UCF’s 2018 Social Venture Competition celebrated innovative student startups aimed at solving social challenges, awarding top honors to ventures focused on health, transportation, and rural safety. The competition, founded in 2015 by Cameron Ford of UCF’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, emphasizes social impact and innovation over profit.
Rafaela Frota, a photonic science and engineering major, won first place and a $2,500 scholarship for Wawwe (We Are What We Eat), a mobile app that uses data-driven insights to help users make personalized dietary choices. Second place went to Hchhkr, a newly merged long-distance ride-sharing startup created by students Breezy Baldwin and Eliecer Vera, while Connected Wise, a smart device improving communication between rural drivers, took third. Other finalists tackled issues from tsunami protection and plastic waste reduction to prosthetic improvement. The event highlights UCF’s strong support network for student entrepreneurs through resources like the Blackstone LaunchPad.
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