Florida State University’s Innovation Hub recently opened its doors and showcased student-led projects in science, technology and entrepreneurship at the Seminole Innovators Open House.
The event featured live demos, exhibits and presentations, highlighting how students from different disciplines collaborate on real-world problem solving.
“Students from across disciplines invested significant time and energy in learning and innovating through a wide range of projects over the past academic year,” said Ken Baldauf, founding director of the Innovation Hub. “Although we were disappointed to cancel our year-end showcase last April, this open house offers students closure, camaraderie and a chance to celebrate their achievements while ushering in a new year of innovation and opportunity.”
Attendees joined workshops and networked with student creators and got hands-on access to the projects.
“Our open house is a celebration of innovation in action,” said Wes Dorce, assistant director of Experiential Learning at the Innovation Hub. “This is a space where immersive media, digital fabrication, and ideas transform into tangible possibilities. Every year, I’m energized by the wave of new faces discovering this dynamic environment, engaging with projects, and collaborating with fellow innovators. These students aren’t just exploring technology — they’re building skills, perspectives and experiences that position them to lead and create in whatever fields they choose.”
“Every year, I’m energized by the wave of new faces discovering this dynamic environment, engaging with projects, and collaborating with fellow innovators. These students aren’t just exploring technology — they’re building skills, perspectives and experiences that position them to lead and create in whatever fields they choose.”
— Wes Dorce, assistant director of Experiential Learning at the Innovation Hub
A highlight was the Shark Tank pitch competition, sponsored by the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (JMC). Student entrepreneurs competed for a $1,000 grand prize to fund their ventures and tickets from the Challenger Learning Center. The competition gave students a platform to refine their pitching skills and receive feedback from industry professionals. Students from the University of Florida traveled from Gainesville to join their FSU business partners in the event.
The Shark Tank competition is among many opportunities provided to all FSU students through the InNOLEvation® Center for Student Engagement at the Jim Moran College, which supports student initiatives, innovation and entrepreneurship across disciplines.
“The JMC Shark Tank offers students a hands-on opportunity to experience what it’s really like to pitch in front of real entrepreneurs and successful business owners,” said May Jingyan Wang, student engagement program coordinator for JMC. “These students are learning how to communicate under pressure, respond to feedback and adapt their strategies in real time. It’s an invaluable simulation of the entrepreneurial world that builds confidence and sharpens their professional skills.”
Pramesh Regmi, a computer science major, won the top prize in the Shark Tank competition with his business “College Town,” an AI-driven app that answers any question about campus life and shows every event happening in and around FSU. Jim Moran College’s Kensington Wheeler came in second with her business idea “Teen Op,” a digital marketplace where teens can open their own service-based businesses and offer their skills to the community. A former Ideathon winner and media/communication major, Evan Ammar took third place with RustyGoldRenders, the retro animated logo design business that has gone viral on social media.
Attendees also voted on their favorite projects, awarding first place to Orbital Odyssey. Led by Dion Tryban in collaboration with DevLUp FSU, the game featured a board and mini games built in the Godot engine, showcasing skills in game design, 3D asset creation, programming, UI/UX and sound design.
BridgeWeaver, a project by Arcvale, earned second place, followed by Game IQ in third. ParkSense placed fourth and OurPatch fifth, each addressing accessibility and engagement through thoughtful app design and development.
“All of our projects are completely student-led and volunteer-based — no experience required,” said Miles Rosoff, a computational science major in the College of Arts and Sciences. “Our goal at Seminole Innovators is to teach students valuable skills, help them learn how to do the kinds of things the industry is looking for and give them real experience. If you’re someone who wants to be here and grow, we’d love to have you join our projects.”
For more information about the Innovation Hub and upcoming opportunities, visit innovation.fsu.edu.