Launch Your Venture
Do you have a groundbreaking business idea? Have you developed a concept that would revolutionize aviation, aerospace or engineering? Do you have what it takes to be the next Student-to-CEO? Bring your business idea to life with Launch Your Venture and win up to $10,000 in prizes!

We’re looking for university student-led startups with revolutionary ideas that will change the future of the aviation, aerospace and engineering industries. Successful projects will feature scalable transformative technologies led by strong management teams capable of launching disruptive innovation.

Eligible teams will have at least one full-time student, undergraduate or graduate, at an accredited university in Florida, enrolled during the academic year of the competition. The student must have a major role in the venture (founder, equity holder, C-level management) and will deliver the final pitch if selected as a finalist.

Six finalists will present their pitches online to a judging panel representing investors, industry and the military. Each competitor will receive seven minutes to pitch and a five-minute Q&A with the judges. Winners will be announced at the end of the event.

2024 Launch Your Venture Winners

First Place: Tactical Solutions Group, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Second Place: BeamBloxx, Rollins College

Third Place: Pet HealthCare Innovations, Florida Atlantic University

Entrepreneurs compete in the Launch Your Venture competition, presenting their ideas to judges in the Micaplex at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, April 8, 2024

2023 Launch Your Venture Winners

First Place: Project eFlight, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Second Place: Acreage Farms, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Third Place: AudiSee, University of Miami

The 2023 winners of the Launch Your Venture competition
The 2023 winners of the Launch Your Venture competition. (Photo: Embry-Riddle/David Massey)

2022 Launch Your Venture Winners

First Place: EarlyByrd, Florida Institute of Technology

Second Place: Guardian, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Third Place: Medusa Filtration, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

The 2022 winners of the Launch Your Venture competition
The 2022 winners of the Launch Your Venture competition. (Photo: Embry-Riddle/Bernard Wilchusky)

2021 Launch Your Venture Winners

First Place: Swally, Stetson University

Second Place: Make-Print, Florida Institute of Technology

Third Place: BrainForce, University of Florida

2020 Launch Your Venture Winners

First Place: NovApproach Spine, University of Florida

Second Place: Pistachio, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Third Place: AERLOGS, Florida Atlantic University

2019 Launch Your Venture Winners 

First Place: Dyad Syringe, Stetson University 

Second Place: ExtremeComms Lab Inc., Florida Atlantic University 

Third Place: Fluix Engineering, University of Central Florida 

The 2019 winners and judges of the Launch Your Venture competition
The 2019 Launch Your Venture winners with competition judges. (Embry-Riddle/Jasmine Johnson)

Launch Your Venture #StudentToCEO Bryson Pritchard

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Play Video, Student to CEO Bryson Pritchard

Launch Your Venture #StudentToCEO Reamonn Soto

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Launch Your Venture #StudentToCEO Abhi Sastri

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Launch Your Venture #StudentToCEO Mike Geldart

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Launch Your Venture #StudentToCEO Scott Weintraub

Play Video Previous Launch Your Venture winner Scott Weintraub, CEO of Weintraus, Inc., shares his competition experience and tips to help your team compete in Launch Your Venture 2019, presented by Boeing HorizonX. Launch Your Venture will feature startup teams representing colleges and universities throughout the state of Florida vying for top prize money – key to future research and the funding of a successful business.
 
More info and key dates at http://erau.edu/launchyourventure
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Launch Your Venture #StudentToCEO George Sklivanitis

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