcase your commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship by being prominently featured in our event materials and promotional efforts.
- Network and Connect: Engage with a diverse audience of entrepreneurs, community leaders, and stakeholders who share your passion for supporting local initiatives.
Sponsorship Levels: We offer a range of sponsorship packages to suit your organization's goals and budget. Whether you choose to be a Presenting Sponsor, Track Sponsor, or contribute at a Customized Level, your generosity will be recognized and appreciated. Please call +1 561-297-3653 or email adamscenter@fau.edu for more information.
Thank you for your support in empowering and inspiring our startup entrepreneur teams. Together, we can elevate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in our community.
CONTACT US
Adams Center for Entrepreneurship
adamscenter@fau.edu
p: 561-297-3653
