Emboldened by a campus culture of exploring 鈥渨hat if?鈥� and the university鈥檚 support system of expertise and resources to back them, five Knights who started their companies while they were still students are making undeniable noise in their respective industries 鈥� so much so that Forbes just honored them on its annual 30 Under 30 list.

The 麻豆原创 engineering grads are recognized among peers from the likes of Stanford, UC Berkeley, MIT, Yale, Princeton and Columbia.

Joe Sleppy 鈥�18 serves as CEO of Capacitech Energy, which is making supercapacitor technology practical by delivering plug-and-play, modular systems that eliminate power quality issues in data centers and microgrids responsible for downtime and equipment damage.

鈥溌槎乖� encouraged me to think outside of the box,鈥� he says. 鈥溌槎乖� is an innovative university because they鈥檒l ask, 鈥榃hy not?鈥� I think I share the same philosophy with running Capacitech. Let鈥檚 try it. The world is watching. Let鈥檚 use innovation and entrepreneurship to make it better.鈥�

Mason Mincey 鈥�23, Derek Saltzman 鈥�23, Matthew Jaeger 鈥�22 and Patrick Michel are co-founders of Soarce, which takes underutilized plant resources like hemp, seaweed and grass and transforms them into nanomaterials eight times stronger than steel.鈥淲e鈥檙e on pace to build what we feel is going to be the largest global nanocellulose production facility in the world,鈥� Saltzman says. 鈥淎nd we are not afraid to say that and stand behind it. That鈥檚 a big dream, but that鈥檚 kind of what we鈥檙e here to do 鈥� make big changes.鈥�

These grads all credit their rise in large part to the immense support and knowledge they gained from 麻豆原创鈥檚 and . 麻豆原创 invested $10-20,000 of alumni-funded awards from the annual competition and UpStarts program to support their venture development.

鈥淐apacitech and Soarce illustrate how investments in technology development and entrepreneurship education can work together to increase innovation diffusion and societal impact,鈥� says Cameron Ford, William and Susan Crouse Endowed Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Blackstone LaunchPad at 麻豆原创. 鈥淭hey also illustrate the arduous, fraught, years-long paths that entrepreneurs commonly travel when no one is watching to achieve 鈥榦vernight鈥� success. We are immensely proud of the example they are setting for current and future Knights by combining their disciplinary expertise with entrepreneurial knowhow to positively impact others.鈥�

To learn more about how these Knights are putting in the work today that is shaping the future around us, check out their stories (with video) on 麻豆原创 Today:

• Forbes 2026 30 Under 30 Winner: Capacitech
• Forbes 2026 30 Under 30 Winner: Soarce

With a mission to help user defend against cyber threats and safeguard companies from being the next victim their venture, CyberColosseum Solutions, is the first software company to win since 2015.

鈥淏uilding out our product and discovering customers will be our main two focuses early on,鈥� says Walsworth, who is a security engineer at Lockheed Martin. 鈥淒own the line, you can start to expect more businesses relying on our product to train their cybersecurity staff to become experts in defending against cyber-attacks.鈥�

Similar to ABC鈥檚聽Shark Tank,聽the four teams made their pitches to a panel of six judges, including聽Jacques Fu, founder of PETE Learning; Kevin Miller, president and CEO of Addition Financial;聽Mark Norato 鈥�91, vice president of North American Partners in Anesthesia;聽Michael O鈥橠onnell 鈥�09,聽founder and CEO of MOD Ventures LLC;聽John Paccione 鈥�95MBA, president of Red Horse Ventures; and Edward Schons, former president of the Florida High Tech Corridor and assistant vice president for university relations at 麻豆原创.

The Joust is 麻豆原创鈥檚 annual premier startup showcase event. It is hosted by the College of Business鈥� Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and open to students聽of all majors. Competitors present their models for a viable business venture and compete to win money and other resources to pursue their venture. This event celebrates student entrepreneurs, introduces them to community leaders and provides key resources to help launch their ventures.

CyberColosseum Solutions was one of four finalists that emerged from a semifinal pool of 16. Unbound Disability Claims, represented by Rollins College student Samson Lachman and company founders Amanda McDonald and health sciences major Alyssa Wilbanks, created a Turbo Tax-like platform that streamlines Social Security Disability claims and finished runner-up, earning $7,000. ZuLeris Interactive, a team consisting of mechanical engineering major Liam Etan, computer science and mathematics major Jacob Noel, and photonic and electrical engineering major Zackary Zuniga, created an electromagnetic warfare virtual training environment that supplements live learning systems and took home $4,000 for third place. Emergency Insights, featuring Aref Abdala, Javier Arocha and Julio Wall Chirinos, aerospace engineering majors, and Sonia Alvarez, a mechanical engineering major, developed hazard awareness technology that evaluates the risks associated with any address and earned $2,000 in fourth place.

The 2024 Joust New Venture Competition was made possible by in-kind sponsors NPerspective, The Orlando Law Group, the Institute of Internal Auditors, Ecobyte, 麻豆原创鈥檚 Business Incubation Program and Think Integrated.

The Joust New Venture Competition is 麻豆原创鈥檚 premier startup showcase event hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership in 麻豆原创’s College of Business and the Blackstone Launchpad. The event celebrates student entrepreneurs from various majors and all types of venture proposals, introducing them to community leaders and providing key resources to help launch their ventures. Competitors present their models for a viable business and compete to win money and other vital resources to pursue their venture. Previous competitors have gone on to appear on ABC鈥檚 Shark Tank and have launched successful businesses.

A panel of expert professionals representing corporate partners, area businesses and alumni will assess the students鈥� business plans. This year鈥檚 final judges will be Jacques Fu 鈥�08, founder of PETE Learning; Kevin Miller, president and CEO of Addition Financial; Mark Norato 鈥�91, vice president of North American Partners in Anesthesia; Michael O鈥橠onnell 鈥�09, founder and CEO of MOD Ventures LLC; John Paccione 鈥�95, president of Red Horse Ventures; and Edward Schons, former president of the Florida High Tech Corridor and assistant vice president for University Relations at 麻豆原创.

Advancing beyond a roster of 16 semifinalists, here are the four teams competing in the Joust finals:

CyberColosseum Solutions

Team members: Harrison Keating, Noah Magill and Joshua Walsworth

CyberColosseum is a dynamic training platform that immerses information security teams in realistic cyber warfare scenarios. Facing simulations of real-world threat actors like those behind major breaches, a team can hone their skills in a custom environment that mirrors their company’s infrastructure. Unlike static content that quickly becomes outdated, this platform delivers up-to-date threats in a high-stakes practice setting. The mission: equip teams to defend against cyber threats and safeguard companies from becoming the next victim.

Emergency Insights

Team members: Aref Abdala, Sonia Alvarez, Javier Arocha and Julio Wall Chirinos

Emergency Insights revolutionizes hazard risk mitigation by providing precise assessments for both individuals and counties. For users, it offers insights into property risks, aiding in informed decisions about purchases and disaster preparedness. The annual hazard reports assist counties in strategic planning and resource allocation. Unlike existing solutions, Emergency Insights will provide up-to-date data, comprehensive coverage and user-friendly accessibility at an affordable price.

Unbound Disability Claims

Team members: Samson Lachman, Amanda McDonald and Alyssa Wilbanks

Imagine facing a shocking cancer diagnosis after seeking treatment for stomach pain, leading to job loss and financial strain. Applying for Social Security Disability (SSD) becomes a daunting task, taking hours to complete online only to be denied after months of waiting. Appeals bring no relief as savings dwindle, debts mount and health deteriorates. This struggle is all too common for 62% of SSD applicants. The solution: the Disability Claim Builder, which streamlines the process to secure faster approvals and much-needed benefits, much like what TurboTax does for people filing their taxes.

ZuLeris Interactive

Team members: Liam Etan, Jacob Noel and Zackary Zuniga

ZuLeris creates interactive electromagnetic warfare virtual training environments (VTE) to supplement live learning systems. In this constructive VTE, users can educate, train, and rehearse scenarios to accelerate learning and achieve superiority in their field.

Soarce bested three other student ventures on April 8 to take home a $12,000 check and more than $25,000 in essential business services.

Mincey and Saltzman pitched Soarce to a panel of judges representing companies including Addition Financial, BBIF and Echelon Fitness Multimedia. The pair won the judges鈥� favor with a business model that leverages the existing competitive landscape of the athletic apparel industry. Instead of manufacturing clothing themselves, Soarce envisions a 鈥渇abric innovation platform鈥� that allows retailers to weave their new fiber into a variety of products made by other companies.

鈥淪oarce is separating itself as an eco-friendly, high performance brand that is attacking a niche consumer base willing to pay a premium to be early adopters,鈥� says Saltzman, CEO of Soarce. 鈥淲e envision other companies integrating our fabric into their clothing as an innovative way to manage body heat and moisture.鈥�

Soarce aims to retrieve leftover plant matter from local suppliers and collaborate with a weaving partner to ship its proprietary fabric to athletic and industrial clothing manufacturers across the country. In addition to being eco-friendly, Mincey says Soarce鈥檚 fabric regulates body heat in an entirely new way.

鈥淢ost garments rely on complex weave patterns or coatings that eventually wash away. Our new fabric regulates body heat on its own,” says Mincey, COO of Soarce. 鈥淭his keeps you cool longer and makes our fabric perform better than cotton or synthetic blends used by most manufacturers.鈥�

The Joust is 麻豆原创鈥檚 premier startup showcase event presented by Echelon and features students of all majors. Competitors present their models for a viable business venture and compete to win money and other resources to pursue their venture. This year鈥檚 event marked the first time the Joust was held in a virtual setting, but the online format did not deter students from delivering some of the most impressive venture proposals in the history of the competition.

鈥淚t has been a tough 12 months and I have never been as proud of a group of students as I am for this year鈥檚 Joust competitors,鈥� says Associate Professor Cameron Ford, director of the 麻豆原创 Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. 鈥淚鈥檓 pleased that so many students have remained engaged at the Blackstone LaunchPad and in 麻豆原创鈥檚 entrepreneurship community, particularly during such a trying time in the middle of a pandemic. The high-quality ideas and substance behind these ventures are simply off the charts.鈥�

Management graduate student Marcos Crespo 鈥�19 earned $7,000 as runner-up with his company Wallagio, which provides high-impact, removable interior wall decorations.

Management graduate student Davis Helsby of Connecthedocks earned third place and $4,000 for his idea to build a multi-sided, online platform designed to serve as the Airbnb of dock rentals. Criminal justice major Kelly Shea earned $2,500 for her company Leaklock, which produces a small gadget to prevent pump-type bottles from spilling while in storage.

The students鈥� venture proposals were assessed by a panel of business executives representing a wide range of corporate partners, local businesses and alumni. This year鈥檚 judges were Sean Hayes 鈥�95, chief marketing officer at Voloridge Investment; Laurette T. Koellner 鈥�77, corporate board member for Celestica Inc., Nucor Corporation, Papa John鈥檚 International, Inc. and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; Lou Lentine 鈥�93, CEO for Echelon Fitness Multimedia LLC; Inez Long 鈥�98, president and CEO for BBIF, and Kevin Miller, president and CEO for Addition Financial.

鈥淚t is always great to advance to the final round of any pitch competition,鈥� Kyle White says. 鈥淭his one does feel different as we are surrounded by some fantastic competition from ventures launched at schools such as UCLA, Cornell, USC and UC Davis. This event being in partnership with Blackstone and Google is also a bit surreal!鈥�

Among a field of 60+ student startups from the U.S. and Ireland, Yaupon was selected as one of eight finalists to compete in the final round of the competition. In addition to the first-, second- and third-place finishers chosen by a panel of judges, viewers selected Yaupon as the winner of the People鈥檚 Choice award by casting votes online. The competition was held virtually as part of the Startup Grind Global Conference, an event that brings together leaders in technology and big brands on the forefront of innovation.

鈥淲inning this award means a great deal for us,鈥� White says. 鈥淥utside of the prize money, it validates our idea of using Yaupon to help Florida farmers while also providing a cleaner, more ethical and American-grown tea option. We are thrilled to bring home the award for 麻豆原创 as this university has done so much for us.鈥�

Yaupon tea is sold in more than 500 stores nationwide and is also carried by Amazon.

Founded by Kyle and Bryon White in 2012, Yaupon Brothers American Tea Company grows, processes and sells tea made from the yaupon holly. The slow-growing tree is North America鈥檚 only naturally caffeinated, antioxidant-rich plant and is also abundant in Central Florida. Earning more than $380,000 in revenue in 2020, Yaupon tea is sold in more than 500 stores nationwide and is also carried by Amazon. Four years ago, the brothers won the 麻豆原创 Joust New Venture Competition with their business. Now, Kyle helps other students launch their ideas as a coach in 麻豆原创鈥檚 Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars.

鈥淭he LaunchPad has helped us in every imaginable way, not just for this moment, but for every moment and challenge we have faced as a business,鈥� White says. 鈥淪tarting a business as a student can be scary and stressful. But there are so many resources at 麻豆原创. Between the free databases from the library, coaching from the LaunchPad, and utilizing your professors and the alumni network 鈥� there is an abundance of help.鈥�

鈥淎ward funding buys a young company time. Time to negotiate a contract with better terms, time to further vet their plans, and time to accelerate their growth before taking dilutive capital.鈥� says Joseph Sleppy 鈥�18, the company鈥檚 CEO and a 麻豆原创 electrical engineering graduate. 鈥淲e would not be here without funding from sources, like competitions or grants. They bought us time to develop a product and prepare for our next steps. Non-dilutive funding supported the intellectual freedom and creative direction of Capacitech.鈥�

Capacitech won $15,000 in the 2019 Cade Museum Prize, which challenges inventors and entrepreneurs to demonstrate a creative approach to addressing real-world issues. The company was awarded $10,000 from Space Florida in the seed-funding category of the Florida Venture Forum鈥檚 Florida Early Stage Capital Conference, one of the largest such gatherings in the state. Additionally, Capacitech received $1,000 at the two-day tech conference eMerge Americas!.

Capacitech produces cable-based capacitors, a thin, wire-shaped device that stores energy. When installed into solar energy systems, the device works with the system鈥檚 equipment to enhance performance, improve efficiency, and extend their operating life, which will reduce consumer costs. The concept behind cable-based capacitors was developed by Capacitech cofounder Jayan Thomas, a 麻豆原创 nanotechnology professor and a specialist in energy conversion and storage.

鈥淪ince our beginning, Capacitech has been focused on using our technology to make the world a better place.” 鈥斅� Joseph Sleppy 鈥�18, Capacitech CEO

鈥淪ince our beginning, Capacitech has been focused on using our technology to make the world a better place. When I envision the future, I see cleantech. Capacitech鈥檚 cable-based capacitor is an enabling technology for cleantech and thus for the future, too.鈥� says Sleppy. 鈥淩ight now, Capacitech鈥檚 focus is solely on complementing residential solar power systems. Looking ahead, I see us complementing utility scale solar projects, too, as well as using our cable-based capacitors to energize a new age of electric vehicles, information technology backup power systems, medical technologies like exoskeletons, and space exploration, among a wide range of other areas.鈥�

Earlier this year, InnoEnergy 鈥� the innovation engine for sustainable energy across Europe 鈥� named Capacitech one of the top 30 startups in the world. The company won first place in the Florida Venture Forum鈥檚 Collegiate Business Plan Competition and received a highly competitive NSF Grant last year. In 2016, Capacitech won the 麻豆原创 annual Joust , a Shark Tank-like contest where 麻豆原创 students pitch judges on business concepts.

Sleppy gives credit to a wide range of entrepreneurial-support resources at 麻豆原创 for lending a hand into Capacitech鈥檚 growth and success. When he and Thomas established the company in 2016, they found assistance through the , the College of Business聽, and the . 麻豆原创 has placed an institutional emphasis on fostering relationships between entrepreneurs and innovators that will produce business partnerships like Capacitech.

鈥淚t is clear that 麻豆原创 is not just a university. It is part of an innovation and entrepreneurial community within a major metropolitan area that has been very inviting to up-and-coming companies like Capacitech,鈥� Sleppy says. 鈥淭hanks to Florida鈥檚 innovation ecosystem, we have another $26,000 of funding to apply towards building a Capacitech enabled future.鈥�

While pursuing a business degree can certainly be helpful in starting a business, students from every discipline can find success in the free market.

鈥�Entrepreneurship allows students to solve problems in the world that they really care about,鈥� says Kourtney Dinkins, operations manager at 麻豆原创鈥檚 Blackstone LaunchPad. 鈥淚t’s your opportunity to follow your own path and beat your own drum and to solve a problem that is important to you.鈥�

Whether you鈥檙e trying to grow your business or are stuck in the first stages of conception, 麻豆原创 has resources that can help you to develop a thriving company. Here are a few of the services you can find on campus:

Coaching Through Blackstone

Located on the first floor of the Student Union, the Blackstone LaunchPad聽is the center for free business coaching and development. The first step to getting help is to go in and discuss your idea.

鈥�Entrepreneurship allows students to solve problems in the world that they really care about. It’s your opportunity to follow your own path and beat your own drum.鈥�

From there, students are paired up with one of 15 mentors experienced in their field of focus. Coaches work one-on-one with students to guide them through innovation, business modeling and business-growth strategies. During this process students also become familiar with 麻豆原创鈥檚 Ideator system, a networking platform that allows students to share ideas, find partnerships and track their success.

Blackstone鈥檚 coaching and services are available to 麻豆原创 alumni up to three years after graduation, as long as they had one appointment in the LaunchPad while they attended 麻豆原创.

One tip 麻豆原创鈥檚 Blackstone LaunchPad operations manager Kourtney Dinkins suggests before seeking help from Blackstone is to Google your idea to see if it already exists and to learn more about your competitors.

Building Products and Collaborations in the StarterSpace

Located on the first floor of Business Administration Building I, the StarterSpace聽provides 1,500 square feet of collaborative work areas. The space includes free access to a 3-D printer, whiteboards, sewing machines, electrical tools, software-equipped iMacs, an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset and a Vive virtual reality system to help students create prototypes for their businesses.

There is no need to apply or sign up to use StarterSpace or its resources. Students can stop by 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday or 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday.

Experience and Funding Through Competitions

Each academic year, two competitions allow students to put their business planning skills to the test for the chance to win funding for their startup. Full- and part-time students are eligible to enter as individuals or in teams.

鈥淎 lot of times our students have never pitched their idea in front of investors, so [competitions are about] getting [that] experience.鈥�

鈥淎 lot of times our students have never pitched their idea in front of investors,鈥� says Dinkins. 鈥淭hey’ve never even created a pitch deck, so it’s getting the experience to be able to comfortably explain what your business idea is and why we should care.鈥�

Every spring, the Joust New Venture Competition聽awards the top four competitors up to $75,000 in cash and services provided by local sponsors and donors. Contestants must successfully submit an application, present a 12-minute maximum business pitch and complete a 20-minute question鈥揳nd-answer session with the judges.

In the fall, the Social Venture Competition聽rewards student who create an impact by solving social issues through entrepreneurship, with more than $4,000 in cash split among four winners. After correctly submitting their applications, finalists must present their eight-minute proposals and respond to four minutes of questioning from the judges.

Advanced Support Through UPSTARTS

Student businesses that have generated revenue for at least six months can get extra help through the UPSTARTS Student Venture Accelerator.

This program provides qualifying students with free office space, office equipment, advanced coaching resources and collaboration space. UPSTARTS Ventures will also have extensive access to the聽StarterSpace.

Teams of two or more students in good academic standing with 麻豆原创 are accepted and typically demonstrate a focus to building their business. There is no set number of businesses that are accepted into the program, but usually 12-15 are supported each year.

Students must apply by the end of the spring semester to be eligible for support through the following academic year.

Online Resources

Using a 聽can help solidify your business plan. If you鈥檙e unsure how to fill out the chart, watch this 聽for some help.

For help with developing revenue streams, use a social blueprint.

For assistance creating a financial model, check out SCORE鈥檚 .

On a Shark Tank-style stage with a panel of professional judges and in front of a live audience of more than 200 people, 麻豆原创 senior Weitzman pitched his plan to mine and recover precious metals from contaminated lands and waste.

The two co-founders have collectively competed in dozens of entrepreneurship competitions and their persistence is what they believe sold the panel of expert judges on Thor ORE鈥檚 business model.

鈥淲e have plenty of experience in rejection and getting yelled at,鈥� said Weitzman, a physics major. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been, basically, laughed at before on stage. So now we know how to present ourselves.鈥�

Weitzman and Carpenter plan to use the competition winnings to expand Thor ORE鈥檚 mining operation in Alabama. The company鈥檚 appeal, according to Carpenter, lies in its proprietary extraction technology, which allows for eco-friendly mining of smaller, previously inaccessible amounts of gold.

鈥淓ighty percent of gold exists at the atomic level,鈥� said Carpenter, Thor ORE鈥檚 vice president of production. 鈥淥ur competitors are going after the twenty percent they can see. We鈥檙e going after the eighty percent they are leaving behind.鈥�

The Joust is 麻豆原创鈥檚 premier startup showcase event hosted by the 麻豆原创 College of Business鈥檚 Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and featuring students of all majors. This year鈥檚 event was held at the Morgridge International Reading Center on campus. Competitors present their models for a viable business venture and compete to win money and other resources to pursue their venture.

鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of the Joust contestants this year,鈥� said Cameron Ford, director of the 麻豆原创 Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. 鈥淚鈥檓 especially proud of Dylan, our grand champion. He has coached students at the Blackstone LaunchPad for three years and it鈥檚 really exciting to see him take what he has learned from coaching others and apply those lessons to his own venture.鈥�

Ford said the judges pointed out how viable each of the competing proposals could be and commented on the excellent level of preparation by every student involved.

The Joust runners-up were Mason Mincey, Derek Saltzman, Gerardo Diaz-Silva, Garrett Hausman and Matthew Jaeger with SOAR Aerospace, a company that produces sleek, stylish, customizable and quality high-speed drone frames. They took home $7,000.

Shane Singh, Shi Hao Zhang, Akash Gajjar and Shivkumar Kaushik Murthy earned third place and $4,000 for their company, S Star Technologies, and its state-of-the-art respirator. Miracle Care Responders and the team of Jean Saint Jean and Ladeen Taylor ranked fourth for their idea to train, license and find jobs for Certified Nursing Assistants. They took home $2,000.

The students鈥� new-business-venture proposals were assessed by a panel of expert professionals representing a wide range of corporate partners, local businesses and alumni. This year鈥檚 judges were Carrie Callahan, 鈥�94, managing partner at Galliard Capital Management; Sean Hayes, 鈥�95, vice president of Business Development at Voloridge Investment Management; Mathy Hogan, 鈥�87, executive vice president of administration at FAIRWINDS Credit Union; Charles Jorge, 鈥�89, president and CEO of Premier Assurance Group; Patrick Vaughn, 鈥�80, co-founder of Trivium Asset Partners, and Vince Virga, 鈥�95, co-founder and CEO of SkillStorm.

This year鈥檚 presenting sponsors were Steve Felkowitz 鈥�79, Jim Balaschak 鈥�86 鈥�92, and Debbie Balaschak 鈥�88. Additional sponsors included Burr+Foreman, DigiThinkIT, Anidea Engineering Inc., BDO, Nperspective LLC and Volo Foundation.

The four teams remaining from the original 16 semi-finalists are:

Miracle Care Responders, LLC (Jean Saint Jean, Ladeen Taylor): Miracle Care Responders trains people for the Certified Nursing Assistant state exam, helps them get licensed and assists with staffing them where they want to work.

SOAR Aerospace, LLC (Mason Mincey, Derek Saltzman, Gerardo Diaz-Silva, Garrett Hausman, Matthew Jaeger): SOAR Aerospace LLC produces sleek, stylish and quality high-speed drone frames in a variety of colors, enhancing the drone racing experience.

S Star Technologies (Shane Singh, Shi Hao Zhang, Akash Gajjar, Shivkumar Kaushik Murthy): S Star Technologies designed a state-of-the-art respirator to better shield people against airborne pathogens.

Thor ORE (Dylan Weitzman, Glenn Wagner, Brandon Carpenter): Thor ORE has developed a process that allows them to recover and remediate metals from ore bodies and contaminated land. Thor ORE is able to mine several elements and separate them at once.

鈥淭his year’s semifinals competitors were some of the best we’ve ever had, primarily because the overall quality of entries was about as good as we’ve ever seen,鈥� said Dr. Cameron Ford, director of the 麻豆原创 Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. 鈥淭he judges commented on how close the decisions were and the top competitors are going to make our finals one to watch.鈥�

The Joust is 麻豆原创鈥檚 premier startup showcase event, hosted by the 麻豆原创 College of Business鈥檚 Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and featuring students of all majors. Competitors present their models for a viable business venture and compete to win money and other vital resources to pursue their venture. The Shark Tank-style event celebrates student entrepreneurs, introduces them to community leaders and provides key resources to help launch their ventures. The Joust is open to all 麻豆原创 students and all types of venture proposals.

A panel of expert professionals representing corporate partners, area businesses, and alumni assesses the students鈥� business plans. This year鈥檚 platinum sponsors are Steve Felkowitz 鈥�79; Jim Balaschak 鈥�86 鈥�92 and Debbie Balaschak, 鈥�88. Additional sponsors include Burr+Foreman, DigiThinkIT, Anidea Engineering Inc., BDO, Nperspective LLC and Volo Foundation.

The four teams remaining from the field of 16 semi-finalists in this year鈥檚 Joust competition are:

Earthy Creations (Jasmine Yamini, Akeem Sankey, Caroline Castille): Offers delicious, juicy, nutrient-dense dried fruit snacks as a healthy, tasty and earth-friendly alternative to unhealthy candy fruit chews and bland dried-fruit options.

EsportsEDU (James Kozachuk, Evan Frawley, Jesse Wang): The mission of EsportsEDU鈥檚 program is to provide competitive, community and academic programs for high school youth passionate about video-games.

Let鈥檚 C: Learning English (Mei Wang, Tze Fung, Lauren Polson): Let鈥檚 C is an online platform for real-time English language tutoring between tutors from English-speaking universities and students in Hong Kong. The project differentiate itself through focused curriculum and mutually beneficial university partnerships

Yaupon Brothers Tea (Kyle White, Bryon White): Yaupon Brothers Tea is a company focused on producing and distributing tea from the Yaupon Holly, a Florida native plant rich in anti-oxidants and North America鈥檚 only native caffeinated plant.

鈥淭his year鈥檚 Joust featured ventures proposed by some of the most creative and brave Knights on campus. Over 40 business leaders contributed their time and expertise judging these proposals,鈥� said Dr. Cameron Ford, director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. 鈥淚t was a great day full of learning, networking and celebrating.聽 In the end, four ventures advanced to the Joust finals, but all of the participants took an important step toward fulfilling their potential as entrepreneurial leaders.鈥�

The Joust is one of the premier events of the 麻豆原创 College of Business鈥檚 Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. Students present their models for a viable business venture and compete to win money and other resources to pursue their venture. The Joust is open to all 麻豆原创 students and all types of venture proposals.

The students鈥� business plans are assessed by a panel of expert professionals representing corporate partners, area businesses and alumni. This year鈥檚 presenting sponsors are聽Steven Felkowitz, 鈥�79; DigiThinkIT Inc.; Burr+Foreman; and Jim Balaschak, 鈥�86 & 鈥�92, and Debbie Balaschak,鈥�88. Additional sponsors include Anidea Engineering Inc., BDO, Nperspective LLC, and William Hendrickson Consulting.