About
Our Mission
Our Mission is to spark the Tech-Entrepreneurial spirit among our local college students.
This pitch competition highlights commercially viable technologies developed by the most innovative student minds at colleges and universities in Volusia County.
Students from Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona State College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Stetson University, and the University of Central Florida are all eligible.
On the picture is our 2015 Innovation Challenge Winner, David Sawyer, funder of TSOLife.
From left to right are Connie Garzon, Gordon Hogan, David Sawyer, Ms. Paris, Dr. Tara Batista, and Dr. Cairns.
Our Story
The Innovation Challenge idea originated at the UCF - Volusia County Business Incubator's training room after a Board of Advisors meeting. Dr. Jim Cairns was part of the Board and asked Connie if she needed help with anything. Connie told Dr. Cairns she was having some challenges finding entrepreneurs with a technology mindset in our town, so Dr. Cairns told her that he was part of the team that started the Innovation Challenge at the University of California, so he said; "Let's do an Innovation Challenge in Volusia County". Dr. Cairns offered her to be the main philanthropist and that he could bring his team and friends to help and donate. He said, "I bring money and investors and you plan the logistics." Connie said: "Deal", so The Cairns Foundation Innovation Challenge was born.
Our first competition was in April 2014 and the first winner was a student from Embry Riddle University, Yung Wong, who invented a water purification system to help poor communities around the world. It was a great event and a dream come true for many including, Connie Garzon the Site Manager of the UCF - Volusia County Business Incubator.
Since then, Dr. Cairns has awarded nine student teams from our local universities with a top prize of $10,000 each. Our Second prize money has been awarded by a local foundation that wants to remain anonymous.
Dr. Cairns retired from the Innovation Challenge in 2023 and Volusia County Economic Development decided to continue the legacy.
Today, the Innovation Challenge is run by the UCF - Volusia Incubator team and some of the Incubator Board Members and its new name is The Volusia County Innovation Challenge.
We are grateful for Dr. Cairns who has supported this initiative since its early beginnings.
Innovation Challenge Organizers FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS
Kevin Manley - M.B.A
Connie Garzon - M.B.A
Connie Garzon - M.B.A
Kevin founded, advised, and/or invested in a variety of companies in consumer electronics, manufacturing, medical technology, philanthropic technology, real estate development, etc. In 1995 Kevin co-founded Yesmail.com, an online e-marketing solutions company. He and his co-founders took Yesmail public in 1999, and sold it to CMGI in 2000
Kevin founded, advised, and/or invested in a variety of companies in consumer electronics, manufacturing, medical technology, philanthropic technology, real estate development, etc. In 1995 Kevin co-founded Yesmail.com, an online e-marketing solutions company. He and his co-founders took Yesmail public in 1999, and sold it to CMGI in 2000 for over $700M. Kevin now helps owners of growing and mature businesses maximize their company's value, leverage their talent, improve their focus, utilize technology, enhance overall stability, and develop and implement an exit/transition strategy. Kevin earned his B.S. and M.S. in Engineering, as well as his MBA from the University of Illinois. Kevin also maintains his designation as a Certified Exit Planner (CExP).
Connie Garzon - M.B.A
Connie Garzon - M.B.A
Connie Garzon - M.B.A
Connie runs the UCF Business Incubator in Volusia County. She is a Start-up Ecosystem Builder, and an expert in Business Development, Entrepreneurship, and International Business. She has nine years of experience in the banking industry and many years of work with multinational organizations and start-ups around the world. Connie has hel
Connie runs the UCF Business Incubator in Volusia County. She is a Start-up Ecosystem Builder, and an expert in Business Development, Entrepreneurship, and International Business. She has nine years of experience in the banking industry and many years of work with multinational organizations and start-ups around the world. Connie has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs to raise millions of dollars from investors and banks helping them to grow multimillion-dollar companies. She has won several awards in the Central Florida region including a State-wide award “Education Partner of the Year” by CareerSource Florida, and she was recognized in 2009 as the Best Business Consultant for Central Florida by the Florida Small Business Development Center Network. As an entrepreneur, Connie is the founder of the Volusia Tech Hub and wrote several e-books about healthy living.
Lou Paris - M.B.A
Connie Garzon - M.B.A
Lou Paris - M.B.A
Lou Paris is a seasoned entrepreneur with a focus on immigration and staffing initiatives. His most recent venture is Konkeros, an organization dedicated to assisting international students in securing employment opportunities in the US. Lou served as the Director of the Prince Entrepreneurship Program at Stetson University for over a dec
Lou Paris is a seasoned entrepreneur with a focus on immigration and staffing initiatives. His most recent venture is Konkeros, an organization dedicated to assisting international students in securing employment opportunities in the US. Lou served as the Director of the Prince Entrepreneurship Program at Stetson University for over a decade, where he mentored aspiring entrepreneurs. His active involvement in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem is evident through his role as a founding member of Innovate Daytona, where he has significantly contributed to organizing impactful entrepreneurial events in the community. Lou's contributions have been widely recognized, earning him prestigious awards, including the "Chapter Advisor of The Year" from the Collegiate Entrepreneurship Organization, "Innovator of the Year" from Stetson University, and the "Entrepreneurship Advocate of the Year" from Volusia County.