To begin the application you will have to log into or create an account on our Startuptree platform (this only takes a minute!). Once you are logged in, the application requires contestants to address a series of basic questions about their venture ideas including: Problem - Describe the problem and customer frustrations you intend to address Solution - Describe how your offerings (products/services) address the problem Market Opportunity - Describe your target market, market size, and potential growth Business Model - Describe how you will you earn revenue Competition - Describe current competitors/alternatives and how your solution is better Marketing & Sales - Describe how people will learn about and acquire/buy your offerings Team - Describe your team members (individuals are welcome to apply) Current Status - Describe progress you've made interacting with users, customers, partners, etc. Financial Projections & Milestones - Describe your path to sustainability and success (3-5 years) Answers must be concise, limited to several sentences each (there are character limits for each question). Contestants will be provided feedback from our application review judges when we announce the proposals that advance to our semi-final round. Also, our mentoring staff at the Blackstone LaunchPad in the UCF Student Union Lobby is available to help contestants review their business models, financial models, presentation strategies, and pitch decks. We encourage contestants to visit our free, confidential, expert startup coaches to select and schedule coaching sessions. Past experience shows that coaching significantly contributes to students' odds of qualifying and earning awards. If you have questions, contact us at LaunchPad@ucf.edu or call (407) 823-2642.

Proposed Product/Service and Market Opportunity (25%) Revenue Model and Financial Projections (25%) Team and Execution Plan (25%) Overall Impact (25%)

The anticipated cash awards to be distributed among our finalists are as follows. 1st Place – $12,000 2nd Place – $7,000 3rd Place – $4,500 4th Place – $2,000 Generous community sponsors also provide critical in-kind contributions of business services to the 1st place venture.

Information Sessions EFebruary 1, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET EFebruary 12, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET EFebruary 27, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET Application Workshops EMarch 4, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. ET EMarch 13, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. ET Application Deadline March 4, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. ET Competition Dates EApril 3, 2024: Joust Semi-FinalsHeld at the College of Business at 3:00 p.m. ET. Attendance is by invitation only. EApril 11, 2024: Joust FinalsHeld at the Celeste Hotel on the UCF Campus at 3:00 p.m. ET. Attendance will be open to registered guests.

Joust New Venture Competition | Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

Dean’s Welcome

Break out your lances, Knights, it’s time to Joust! In ancient times, the joust was a competition filled with pageantry. A competition that set apart the best rained and most accomplished knights from the rest of the realm. Our Joust is no different.

The Joust is open to any student at UCF. It is faciliated by our faculty and judged by highly successful business professionals. It takes courage to enter, research to prepare and swagger to win. Comfort zones are exceeded. Vision is married with data. Egos are risked. Failure is almost certain. Only one team walks away with the top prize.

This year will not disappoint as our student entrepreneurs will be delivering some of the most impressive venture proposals we’ve seen in the competition. The interaction and advice our competitors receive from our esteemed judges, faculty and staff are priceless. The Joust experience differentiates the contestants from the less adventurous UCF student. As everyone knows, a good scar makes for a great story.

Go Knights! Charge On!

Paul Jarley, Ph.D | Dean – Official Signature

Paul Jarley, Ph.D.
Dean

The Joust Rules

Eligibility Guidelines

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How to Apply

To begin the application you will have to log into or create an account on our Startuptree platform (this only takes a minute!). Once you are logged in, the application requires contestants to address a series of basic questions about their venture ideas including:

Problem - Describe the problem and customer frustrations you intend to address
Solution - Describe how your offerings (products/services) address the problem
Market Opportunity - Describe your target market, market size, and potential growth
Business Model - Describe how you will you earn revenue
Competition - Describe current competitors/alternatives and how your solution is better
Marketing & Sales - Describe how people will learn about and acquire/buy your offerings
Team - Describe your team members (individuals are welcome to apply)
Current Status - Describe progress you've made interacting with users, customers, partners, etc.
Financial Projections & Milestones - Describe your path to sustainability and success (3-5 years)

Answers must be concise, limited to several sentences each (there are character limits for each question). Contestants will be provided feedback from our application review judges when we announce the proposals that advance to our semi-final round.

Also, our mentoring staff at the Blackstone LaunchPad in the UCF Student Union Lobby is available to help contestants review their business models, financial models, presentation strategies, and pitch decks. We encourage contestants to visit our free, confidential, expert startup coaches to select and schedule coaching sessions. Past experience shows that coaching significantly contributes to students' odds of qualifying and earning awards. If you have questions, contact us at LaunchPad@ucf.edu or call (407) 823-2642.

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Judging Criteria

Proposed Product/Service and Market Opportunity (25%)
Revenue Model and Financial Projections (25%)
Team and Execution Plan (25%)
Overall Impact (25%)

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Awards & Sponsors

The anticipated cash awards to be distributed among our finalists are as follows.

1st Place – $12,000
2nd Place – $7,000
3rd Place – $4,500
4th Place – $2,000

Generous community sponsors also provide critical in-kind contributions of business services to the 1st place venture.

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Important Dates

Information Sessions

Application Workshops

Application Deadline

March 4, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. ET

Competition Dates

EApril 3, 2024: Joust Semi-Finals
Held at the College of Business at 3:00 p.m. ET. Attendance is by invitation only.
EApril 11, 2024: Joust Finals
Held at the Celeste Hotel on the UCF Campus at 3:00 p.m. ET. Attendance will be open to registered guests.

The Agenda

Joust Finals Location

The Celeste Hotel at UCF, across Parking Lot A.
Need directions?

Contestants and Judges Check-In

Contestant and Judge check-in will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Welcome and Introduction

We welcome participants and review event details beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Presentation

Joust presentations will begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. and end by 3:40 p.m. ET.

Judge Deliberations and Reception

Judge deliberation and the reception will begin at approximately 4:40 p.m. ET.

Winners Announced

Winners will be announced at approximately 5:00 p.m. ET.

Judging Criteria

EProposed Product/Service and Market Opportunity (25%)
ERevenue Model and Financial Projections (25%)
ETeam and Execution Plan (25%)
EOverall Impact (25%)

Awards & Sponsors

The anticipated cash awards to be distributed among our finalists are as follows:

1st Place – $12,000
2nd Place – $7,000
3rd Place – $4,000
4th Place – $2,000

Generous community sponsors also provide critical in-kind contributions of business services to the 1st place venture.

Thank you to our in-kind sponsors!

Central Florida’s Finest Service Providers



A Special Thank You to The Michael & Colleen O'Donnell Family Foundation

Join us in extending heartfelt gratitude to the Michael & Colleen O’Donnell Family Foundation for their remarkable contributions to the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. Their unwavering support has empowered aspiring entrepreneurs, fostering innovation and leadership excellence. With their generosity, we’ve been able to provide invaluable resources and mentorship, shaping the future of entrepreneurship.

In-Kind Sponsor

The Orlando Law Group

The Orlando Law Group provides a voice to the voiceless and strength to the overpowered. It means we do a lot of listening, so we can understand your challenges and goals. And it means providing the expert legal advice you need to overcome those challenges and get the results you need to achieve your goals.

In-Kind Sponsor

Think Integrated

You have a vision. A bold vision. A daring vision. New markets to conquer (or create). A critical cause to support. An industry to rattle. Or reinvent. Or revolutionize. You’re ready to change the way people think, act or live their lives. Your eye’s on the bottom line, but your heart knows this goes way beyond business. You’re on a mission. And you need help making it happen.

In-Kind Sponsor

Nperspective

Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services provides fractional, project-based, and interim CFO, management, and financial advisory services to business across the state of Florida and the state of Georgia.

Our mission is to alleviate the pressure on business owners by providing them with a solid financial understanding of their business and its potential.

In-Kind Sponsor

The Institute of Internal Auditors

Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations. It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes.

In-Kind Sponsor

UCF Business Incubator Program

The UCF Business Incubation Program (UCFBIP) provides business development and operational support to early-stage, technology and innovation-driven businesses throughout Central Florida. Since 1999, this award-winning program has supported hundreds of companies, who have collectively generated more than $400 million in sales and over $100 million in outside funding.

In-Kind Sponsor

Ecobyte

Ecobyte specializes in providing comprehensive design services to support corporate identity projects.

From logo creation to brand guidelines development, their team collaborates closely with clients to capture the essence of their brand and translate it into visually compelling assets.

The Rules

Teams that advance to the Semi-Finals and Finals are encouraged to participate in advising sessions and workshops leading up to the Joust. You can find our orientation events and sign up fo Blackstone LaunchPad mentoring sessions here.
Contestants will have ten minutes to present their pitch deck, with six minutes allocated to Q&A from the judging panel. We will allow presenters to use the balance of their 16-minute allocation if the presentation runs short.
Ventures submitted for the Joust are not kept confidential, so do not include detailed descriptions of intellectual property in your submission. Participants retain ownership over their ventures, concepts, and ideas.
All contestants are expected to compete with integrity and shall not knowingly deceive judges or members of the selection committee. All presented materials shall be offered as an accurate representation of your knowledge and expectations, and shall not contain false or misleading statements. Contestants who violate this expectation of integrity are subject to disqualification and revocation of awards.
Joust participants authorize UCF, CEL, and its affiliates to use a summary of the content of their submission and any video and image submissions for publicity purposes related to the Joust.
The organizers of the Joust reserve the right to disqualify any entry that, in their judgment, violates the spirit of the competition guidelines.

Please email or call the Blackstone LaunchPad (launchpad@ucf.edu; 407-823-2642) with any questions regarding eligibility and rules.

Eligibility

The competition is open to all full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at UCF during the 2023-24 academic year. Each venture’s management team must consist of at least one UCF student who has a key role and ownership stake in the venture. Alumni and non-students may participate as members of a venture’s founding team, but only UCF students may participate in presentations or answer questions from judges.
Submissions may be entered by individuals or teams. The size of teams is not restricted. Applicants may only submit one idea, and students may only participate on one team.
Entries must be the student’s original work, and only complete applications will be considered.
As of March 15, 2024, ventures entered in the Joust New Venture Competition must not have accepted non-institutional funding in excess of $150,000 (e.g. contests, grants, friends and family, bank loans, etc). Teams must disclose prior funding received when they apply for the Joust.
New venture proposals that have been presented in a previous Joust Final are not eligible to participate.

Joust Finalists for 2024



Unbound Disability Claims

ZuLeris Interactive

Emergency Insights

CyberColosseum Solutions

Finals Judges

Kevin Miller
President & CEO

Addition Financial

Mark Norato ’91
Vice President

North American Partners in Anesthesia

Ed Schons
Retired

The President of the Florida High Tech Corridor and Assistant VP for University Relations at UCF

John Paccione ’95
President

Red Horse Ventures

Jacques Fu ’07
Founder

PETE Learning

Michael O’Donnell ’09
Founder CEO

MOD Ventures LLC

Joust Semi-Finals Competitors



Red Room

Yellow Room

Blue Room

Purple Room

Emergency Insights

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

CallRespondAI

CallRespondAI offers an AI-powered solution for contact centers, featuring a cutting-edge receptionist driven by advanced machine learning algorithms. We reach our target market through various channels, including social media, industry events, and partnerships. Our tiered subscription pricing model charges clients based on usage "tokens," ensuring cost-effectiveness. With seamless interactions, tailored support, and stable financial solutions, CallRespondAI provides reliable contact center support and a trustworthy receptionist experience for callers.

Tank Sense

Our product is an IoT-based monitoring and maintenance system designed for residential and commercial septic systems. By leveraging real-time data analytics and AI-driven insights, we aim to extend the lifespan of septic systems, reduce the need for costly repairs, minimize environmental impact, and improve overall system efficiency.

Bala Bottles

Bala Bottles is an insulated dual bottles for an active lifestyle. Each 32oz bottle features a yin-yang design with screw caps to prevent spills. Stay balanced, stay refreshed with two drinks in one bottle. Empower your active lifestyle with convenience and versatility. Bala fosters community through wellness-focused social media content.

Red Room Participating Judges

Serguei Melnik '98

Director/Founder

Nutriband Inc.

Jim Atchison '92

Former President & CEO

Sea World Parks & Entertainment

Mark Plaumann '74

Co-Founder & Managing Member

Greyhawke Capital Advisors LLC

Gary Capton

Vice President of Sales

Fairwinds Credit Union

Snag Speed

Snag Speed re-imagines nightlife reservations with an intuitive app that allows users to effortlessly book sections, pre-order drinks, and skip lines using Snag Speed Session Pass. With group bookings and club bundle deals, enjoy fast entry and cashless transactions all from your phone. Our data-driven approach fosters transparency between clubs and users, ensuring seamless experiences while prioritizing safety and security.

Unbound Disability Claims

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. Our solution? The Disability Claim Builder, streamlining the process to secure faster approvals and much-needed benefits, akin to TurboTax for the SSD industry.

Hyper Bionics

Hyper Bionics (HB) designs and manufactures 3D printed wearable bionic arms, like the MARK 1 (Mechanical Arm with Robust Kinematics), to ease heavy lifting. These arms enhance efficiency and reduce injury risk, benefiting moving companies, delivery drivers, and other heavy-lifting jobs. For instance, employees can effortlessly lift furniture or packages by activating the arm. Additionally, the bionic arm serves as protection against heavy objects. Future plans include extending research to 3D printed leg supports with linear actuators, aiming to restore mobility for paralyzed individuals.

Kaizen Energy

Kaizen Energy fills a market gap by offering an energy drink with protein, providing value with natural caffeine and clean ingredients. With 150mg of natural caffeine and 20g of protein, our 2-in-1 formula stands out as a budget-friendly option for health-conscious consumers seeking a natural energy and protein boost. Our mission embodies continuous improvement, reflecting our commitment to steady growth and product enhancement.

Yellow Room Participating Judges

Laurette Koellner '77

Corporate Board Member

Celestica Inc., Nucor Corporation, Papa John’s International, Inc, and the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Kent Adams '85

Owner

OrthoEXCELLENCE

Carl Little

Associate Director of Development

University of Central Florida

Tyler Grumbles '05

Partner, Investment Consultant

AndCo Consulting

Theseus Financial

Our axiom is simple: "People don't want to think about money." At Theseus Financial, we make it effortless for users to maximize their credit card rewards and consolidate gift cards. Our goal is to empower users to focus less on finances and more on enjoying life. With minimal effort, we help customers get the most out of their purchases, putting more money and rewards in their pockets and reducing financial stress. As we expand, we aim to offer additional personal finance services to further this mission.

CyberColosseum Solutions

CyberColosseum is a dynamic training platform immersing your information security team in realistic cyber warfare scenarios. Facing simulations of real-world threat actors like those behind major breaches, your team hones their skills in a custom environment mirroring your company's infrastructure. Unlike static content that quickly becomes outdated, our platform delivers up-to-date threats in a high-stakes practice setting. Our mission? Equipping your team to defend against cyber threats and safeguard your company from becoming the next victim.

Unastahili Kuonwa (You Deserve to be Seen)

Unastahili Kuonwa aims to empower communities in Kenya and beyond by creating accessible artwork that celebrates cultural diversity and heritage. Through an organization of local visual artists, we'll conduct workshops in Kenyan villages, teaching participants to craft their own empowering imagery. By fostering skills in artistic expression and entrepreneurship, we aim to promote cultural identity, economic empowerment, and sustainability within communities. Ultimately, our goal is to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive artistic community that honors Kenyan culture. The artwork will be shared globally through virtual exhibitions.

H2FLO

Our mission at H2FLO is to empower our customers with an eco-friendly and efficient water management technology, enabling them to significantly reduce their water bills while actively contributing to the global sustainability efforts. We are able to do this by using our smart water management technology, traditional water meters measure by volume and cannot tell the difference between water and air, our product ensures accurate readings at the water meter by creating a laminar flow at the water line and compressing the air.

Blue Room Participating Judges

Derek DeSalvia '03

Chief Customer Officer

Hilton Grand Vacation

Harry Morehead '87

Executive Vice President

Thrifty Rents, Inc.

James Hawley '95

CEO & Founder

NextPath Career Partners

Jeff Borysiewicz '95

President & Founder

Corona Cigar Company

Crcl | Social Media Reimagined

Our company, Creating Real LLC, aims to revolutionize social interaction through our primary app, Crcl. Unlike traditional social media, Crcl prioritizes real-life connections by encouraging users to add only those they know personally. We uphold industry-leading standards, including stringent security measures and a user-friendly interface that prioritizes mental health and well-being. Our goal is not to compete with existing social networks but to establish a new standard for social interaction platforms. By promoting offline connections and community engagement, we foster a healthier relationship between users and the platform.

BulletPROOFED

Studies by the American Cancer Society state that broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen helps adequately protect skin on sunny days. Because BulletPROOFED is a sports/men’s sunscreen it needs to be travel sized in order to entice the target market to carry it. BulletPROOFED sunscreen would use ingredients to act as a skin care product aiding in replenishing skin with necessary minerals and vitamins. This piece is second to the basis of the product, which is to protect men from harmful UV rays. I bring to you the Travel sized BulletPROOFED SPF30 sunscreen. Throw it into the motorcycle bags for guys on the on go!

ZuLeris Interactive

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

Sun Rover

Sun Rover is a lightweight aluminum trailer with a foldable solar panel array and battery pack. This will sustainably provide mobile power to off grid areas. The silent, clean, and light trailer will replace the loud, dirty, and heavy diesel generators commonly used.