- March 31, 2026
Andrew Jaworski, general manager at Amazon in Daytona Beach, speaks during the second annual Volusia Innovation Challenge. Photo courtesy of Volusia County
Volusia County's economic development staff. Photo courtesy of Volusia County
Steve Lofvers, inventor of TarpBags, won first place at the second annual Volusia Innovation Challenge. Photo courtesy of Volusia County
TarpBags took home the top prize — $10,000 — at the second annual Volusia Innovation Challenge. Photo courtesy of Volusia County
Volusia County Councilmen Jake Johansson and Matt Reinhart with Shawn Goepfert, of Arrow Clinical Trials. Photo courtesy of Volusia County
The judges at the second annual Volusia Innovation Challenge. Photo courtesy of Volusia County
Jason LaGosh, senior director of public and government affairs at NASCAR, speaks during the second annual Volusia Innovation Challenge. Photo courtesy of Volusia County
Arjun Menon and Jadyn Fulcher took home the second place $5,000 prize for Tracker, a toolbox inventory accountability system. Photo courtesy of Volusia County
An Ormond Beach inventor took home the top prize at the second annual Volusia Innovation Challenge, held on March 25 at the Ocean Center.
Steve Lofvers' invention of TarpBags — non-destructive, reusable, water-fillable ballast bags that secure emergency roof tarps without nails or any roof-penetrating fasteners — won the competition's $10,000 cash prize and 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 in a press release. “The Innovation Challenge is an amazing initiative that truly highlights the ingenuity and creativity of the business community.”
Arjun Menon, of Daytona Beach, and Jadyn Fulcher, of Palm Coast, won 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.
Also competing were:
The county reports that almost 300 people attended the competition to cheer on six finalists who pitched their inventions and business concepts to a panel of judges. Attendees were able to vote for "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 competition's "Best of Show" award, which came with a $2,000 prize, 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 and Ormond Beach economic development director. “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, said in the press release that while the challenge 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."
"This event plays a direct role in fostering business creation and expansion in our community," Paris said. "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.
