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The John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center at the University of Tampa Sykes College of Business celebrated a record-breaking success at the 2025 New Venture Expo held on Friday, April 12. This event, which attracted over 400 attendees, including students, alumni, prospective students, investors, volunteers and community members, featured 53 companies.

“This year’s New Venture Expo showcased more than just student businesses — it highlighted the courage, creativity and grit it takes to pursue an entrepreneurial path,” said Rebecca White, director of the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center. “Watching students from all backgrounds and disciplines take the stage with confidence and clarity proves that entrepreneurship at UTampa is not only thriving — it’s transforming lives.”

This year's expo showcased a dynamic mix of graduate and undergraduate students from a variety of academic disciplines, along with participants from the Spartan Incubator and Accelerator entrepreneurship programs. These students presented business concepts developed throughout the academic year, which were evaluated on criteria such as business viability, team capability and presentation quality.

To reflect the entrepreneurial journey, student ventures were categorized into four stages: Idea, Prototyping, Launch and Growth. This structure allowed each business to be evaluated relative to its development stage, offering a fair and tailored judging experience. Whether students were sharing their first concept, testing a prototype, entering the market or scaling an existing venture, they received stage-specific feedback from judges with relevant expertise. This approach not only helped level the playing field but also gave students actionable insights aligned with where they are in their journey.

“At the Sykes College of Business, we prepare students to lead from day one,” said Frank Ghannadian, dean of the Sykes College of Business. “The New Venture Expo brings those lessons to life, giving students a hands-on opportunity to present their ideas, test their thinking, and engage directly with professionals who’ve built businesses of their own. It’s more than a competition — it’s a learning experience that accelerates their growth as future entrepreneurs and business leaders.”

Winners of the 2025 New Venture Expo

Growth Stage

• First Place: Crystal Clear Washing — Founded by Grant Woodson ’25, a finance major, this venture delivers professional pressure washing services to both residential and commercial customers across Tampa Bay.
• Second Place: KPR Marketing — Led by Karolyne Rodriguez ’25, an advertising and public relations major, this venture helps small businesses improve their brand visibility through social media management and consulting.

Launch Stage

• First Place: Habla y Lenguaje — Created by Jamilet Figueroa (Spartan Incubator), this bilingual speech therapy platform provides culturally relevant resources for educators and families.
• Second Place: Oh Snap! Swimwear — Founded by entrepreneurship student Jade Sayas M.S. ’25 and Monica Young, this brand offers inclusive, functional swimwear that empowers women to feel confident and comfortable.

Prototyping Stage

•  First Place: Breeze — Alison Campbell-Gibson ’25, an entrepreneurship major, and team (Nick Marchetti ’25, Robert Boiardi ’25, Noah Moss ’25, Mason Finger ’25 and Alex Finn ’25) developed the Breeze Bowl, a modular smoking accessory designed for effortless cleaning and improved user experience.
•  Second Place: JENATTI — Founded by Sophia Chemlali ’25, a business information technology major, JENATTI is a modesty-focused fashion marketplace app, aiming to simplify how women shop for faith-aligned apparel.

Idea Stage

•  First Place: Calm Companion — Robert Hearn ’25, an entrepreneurship major, and team developed a smart vest and app combo to help dogs overcome anxiety from loud noises through wearable tech and behavioral training.
• Second Place: EPL (Event Planning Logistics) — Created by entrepreneurship student Caitlin Spence M.S. ’25, with fellow graduate students Davis Lindsey and Connor McDonough, EPL offers an all-in-one event planning service covering attire, venues and more.

Over $9,000 in non-dilutive capital was awarded across the four stages of venture development.

Located in the Daly Innovation and Collaboration Building at UTampa, the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center supports the full life cycle of a business from idea to exit, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and aiding students in achieving their professional goals. The Lowth Center houses the Spartan Incubator program, which cultivates business ideas from recent graduates and early-stage community businesses, and the Spartan Accelerator program, which connects current UTampa students from all majors with experienced mentors and industry leaders to help formulate and refine their business plans.

For further information, contact Bert Seither, manager of operations at the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, at aseither@ut.edu.