Building Entrepreneurs: Inside the Patriot Pitch
The Patriot Pitch marked a pinnacle moment after months of entrepreneurial thinking, risk-taking, and growth, and through it, students at Carrollwood Day School proved that entrepreneurship is built through courage, not perfection.
The event on Saturday, February 7th, was M.C.’d by Taksheel Ganji '28 and Parsa Hosseinian-Benvidi '28, the Student Co-Founding Presidents of the Patriot Pitch Club. Taksheel and Parsa were instrumental in developing the Patriot Pitch competition, leading student workshops and providing guidance to participants throughout the process. Their leadership exemplified the entrepreneurial mindset the program seeks to cultivate.
The Patriot Pitch serves as the culminating experience of Carrollwood Day School’s Entrepreneurship Institute—an ambitious, hands-on program designed to move learning beyond theory and into real-world application. Led by Director of Entrepreneurship Brendan Brennan, the Institute challenges students to think boldly, take risks, and engage in meaningful work that builds both skill and character. Throughout the year, students approach problems as entrepreneurs do, guided by curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to learn through iteration and failure.
That journey begins long before students ever take the stage. Most did not start with a startup idea. Many had never pitched before. Early in the process, they failed, and then failed again. Ideas were scrapped. Assumptions were challenged. Comfort zones disappeared. What emerged was grit and resilience, developed not through instant success but through persistence and revision.
Over months of design sprints, workshops, and long Saturdays spent building decks and refining ideas, students learned how to sit with uncertainty and keep moving forward. They were pushed to ask better questions, think more deeply about real problems, and adapt when the answer was not what they expected. Slowly, confidence began to take shape, not because the work became easier, but because the students became stronger.
All of that work led to The Patriot Pitch weekend, a two-day experience designed to mirror the pressure and pace of the real world. Hosted by Dr. Rebecca White, the Walter Chair of Entrepreneurship and Director of the University of Tampa’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, students had a unique opportunity to present their ideas in this incredible Center built for innovation, higher learning, and serious entrepreneurial thinking. On day one, teams competed in the semifinals. On day two, finalists returned to the stage to pitch again, this time answering tough questions from seasoned judges with no script and no safety net.
Standing in front of a panel of judges representing community and entrepreneurial leadership and a full audience, students put their thinking on the line, fully aware that their ideas would be questioned, critiqued, and tested in real time. The questions were real. The feedback was meaningful. The expectations were high. These moments took courage. What followed were pitches that reflected months of growth, revision, and courage. A special thank you to our judges, Chuck Sykes, Taneka Bowles, Rajesh Anandan, Joel Ohman, and Adam Walton.
The stakes were high, with seed funding awarded to the top teams that was made possible by the newly endowed Ohman Patriot Pitch Award Fund. But the true value of Patriot Pitch goes far beyond the prizes. Every participant remains eligible for continued mentorship and future opportunities through the Entrepreneurship Institute, reinforcing that this experience is not an endpoint, but a beginning. When the final pitches ended and the judges stepped away to deliberate, what lingered in the room was not just anticipation, but pride. Regardless of the outcome, every student had done something difficult. They had taken a risk. They had stood in the room. And they had proven to themselves that they belonged there.
The growth witnessed throughout Patriot Pitch was undeniable. Some students chose to tackle problems that held deep personal meaning, turning lived experience into purpose-driven innovation. Others who entered the process unsure of themselves walked away believing something had fundamentally shifted. They left knowing they could build something from nothing, defend their thinking, and rise to a challenge they once thought was out of reach.
Patriot Pitch was more than a pitch competition. It was a test of character, principles, and courage. And these students did not simply pass the test. They crushed it.
Through the vision of Carrollwood Day School’s Entrepreneurship Institute, and in partnership with the University of Tampa’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, students are learning that their ideas matter, their voices belong in serious spaces, and growth comes from doing the hard thing well. What they carried off that stage was not just feedback or funding. It was confidence. The kind that stays with them long after the pitch ends and reminds them that they are capable of building what comes next.
Student Pitches
Nourish - First Place
Pitch by Leticia O. '28 and Isabella R. '28
Addressing the deeply personal and often isolating battle of eating disorder recovery, Nourish offers a compassionate digital companion designed to bridge the gap between patients and care providers. Recognizing that traditional recovery can feel lonely and disconnected, the team created a gamified app that allows users to track their meals, emotions, and recovery goals while caring for a virtual "recovery buddy" like an otter or panda. By turning daily habits into achievable victories and providing clinicians with real-time data through a Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) model, Nourish transforms a clinical process into a supportive, engaging journey, ensuring no patient has to walk the path to recovery alone.
Gavin's Greens - Second Place
Pitch by Gavin B. '27
Starting with a simple desire to help his health-conscious grandparents, Gavin's Greens has blossomed into a mission to fix the broken, nutrient-depleted microgreens market. Gavin highlighted a critical flaw in the industry: store-bought greens often lose 55% of their Vitamin C before they even reach the plate. His solution is a hyper-local, transparent growing operation that delivers fresh, pesticide-free greens with 40x the nutrients of mature vegetables. With a vision for scaling through automated vending machines while maintaining strict quality control, Gavin is proving that scaling a business doesn't mean sacrificing the values that started it.
Eco-Vision - Third Place
Pitch by Bryce W. '27, Kobe D. '27, Nishant S. '27, and Gabriel L. '27
With the moving motto "Nature Heals Wounds," Eco-Vision leverages Virtual Reality to bring the therapeutic power of the outdoors to bedridden patients and those suffering from mental health struggles. The team pitched a multi-sensory immersion experience that combines 360-degree high-definition visuals with scent technology to reduce cortisol levels and improve cognitive function. By targeting hospitals and assisted living facilities, Eco-Vision offers a window to the world for those physically confined, proving that technology can be a profound bridge to emotional and physical healing.
Drips
Pitch by Taksheel G. '28 and Parsa H. '28
"Play Good. Look Good. Do Good." Drips reimagines the youth sports cleat as a vehicle for both performance and social equity. Recognizing that 6.5 million kids play multiple field sports yet struggle with specialized, expensive gear, Drips created a universal "utility cleat" adaptable for soccer, baseball, and football. Featuring a unique modular stud system and a customizable hydro-dip kit, these cleats allow athletes to change their traction and style for every season. But the real game-changer is their "Buy One, Give One" model: for every pair sold, a high-quality pair is donated to a low-income athlete, erasing the stigma of "charity shoes" and ensuring every kid has the confidence to compete.
Growcents
Pitch by Aadhya P. '27
"Money is the only system every person is forced to use—yet almost no one is trained before they're expected to perform." With this powerful insight, Growcents tackles the $1.8 trillion student debt crisis by offering a safe space for financial trial and error. Aadhya Palem introduced an experiential platform that allows students to practice financial decisions in a zero-risk environment before the real-world consequences hit. Unlike passive lectures or gambling-like trading apps, Growcents uses real-time market data and AI-driven coaching to build "emotional discipline" and judgment. By gamifying financial literacy where mastery earns real-world rewards, Growcents flips the script: ensuring students "learn before they lose" and master their financial future before it counts.
LithoGuard Industries
Pitch by Anshul S. '29 and Adith B. '29
LithoGuard Industries is on a mission to protect homes, not just cars, from the hidden dangers of the electric vehicle revolution. Addressing the terrifying reality that EVs can malfunction and explode after exposure to saltwater—a growing risk in hurricane-prone areas—the team developed a proprietary sealant that waterproofs lithium-ion batteries. With a state-of-the-art epoxy resin technology that cures in three days, LithoGuard offers a crucial layer of defense for the aerospace, defense, and consumer electronics sectors. Their B2B model targets dealerships and repair shops to apply this life-saving protection, ensuring that the future of transportation remains safe and sustainable.
MindFull
Pitch by Sophia Y. '28
Born from a personal journey of recovery after a life-altering accident, MindFull is a "collective self-care" app designed to ensure no young person has to struggle alone. Sophia Young identified a critical gap: crisis apps are too limited, and therapy apps are too expensive for teenagers. MindFull bridges this divide by offering a "free forever" suite of clinically certified tools—like mood tracking, journaling, and chat rooms—alongside a seamless digital handoff to professional therapists when needed. By removing the price friction for users and monetizing the high-value connection for providers, MindFull empowers Gen Z to find the right help, right when they need it, turning a fragmented mental health landscape into a supportive community.
Opportunitree
Pitch by Gabriel L. '27
Born from the frustration of a 376:1 student-to-counselor ratio, Opportunitree aims to democratize access to success for high schoolers who feel lost, unmotivated, and overwhelmed. Gabriel Lopez pitched a platform that goes beyond generic advice, using AI to curate personalized "branching pathways" of internships, summer programs, and leadership roles tailored to a student’s specific dreams. By replacing the confusion of the college prep journey with clear milestones and a centralized dashboard, Opportunitree promises to turn student anxiety into confidence, ensuring that every student finds the right opportunity at the right time.
Pitch Perfect
Pitch by Lauren S. '28, Isabella S. '28, and Mia S. '28
Addressing the world's number one fear—public speaking—Pitch Perfect provides a pocket-sized coach to help students and professionals find their voice. Recognizing that traditional coaching is expensive and books are insufficient, this team developed an app that offers real-time, low-pressure practice with AI-driven feedback on pacing, filler words, and confidence. By combining gamified progress tracking with advanced analytics, Pitch Perfect empowers users to master their delivery anywhere, anytime, turning the anxiety of the spotlight into a powerful competitive advantage.
SmartCart
Pitch by Micah G. '29
SmartCart is tackling the invisibility of local businesses in a world dominated by big-box retailers. This app acts as a "Smart Priority Engine" for grocery shopping, optimizing trips based on price, convenience, and brand preference to connect consumers with local shops they might otherwise overlook. By gamifying the shopping experience with XP and rewards, SmartCart not only helps users save time and money but also revitalizes the local economy, giving small grocers a fighting chance to be seen and supported by their community.
Take A Seat
Pitch by Henry R. '28 and Everett R. '30
Challenging a universal discomfort, Take A Seat aims to disrupt the stagnant portable toilet industry by declaring that "gross" shouldn't be the standard. The team introduced a solar-powered, premium portable restroom featuring active ventilation, UV-sanitization, and tap-to-pay access. By targeting the 90% of users who avoid traditional units due to heat and smell, they offer a dignified, hygienic alternative for outdoor events. Their pitch powerfully argued that comfort and respect are worth paying for, promising to end the days of "holding your breath and praying for the best."
The CDS Entrepreneurship Institute serves as the hub of innovative, student-centered initiatives that develop agency, creativity, and real-world problem-solving to prepare and inspire our Patriots to better the world. If you would like to learn more, click HERE.