{"id":146486,"date":"2025-04-21T08:52:08","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T12:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=146486"},"modified":"2026-06-25T15:15:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T19:15:52","slug":"ucf-student-wins-2025-joust-competition-for-business-that-supports-knights-academic-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-student-wins-2025-joust-competition-for-business-that-supports-knights-academic-success\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF Student Wins 2025 Joust Competition For Business That Supports Knights’ Academic Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

A course platform and tutoring service designed to help UCF students succeed in challenging accounting courses took home the top prize Monday in the 2025 Joust New Venture Competition, UCF\u2019s version of the ABC TV show Shark Tank<\/em>. Accuity, led by UCF alum and current master\u2019s in accounting<\/a> student Jake Glidden ’24<\/strong>, earned $12,000 in cash and more than $25,000 in in-kind business services.<\/p>\n

The Joust is UCF’s annual premier startup showcase event, hosted by the College of Business<\/a>\u2019 Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and open to students of all majors. Competitors present their models for a viable business venture and compete to win money and other resources. This event celebrates student entrepreneurs, introduces them to community leaders and provides key resources to help launch their ventures.<\/p>\n

Glidden and three other student teams made their pitches on stage at the Student Union to a panel of top-notch business leaders and entrepreneurs that included Jacques Fu ’08<\/strong>, co-founder of Stax and founder of PETE Learning;  Kevin Miller, president and CEO of Addition Financial;  Michael O’Donnell ’09<\/strong>, founder and CEO of MOD Ventures LLC;  Michael Shannon ’76<\/strong>, managing principle of Liquid Strategies; and Justin Wetherill ’07<\/strong>, co-founder of UBreakiFix and president of Jeff’s Bagel Run.<\/p>\n

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