Imagine Shark Tank with a local flare to highlight the growing Volusia County entrepreneur community.
That was the exciting atmosphere inside the Ocean Center on March 25 as nearly 300 attendees packed the venue for the second annual Volusia Innovation Challenge, cheering on six finalists as they pitched their inventions and business concepts to a panel of judges for a shot at life-changing cash prizes and mentoring.
Steve Lofvers, inventor TarpBags®, took home the top prize and the crowd’s admiration with a brilliantly simple solution to a stubborn problem: non-destructive, reusable, water-fillable ballast bags that secure emergency roof tarps without nails or any roof-penetrating fasteners. In addition to the $10,000 cash award, Lofvers will receive one year of workspace and mentoring at the Volusia Innovation Hub to help build his venture.
“I am grateful for this incredible opportunity and proud to be part of a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem here in Volusia County,” Lofvers said. “The Innovation Challenge is an amazing initiative that truly highlights the ingenuity and creativity of the business community.”
Arjun Menon and Jadyn Fulcher earned second place and a $5,000 prize for Tracker, a toolbox inventory accountability system featuring an intuitive interface that delivers real-time tool use and status analytics.
Attendees also had a voice in the outcome, casting votes for the “Best of” awards across four categories: business and household products; community, nutrition, education and welfare; digital apps, programs and platforms; and science, technology and engineering. Each category winner received a $500 prize.
The event’s “Best of Show” award of $2,000 went to LEAF Alliance, an organization that unifies legal, emotional, and financial experts through proprietary data, specialized training, and a vetted professional directory to help individuals confront cases of legal abuse.
“This year’s Volusia Innovation Challenge further reinforces our commitment to celebrating entrepreneurship and showcasing the innovation happening right here in Volusia County,” said Brian Rademacher, chair of the Volusia Innovation Challenge organizing team. “It was amazing to see the strong caliber of business ideas showcased, while also providing entrepreneurs, mentors, and community partners the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and leverage meaningful networks. We will continue to build on this year’s success and look forward to what’s possible for the Innovation Challenge in 2027.”
Lou Paris, director of Volusia County’s Economic Development Division, noted that the Volusia Innovation Challenge is arguably the most impactful event in our community for startups and small businesses.
“While it is structured as a pitch competition, its true value lies in creating a platform where entrepreneurs can showcase their ideas, receive meaningful feedback, and connect with the resources needed to launch and grow their businesses,” he said. “This event plays a direct role in fostering business creation and expansion in our community. The question is not whether the Volusia Innovation Challenge will produce successful businesses, but how many it will generate, and how big those businesses will grow.”
The Volusia Innovation Challenge is organized by Volusia Business Resources, a collaborative partnership of local government and private organizations designed to support small businesses. The challenge is designed to connect local entrepreneurs with the resources, visibility, and funding needed to turn bold ideas into thriving ventures.
