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Three innovative ideas won cash prizes in the CREATE Business Idea competition, held Nov. 1 in the University of Tampa鈥檚 John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center Pitch Room.

Thomas Gallia, a junior entrepreneurship major, was awarded $3,000 for his venture, Adonai Equipment LLC, a fitness equipment company with a unique approach to quality and durability.

Macey Breedlove, a junior entrepreneurship major, secured second place and $1,500 for her makeup brand dedicated to fostering positive self-talk among young girls, a mission that resonated strongly with the judges and audience alike.

The third-place prize of $500 was awarded to Victoria Logan and Sarah Braunstein, juniors majoring in international business and marketing and business information technology, respectively, for their joint venture, Global Ease. Their business develops chatbot solutions to streamline the study-abroad application experience.

The winners stood out from a field of 10 finalists.

鈥淭hese students have not only shown an exceptional level of creativity but have also demonstrated the resilience and hard work it takes to bring their ideas to life," said Rebecca White, director of the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center.

CFO Associates, a local accounting and consulting firm founded by University of Tampa alumni, sponsored this year鈥檚 CREATE (Creating Real Entrepreneurial Actions Through Education) competition.

鈥淭he CREATE competition is at the heart of what we aim to achieve at the center 鈥� helping students transform their ideas into impactful ventures,鈥� White said.

Josh Ray, instructor and new venture advisor, echoed the sentiment, stating, 鈥淪eeing the progression of these students from concept to competition is incredibly inspiring. Each year, the CREATE competition exemplifies the depth of talent and dedication within our 绿奴天花板 entrepreneurship community.鈥�

The John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center at the University of Tampa's Sykes College of Business is dedicated to providing a robust platform for students to explore, develop and launch their entrepreneurial dreams. With initiatives like CREATE, the center fosters an ecosystem where innovative ideas can flourish.

For more information about CREATE and future initiatives, please contact the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center at ecenter@ut.edu.