Students in FIU Business’ Marketing and Strategy for Entrepreneurs course stepped into the role of founders this semester, developing and pitching startup concepts before a panel of industry judges in a culminating “Shark Tank”-style competition designed to mirror real-world capital raising.
The event marked the final stage in a hands-on entrepreneurship course, led by Agustín Cohen, where students build simulated startups, refine go-to-market strategies and navigate the pressures of early-stage fundraising. After months of preparation, teams delivered 20-minute pitches followed by rigorous questioning from a panel of judges. The competition even drew support from Miami-Dade County, with Manny Cid, senior advisor for economic opportunity in the Miami-Dade Office of Innovation and Economic Development, serving as one of the judges.
Students competed across several categories, including capital raising, with SNAP HUB, a high-converting AI-driven image creation platform for e-commerce brands, earning the top spot in the competition. Other student ventures included EnergiAI, an energy-saving device and app for restaurants and bars; SNAP STYLE, a fashion discovery tool that identifies clothing items seen in daily life; AFTER, an AI-powered post-sales follow-up platform designed to enhance CRM performance; SWAP CYCLE, a peer-to-peer campus marketplace for furnishing student dorms; and PLANTIT, a smart watering device and app for homes and commercial clients.
Judges and student founders following the semester’s final pitches.
Gaston Sanchez (MBA ’01), an FIU alumnus who advises growth-stage companies, said the presentations exceeded expectations. “From expectation to reality is amazing,” he said. “These students put in the time, they studied their models, and they answered tough questions. I’m super impressed.”
He emphasized that while ideation is straightforward, the true test lies in execution. “Ideas are everywhere. They’re cheap and easy. It’s the execution that’s difficult,” he added. “Once they start building financial and operational models, they see which ideas are actually viable.”
Diana Verity (BBA ’00), executive director at JP Morgan Private Bank, also an FIU alumna and a returning judge, echoed that sentiment. “Anybody can have an idea. It’s about knowing how to execute the idea,” she said. “The judges bring decades of experience and can ask the real questions: Did you think about A, B, C or D? How do you reposition this? Students get insights here that many entrepreneurs only learn after years of trial and error.”
She praised the students’ professionalism. “The students were amazing. They were eloquent, thoughtful and well-guided. I was stunned by their preparation this year,” Verity said.
The course’s design places students in both founder and investor roles. At the start of the semester, students pitch 45-second startup ideas, form teams around those selected concepts, and build strategies across pricing, branding, customer acquisition and financial modeling. On pitch day, they not only present to the judges but also evaluate each other as “student investors,” practicing due diligence and vote-based decision-making.
For Sanchez, returning to FIU as a judge carries special meaning. “This is not the FIU I was at 25 years ago,” he said. “I love being part of how it’s growing and the impact it’s having on students.”
Verity agreed and added that she wished similar opportunities existed when she was a student. “What FIU is doing now—connecting students with real industry professionals—is invaluable.”