Overview

information about the Fall 2024 program

Requirements:

• Open to undergraduate students only (60 credit hours and above preferred)

• Open only to college and university students in the state of Florida.

• Minimum GPA of 2.75

• Applicants are required to submit an application and attach the required documents, additional information might be requested

Deadline to submit applications is Monday, November 1, 2024

the frank and ellen daveler entrepreneurship program

The Frank and Ellen Daveler Business Pitch Competition is one of the premier college business events in Florida where student entrepreneurs get to pitch their business ideas, win cash rewards, and network with successfull entrepreneurs, investors, and USF faculty. 

application guidelines

• All applications must be completely filled out with as much detail about the business as possible. Applications partially filled or incomplete will not be considered for the competition. 
• Please provide either a business plan, business model canvas, pitch deck or video with your application. The more information you provide about your innovation, the better chance you have of getting selected.

About the Frank and ellen daveler pitch competition

The Frank and Ellen Daveler Entrepreneurship Program offers undergraduate students from across Florida a unique opportunity to increase their knowledge of business operations and gain insight into the entrepreneurial process in venture creation, venture growth, and venture harvesting.

Up to 12 student teams will be chosen and will be given 8 minutes to pitch their innovation in front of a panel of judges from various entrepreneurship backgrounds who will evaluate their business ideas. Some of the innovations pitched at Daveler include: 

• Sustainable Products
• Subscription Boxes
• Physical Prototypes 
• E: Learning Platforms
• Fitness Tech
• Leisure Based Productd
• ...and More!

All Daveler Finalists who participate in the competition are eligible to become Daveler Scholars and Fellows.

Cash Rewards

• $5,000 For Scholars
• $3,000 For Fellows

Selected students are requiered to showcase their entrepreneurial ideas at the in-person event on Friday, November 15, 2024 at the University of South Florida Research Park: 3814 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612

Our Goals

• To inspire students to start new businesses

• To teach valuable business skills

• To network with successful entrepreneurial leaders

• To provide experienced mentors

• To help students achieve success in the classroom and after they graduate

This program is administered by the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship.

For more information, please contact Frank Nunez at fnunez2@usf.edu

or

Tim Ernest at ernestt@usf.edu

Click Here to watch the Spring 2021 Daveler Entrepreneurship Program Awards Ceremony

Fall 2023 Daveler Entrepreneurship Program Scholars 

• Thomas Sear, Florida Gulf Coast University 
• Lara Garcia, Florida International University
• Cherish & Unique Alston, University of South Florida

Fall 2023 Daveler Entrepreneurship Program Fellows

• Kelli Crisp, University of South Florida
• John Thomerson, Florida Atlantic University
• Cesar Molano, University of South Florida
• MackenzieTaylor, Florida State University 
• Isaac Washington, University of South Florida
• Nathan Calvary, Florida Southern College
• Danny Alice, Florida Atlantic University
• Jesuel Caraballo, Florida Southern College
• Rachel Kavalakatt, Florida Atlantic University

Fall 2021 Daveler Entrepreneurship Program Scholars

• Brandon Feinstein, Florida Atlantic University 
• Aiden Natalie, Florida Atlantic University 
• Bernard Lee Brooks, University of South Florida
• Brooke Lierman, Florida Southern College

Fall 2021 Daveler Entrepreneurship Program Fellows

• Brandon Feinstein, Florida Atlantic University
• Nina Sajdak, University of South Florida
• Seth Ross Land, University of Florida 
• Austin Anderson, Florida Gulf Coast University
• Abbigale Lynn Grensing, University of South Florida 
• Makenna Brown, Rollins College
• Callahan Reynolds, University of Tampa
• Behzodbek Moydinboyev, University of South Florida
• Matthew Novack, University of Central Florida
• Aiden Natalie, Florida Atlantic University
• Nicolas Pedraza, University of South Florida
• Bernard Lee Brooks, University of South Florida
• Stormie Pruskauer, Florida Gulf Coast University
• Emma Rebman, University of South Florida 
• Brooke Lierman, Florida Southern College

Spring 2021 Daveler Entrepreneurship Program Scholars 

• John Ciocca, Florida Gulf Coast University
• Magdelena Harrah, University of South Florida
• Kendall Buck, Stetson University
• Colin White, University of Tampa
• Brandon Feinstein, Florida Atlantic University

Spring 2021 Daveler Entrepreneurship Program Fellows

• Oyindamola Teniola, University of South Florida
• Zachary Wigodner, Florida State University
• David Terry, Florida Polytechnic University
• Tanner Hughes, Eckerd College
• Seth Land, University of Florida
• Jean-Didier Bertola, Eckerd College
• William McCarthy, Florida State University
• Kevin Figueroa, Florida Atlantic University
• Myra Jaimes, Florida Gulf Coast University
• Alexandria Quillen, Florida Gulf Coast University
• Shameca Cox, Valencia College
• Kristin Chase, University of North Florida
• Noah Bowman, University of West Florida
• Wainwright Acquoi, Lynn University