Video Game Software for Distance Learning Wins 12th Annual FAU Business Plan Competition
Boca Raton, FL – A Florida Atlantic University student who had a penchant for playing games that pay real money, has created educational video game software to enhance remote learning amid the coronavirus pandemic won the $10,000 first prize in the 12th annual Business Plan Competition held by FAU’s College of Business and the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship.
Junior Aditya Devendra, founder of Polka Box, developed the software to inspire Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) students.
“We’re very excited because we think there’s huge potential for this product,” said Devendra, who is studying psychology and computer science. “It’s the perfect time to do it, with all that’s going on.”
Held virtually for the first time, the event featured five finalists presenting to six expert panelists.
“This year the competition provided an important lesson in just how quickly the marketplace can change,” said Kevin Cox, assistant director of the Adams Center. “I’m impressed with how these aspiring business leaders were able to pivot their approach to fit new world challenges.”
The second-place entry and winner of $5,000 was student Viktor Knurov of AERLOGS, which aims to digitize and securely store records for the aviation and defense industries.
The top two winners attended the Adams Center Entrepreneur Boot Camp, a fast-paced certificate course empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners with tools for success. Devendra and Knurov previously were awarded a prestigious Daveler Entrepreneur Fellowship from the University of South Florida.
Third place and $2,500 went to student Elizabeth Pino of Princesses Against Cancer, a nonprofit that brings character experiences to children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.
The remaining finalists, both 2019 FAU graduates, will receive $500 to support their ventures. Moises Levy’s DCMetrix provides data analytics services to computer server data centers, while Teodoro Bohn Candido da Silva developed Spott, a mobile app designed to help university students find parking.
In addition to the prize money, teams gained insight, resources and networking opportunities provided by the Adams Center. Sponsors of the competition included the Medina Family Foundation and The Geo Group.
About the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship
The Adams Center for Entrepreneurship at Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) College of Business brings students, faculty, and the community together to fuel the innovation needed to create new venture opportunities in the ever-changing global marketplace. The mission is to create and educate entrepreneurial leaders who will find sustainable solutions to economic and social problems. The Adams Center is named in recognition of FAU graduate and entrepreneur Scott H. Adams.
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit fau.edu.
