$10K Winner Of Embry-Riddle's Launch Your Venture Competition Announced

Daytona Beach, FL - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has announced the $10,000 first-place winner from the 'Launch Your Venture' competition held on April 18th  at the new MicaPlex.

Reamonn Soto, an Embry-Riddle Worldwide student, won the competition with his technology start-up, Sensatek Propulsion Technology Inc. His company provides the technology needed to create ceramic sensors that can predict and notify when gas turbines are no longer working properly. This technology is believed to be able to save millions of dollars.

Soto, a Marine Cops veteran, is currently in the process of earning a Master’s in Aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Worldwide. He was 1  of only 4 teams allowed at the 'Launch Your Venture' competition after qualifying from 15 teams at Embry-Riddle’s TREP Expo.

“We’re incredibly grateful to represent Embry-Riddle at the 2017 Florida Venture Forum Collegiate Business Plan Competition,” says Soto. “We’re also very grateful to our alumni in providing real-world insight that has made a world of difference in our perspective in revolutionizing the gas turbine industry.”

The 4 teams, judged on market viability, the level of innovation and wow-factor, received $18,500 total.

The judges for this competition were:

• Mosley Ventures partner, John Vecchio
• MicaPlex partner and Executive Director of the FireSpring Fund, Donna Mackenzie
• MicaPlex partner and Chief Operating Officer of venVELO, Allen Kupetz.

The recipients of 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th place are as follows:

• $5,000 to 2^nd place winner, Micheal Campobasso’s Embedded Control Designs LLC which makes drones for farmers wishing to monitor their crops.
• $3,000 to 3^rd place winner, Scott H. Weintraub’s Weintraus LLC which provides technology that services satellites, mines asteroids, gets rid of debris and refuels while in-orbit.
• $500 to 4^th place winners, Abdiel Alexander Santos-Galindo, Cameron Monk and Paul McKenna’s Parking Active Solutions LLC, that creates the technology that is able to tell if a car is parked in a space and be able to notify when it is not in places such as mall and business center parking lots and garages.

“This competition not only puts a spotlight on, and much-needed monetary support into, these student-led startups, it also gives them face-to-face opportunities to network with judges who have proven experience in investing and building successful businesses,” says Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Embry-Riddle, Dr. Michael Bowers.

“These incredible Embry-Riddle students and graduates are incorporating their education, experience and ideas into exciting real-world solutions,” says Dr. Stephanie Miller, Director of Technology Transfer and Research Park Initiatives at Embry-Riddle.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.