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In search of groundbreaking ideas in the realms of infrastructure, healthcare and technology, the state of Florida hosted Florida Pitch Day at FIU Business in June 2024. The event was organized by SelectFlorida, the state's international commerce organization.
A group of 27 business owners pitched their startups to a panel of state leaders from the Florida departments of commerce, healthcare administration, elder affairs and management services in June 2024.
Several Florida Small Business Development Center (FSBDC) at FIU Business clients, as well as FIU alumni and faculty participated in the event, hoping to raise funds, explore potential partnerships or expand their networks.
"Having the opportunity to present in front of such a select group of individuals and professionals has been very exciting," said Christian Contreras, government affairs manager for EV Garage, a service center for electric and hybrid cars.
The team is looking to expand the mechanics workforce, currently in short supply. Contreras noted the FSBDC has been instrumental.
"Being able to educate some really smart people about what's happening in this space, I think it's the most valuable part."
– Diego Yanez
"They've been a source of knowledge in order for us to better understand the pockets that we have to target and also the profile of the clients and what they were looking for," he said.
In the health sector, another FSBDC client, Lavior Pharma, pitched its FDA-registered, naturally derived line of wound care products, which are already available in Walmart and used in 50 hospitals around the world.
"Eczema, dermatitis for children, acne, psoriasis; we don't believe anything really works [for these conditions]," said Gilad Savion, co-founder of Lavior. "It's a $57 billion category in the United States alone; all the big pharma is here, so it's a big industry."
Fintech startup Alfredpay, also an FSBDC client, caught the attention of panelists for its approach to cryptocurrency. The platform partners legacy financial institutions with web-based payment structures to make crypto-based payments more accessible in Latin America.
"This was a unique experience for us because it's a lot of regulators and folks who may view this space a little different," said Diego Yanez, founder of Alfredpay. "Being able to educate some really smart people about what's happening in this space, I think it's the most valuable part."
