The next wave of savvy student entrepreneurs was on display last Friday as five finalists competed in the final round of the 14th annual InNOLEvation Challenge hosted by the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship.
Software startup Padly, founded by senior Jacob Tarantelli, was named the winner of the $10,000 first-place prize as well as the People’s Choice Award. Padly facilitates sublets in college towns by connecting students with available housing and leasing offices.
Tarantelli, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in STEM entrepreneurship with a minor in computer science, appreciates how the event provides a platform for taking a passionate idea into a successful startup.
“The feedback I got from judges and fellow students was immensely valuable,” Tarantelli said. “The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship has given me the environment and mentorship to turn a personal frustration with student subleasing into a real business, and I’m excited to show everyone what Padly will become because of it. Next up, we are onboarding and getting feedback to expand to more campuses across the Southeast.”
The InNOLEvation Challenge provides students from all majors and grade levels the opportunity to gain valuable insight into innovation and entrepreneurship. This year’s judging panel heard pitches from five finalists during the new venture competition, which focused on identifying problems and potential solutions, building effective teams, defining the assumptions of a new venture and testing those assumptions in the field.
Leading into Friday’s final round, the event took place over two semesters with students submitting parts of their business model during the academic year. The finals were held in front of a live audience, giving attendees a glimpse into some of the brightest entrepreneurial minds at FSU.
Other prize winners in the competition included:
- Second place: Gear Share by Fernando De Abreu Pires, Bruno del Nero and Gabriel Romanini de Barro.
- Third place: Kloset Klick by Emma Leav and Katrina Etan.
- Fourth place: Lithaos by Jephte Moise and Azure Smallwood.
- Fifth place: OrthoLink by Evan Boudreau.
To learn more about the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship InNOLEvation Challenge, visit their website.
To learn more about Padly, visit rentpadly.com.
Photos from the 14th annual InNOLEvation Challenge can be found here.