Four start-up ventures from South Florida take home cash prizes in Florida International University’s Entrepreneur Challenge Business Plan Competition.

Miami, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/16/2008 -- Florida International University's Eugenio Pino & Family Global Entrepreneurship Center (www.entrepreneurship.fiu.edu), a center that provides comprehensive entrepreneurial research, teaching, and outreach, recently announced the winners of its annual Entrepreneur Challenge Business Plan Competition.

On May 13, ten finalist teams presented to twenty of South Florida's leading entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts. Judges included Mike Tomas and Jorge de Cespedes founders of the ASTRI Group, Gonzalo Acevedo of HSBC Private Bank, Dr. Sanford Ziff founder of Sunglass Hut of America, Ana Cela Harris of Singer Xenos Wealth Management, and Lorenzo Lebrija of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The Challenge gave the opportunity for these teams to compete in one of two tracks: Investment or Social. Of the ten finalist teams, one grand prize winner and one runner-up were chosen from each of the two tracks. This year, the concepts were a mix of non-profits and for-profits working in various industries such as internet, green technology, social networking, education, and entertainment.

The 2008 Entrepreneur Challenge Winners are:

INVESTMENT TRACK
Grand Prize Winner: Go Global Education – a website providing standards-based online "global education" programs to public, private and charter schools in the United States.
Team Leader: Archie Jeter - '06 Master of International Business
Runner-Up: MovieTmedia – a company providing on-demand television to hotels located in the Caribbean using digital technology.
Team Leader: Eduardo Tremols – International Business Student – Junior Level

SOCIAL TRACK
Grand Prize Winner: My Daily Cause – a website dedicated to aggregating charities and other nonprofit organizations in a way that allow people to donate in small increments via a click-through business model.
Team Leader: Justin Vizaro – International Business Honors Student – Sophomore Level
Runner-Up: NoBo Interactive – an educational and therapeutic toy company dedicated to helping autistic children develop social skills and awareness. Their launch product is a toy called Danny the Dinosaur that incorporates touch screen features.
Team Members: Monica Cadena, Karyne Bury, James Dotson, Arundas Mohandas, and Jorge Bravo – '08 Master of Business Administration

FIU's Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center proudly partnered with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, who sponsored the new Social Track of the competition. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation sponsored the traditional Investment Track. Additional support was also provided by the Miami Herald and HSBC Private Bank.

Over the past 10 years, FIU's business plan competition, which is open to any FIU student or alumni (the social track is open to all South Florida residents,) and managed by FIU's Pino Entrepreneurship Center, has seen numerous teams go on to become successful businesses including UnviersityPlacementServices.com, Veterans' Energy Solutions, Just Ripe Events, Intelli-Math, Global Resource Cycle, and G-Force Tools. Information about past competitions is available on the Challenge web site: http://challenge.fiu.edu.

Whether in the arts, sciences, business, engineering, or humanities, entrepreneurship at FIU adds value to every discipline and enhances the creativity and innovation of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. In addition to

facilitating course development throughout FIU, the Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center fosters new technology firms, strengthens existing family-owned and managed firms, researches important issues, encourages new community enterprises to improve the economic vitality of South Florida and the Americas, and develops entrepreneurial leaders in all areas. More information at http://www.entrepreneurship.fiu.edu.

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10 teams of entrepreneurs from South Florida were named finalists with concepts including Honey Project, USA, an international youth owned social business designed to market and sell imported African honey in an effort to help eradicate poverty in rural Africa.

Miami, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/02/2008 -- Florida International University's Eugenio Pino & Family Global Entrepreneurship Center (www.entrepreneurship.fiu.edu), a center that provides comprehensive entrepreneurial research, teaching, and outreach, has announced its 10 finalist teams. These finalists will now compete for the chance to win a piece of over $25,000 in cash at the annual Final Presentation Rounds on May 13, University Park's Graham Center Ballrooms.

This year, the concepts are a mix of non-profits and for-profits working in various industries such as internet, green technology, social networking, education, and entertainment.

"Adding the socially focused component to the competition was new for us," said Colleen Post, founding associate director for FIU's Pino Entrepreneurship Center. "We had no idea what kinds of concepts we would receive, but seeing the finalists, we are very happy with the turnout. We have uncovered some truly phenomenal ventures in our own backyard."

FIU's Entrepreneur Challenge is made possible by sponsorship, including the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation who sponsored the 'Social Entrepreneurship' track and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation who sponsored the traditional 'Investment' track. Additional support was also provided by HSBC Private Bank and the Miami Herald.

Executives from each firm along with local entrepreneurs and investors will serve as Final Round judges on May 13. The competition is open to the public and the Center encourages entrepreneurs interested in the process of raising capital to attend. "Watching a real pitch with questions from actual investors is an eye opening experience," said Alan Carsrud, PhD, founding executive director for FIU's Pino Entrepreneurship Center. "There is no book that can teach you this, you have to experience it in order to learn the dynamics of this process."

Finalist teams are launching businesses such as:
Investment Track

Babyspot.com – social networking internet forum for new parents to share news, photos, and videos of their newborns to other parents, families, and friends.

Clean Hydro – a provisionally patented technique and chemical process which reduces the harmful effects of carbon dioxide by introducing new technology that produces low cost hydrogen fuel as a by-product.

Club Hop, Inc. – a website that provides a global nightlife network while also providing services such as employment listings and information on daily events.

MovieTmedia – a selling and distributing international company which provides digital technology versus the traditional analog, to hotels as a way to offer on-demand television.

Go Global Education – a website that provides standards-based online "global education" programs to public, private and charter schools in the United States.

Social Track

Honey Project USA – an international youth owned social business designed to market and sell imported African honey in an effort to help eradicate poverty in rural Africa.

Green Sensations – a gift certificate company that connects and sells to customers a variety of eco-friendly experiential adventures.

Nobo Interactive – a educational and therapeutic toy company dedicated to helping autistic children develop social skills and awareness.

Onda Verde Productions – a television production company focused on providing awareness on "going green" to viewers, while also assisting eco-friendly companies and featuring green products.

My Daily Cause – a website dedicated to aggregating charities and other nonprofit organizations in a way that allow people to donate via a click-through business model.

Over the past 10 years, FIU's business plan competition, which is open to any FIU student or alumni (the social track is open to all South Florida residents, and managed by FIU's Pino Entrepreneurship Center, has seen numerous teams go on to become successful businesses including UnviersityPlacementServices.com, Veterans' Energy Solutions, Just Ripe Events, Intelli-Math, Global Resource Cycle, and G-Force Tools. Information about past competitions is available on the Challenge web site: http://challenge.fiu.edu.

Whether in the arts, sciences, business, engineering, or humanities, entrepreneurship at FIU adds value to every discipline and enhances the creativity and innovation of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. In addition to facilitating course development throughout FIU, the Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center fosters new technology firms, strengthens existing family-owned and managed firms, researches important issues, encourages new community enterprises to improve the economic vitality of South Florida and the Americas, and develops entrepreneurial leaders in all areas. More information at http://www.entrepreneurship.fiu.edu.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Miami, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 04/30/2008 -- Florida International University's Eugenio Pino & Family Global Entrepreneurship Center, which brings entrepreneurship to all students on campus no matter their major, recently announced that Mike Tomas, president of the ASTRI Group, will be Chairman of its Board of Advisors.

"I am honored to be a part of such a great Center," said Mike Tomas, who brings with him decades of international leadership experience and entrepreneurial zeal that has been a signature of his work. "I look forward to contributing to the growth of the remarkable program and continuing the legacy that it has created within the local and national business communities," he added.

FIU's Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center, known for its community workshops, business plan competitions, and renowned research, has quickly become a leader in entrepreneurship education. Just this month, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked FIU 4th for Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students. It was also recently named on the coveted Fortune Small Business list as one of America's Best Colleges for Entrepreneurs seeking a double major, Princeton's Review's Top 50 Entrepreneurial Colleges for 2007 and Money Magazine's 10 Cool Colleges for Entrepreneurs.

"It is great to be able to bring experience and innovation together to the head of our board," said Alan L. Carsrud, PhD, executive director of the Center. "In the dynamic and international environment that we operate, Mike possesses the drive and vision to lead our Center to greater success and is someone who our students look up to," he added.

Tomas started his business career at the age of 17 with MCI and his success here was his foundation for his career in business. After 17 years with MCI, he joined WorldCom where he was Chief Marketing Officer of Avantel, the $1 Billion joint venture between WorldCom and Grupo Financiero Banamex-Accival (now Citibank). In his time there, he was known for his ability to create effective marketing strategies and lead diverse teams to success.

A native of the Caribbean, Tomas has been recognized for his outstanding achievements in business and entrepreneurship. A board member for numerous organizations, Tomas continues to make an impact on enterprise in South Florida. A seasoned businessman, he has founded numerous ventures and is currently the President of the ASTRI Group.

Whether in the arts, sciences, business, engineering, or humanities, entrepreneurship at FIU adds value to every discipline and enhances the creativity and innovation of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. In addition to facilitating course development throughout FIU, the Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center fosters new technology firms, strengthens existing family-owned and managed firms, researches important issues, encourages new community enterprises to improve the economic vitality of South Florida and the Americas, and develops entrepreneurial leaders in all areas. More information at http://www.entrepreneurship.fiu.edu.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm