Student entrepreneurs Ryan Tseng and Alexis Nogueras were proclaimed winners of the Inaugural Florida Collegiate Business Plan Competition this past weekend. The two-day event held at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando was attended by nearly 100 business, government and academic leaders from across the state of Florida.

Conceived as a joint effort among Florida’s leading academic entrepreneurship centers, the competition was sponsored by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Enterprise Florida, and the Florida Venture Forum, and hosted by the University of Central Florida and Rollins College. 

Twelve teams from nine Florida colleges and universities presented written business plans and live presentations to an esteemed panel of judges interested in start-up business investments. The grand prize of the competition is an opportunity to present to Florida Venture Forum Investors.  Representatives of twelve universities from across the state, traveled to the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida for the two-day competition.  Presentations were delivered in one of two categories - investment intensive businesses that will require multi-million dollar venture capital investment; and businesses that could be launched using revenue, personal funds, loans, or small outside investments. The winners of each category were recognized at a reception and luncheon on Saturday afternoon. 

“This was Leadership Training at its best, not just for student participants, for everyone involved in the event” said Gary May, an executive judge from Hopewell Land Partners.

The winner of the investment intensive track, Ryan Tseng, is a recent graduate of the University of Florida. His company, PowerPad, features a patent pending, wireless power transmission system designed to power virtually all consumer electronic devices. Alexis Nogueras, a recent graduate from Florida International University, is CEO and Founder of G-Force Tools. G-Force Tools core product line lies in a revolutionary line of ergonomic garden tools featuring a lighter and more ergonomic shaft, providing better comfort and a unique appearance. His entry won in the limited investment category.  Florida Venture Forum’s Director, Pat Schneider invited Ryan to present PowerPad during the Forum’s annual conference in Boca Raton next February.

Ryan Tseng, winner of the Investment Intensive category, and CEO and Founder of PowerPad, Inc. said “This competition offered access to a lot of opportunities for growing my business.  I was given valuable feedback from successful entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, and I am excited to attend the Florida Venture Forum in February.”

“It was great to see academic, government and business leaders from across the state working together to support the ambitions of these great students”, noted Professor Cameron Ford, Founder of UCF’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.”  Events like this can help connect and focus Florida’s dispersed universities and colleges to foster new companies, well-paying jobs, and a bright economic future.  We’re all looking forward to doing this again next year.”

From left to right:  Cameron Ford, Founding Director of the University of Central Florida Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and co-host to the event; Ryan Tseng, winner of the investment intensive category, CEO and Founder of PowerPad, Inc; recent graduate of the University of Florida; Colleen Post, faculty representative from Florida International University; Alexis Nogeuras, winner of the limited investment category, CEO and Founder of G-Force Tools, Inc; recent graduate of Florida International University; Tom Kruczek, Executive Director of the Rollins College Center for Entrepreneurship, and co-host to the event

About UCF: The University of Central Florida is a public, multi-campus, metropolitan research university, dedicated to serving its surrounding communities with their diverse and expanding populations, technological corridors, and international partners. The mission of the university is to offer high-quality undergraduate and graduate education, student development, and continuing education; to conduct research and creative activities; and to provide services that enhance the intellectual, cultural, environmental, and economic development of the metropolitan region, address national and international issues in key areas, establish UCF as a major presence, and contribute to the global community.

About the Crummer School:  The Crummer Graduate School of Business offers four personalized MBA programs that are fully accredited by the AACSB International, the premier accrediting agency for business schools. Because of the Crummer School’s high admission standards; focus on real-world experience; curriculum tailored to meet today’s business needs; small classes; and rigorous instruction by a distinguished senior faculty, graduates of the Crummer School consistently receive job offers with the most prestigious national and international organizations.

About Florida High Tech Corridor Council:  The Florida High Tech Corridor Council's mission is to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and the workforce to support it within the 23-county Florida High Tech Corridor.

AboutFlorida Venture Forum:  The goal of the Florida Venture Forum is to help ensure the success of entrepreneurial ventures by offering expert counsel, educational advice and managerial assistance. 

About Enterprise Florida:  Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is the public-private partnership responsible for leading Florida's statewide economic development efforts. The organization's mission is to diversify Florida's economy and create better paying jobs for its citizens by supporting, attracting and helping to create businesses in innovative, high-growth industries.

For more information, contact:

Cameron Ford, PhD

(407) 823-3683

cei@bus.ucf.edu