UCF senior Matthew White earned second place and $3,000 at Florida State University’s third annual Governor’s Cup Pitch Competition for his innovative product, the Skimvest.
This wearable harness lets users tow a skimboarder across shallow water. Inspired by a baby carrier he found at a garage sale, White developed and patented the Skimvest after several design revisions and secured a distribution deal with Ron Jon Surf Shop. Competing against top student startups from nine Florida universities, White represented UCF as a standout entrepreneur supported by the Blackstone LaunchPad and Upstarts Student Venture Accelerator. His success highlights UCF’s strong entrepreneurial ecosystem and his determination to turn a creative idea into a market-ready product.
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