Inside the Mitchell College of Business, the energy buzzed like a startup office on launch day.
Nine teams of students from the University of South Alabama took the stage, each one ready to pitch an idea they’d nurtured, tested, and dreamed about.
The stakes: $10,000 in funding to take those ideas out of the classroom and into the real world.
It was the kind of evening where nerves, ambition, and imagination all shared the spotlight.
Friends cheered from the crowd, judges leaned in to listen closely, and each team got a chance to prove that their concept could grow into something worth investing in.
ManuLabs Takes the Top Spot
At the end of the night, one idea rose above the rest. Engineering student Braxton Daw, founder and CEO of ManuLabs, walked away with the $7,500 top prize.
His company focuses on 3D printing and digital fabrication, opening doors for design and manufacturing that once felt out of reach for small-scale creators.
Daw spoke candidly about how the program changed his trajectory.
“Early on I think we realized that I had the idea but didn’t have the means to execute that idea.
Everybody has an idea for that startup, right? Coming over here and doing this program really laid out, hey can I explore new revenue models?
What does it look like to have a marketing team? My mentor is a V.P. of sales. What does he have to say about my customer acquisition?
There were so many valuable things that I think just made this crystal clear and I have a very clear shot going forward. So, more confidence than ever, for sure.”
His words revealed the heart of the competition—it wasn’t only about funding. It was about clarity, mentorship, and the belief that ideas can be sharpened into real businesses with the right support.
Innovation Beyond the Engineering Lab
The runner-up team showed just how diverse student innovation can be. Dr. Allyson Shea, Rachel Fleck, and Ethan Myers, representing the Whiddon College of Medicine, took second place with their project: an at-home diagnostic kit for urinary tract infections.
Their solution, which earned $2,500 in funding, blends medical expertise with practicality.
It’s a product that speaks to the growing demand for health tools that are accurate, affordable, and convenient.
From medicine to manufacturing, the pitches reflected the wide range of talent and vision flowing through campus.
Some ideas leaned high-tech, others leaned people-focused, but each one represented a spark worth paying attention to.
The Power of Programs Like Launch USA
Behind the scenes, the Melton Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation runs the Launch USA Program, which makes competitions like this possible.
By combining mentorship, workshops, and real-world feedback, it creates a bridge between education and entrepreneurship.
For the students, this meant more than just standing on a stage.
It meant practicing the language of business, testing the limits of their own creativity, and learning how to take constructive criticism as fuel for growth.
The program ensures that no pitch goes to waste—every participant leaves with sharper skills and stronger direction.
Planting Seeds for the Future
The night wrapped up with applause, awards, and plenty of handshakes, but the impact of events like this lingers long after the trophies are handed out.
New ventures get their first real shot at scaling. Teams discover how to work under pressure. Students who may not have won still leave inspired to keep pushing forward.
Moments like these show that innovation isn’t confined to boardrooms or tech hubs in big cities. It’s alive in classrooms, labs, and late-night brainstorming sessions.
And sometimes, it all comes together under one roof for a night of pitches that remind everyone in the room just how bright the future can look when fresh ideas get a chance to shine.
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