Coaching the Future: What 11th Graders Taught Wave About Innovation
How Tampa Bay Wave teamed up with Junior Achievement to inspire the next generation of change-makers. A post by Tampa Bay Wave Team member, Prathyusha Reddy.
Spring in Tampa Bay isn’t just about sunshine and spring break, it’s also a season of big ideas and even bigger dreams. This April, the Tampa Bay Wave team had the incredible privilege of joining Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay’s 3DE Innovators Showcase, a celebration of student entrepreneurship and creativity that left us all inspired, energized, and more hopeful than ever about the future of innovation in our region.
A huge shoutout to the Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay’s team especially Christina Roberts & Olivier Millour for thinking of Wave and inviting us to be a part of this journey. Additionally, thank you to Raymond James for sponsoring this amazing event. Opportunities like these remind us why our mission goes far beyond startups, it’s about building a stronger innovation ecosystem from the ground up.
Pitch Coaching: Where the Magic Began
Before the big day, the journey started, and as all good stories do – with a spark. That spark came in the form of pitch coaching sessions led by our very own Wave staff and mentors at Hillsborough High School, Chamberlain High School, and Tenoroc High School. Shoutout to our amazing team members Matthew Ymiolek, Gregory Pierce, and Prathyusha Reddy (Myself), and our mentor extraordinaires Liza Marie Garcia & Vanessa Maternowski.
We walked in as coaches and left as fans. These students didn’t just show up, they showed out, with high energy, innovative ideas, and a hunger to learn. The sessions quickly evolved from structured pitch reviews into dynamic brainstorming marathons, where ideas flew fast and collaborations took root. It was everything we love: young minds, big dreams, and the spirit of entrepreneurship in full bloom.
The Main Event: 3DE Innovators Showcase
On April 3rd, the energy hit a new level as we joined the 3DE Innovators Showcase at Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay’s campus. 33 student-led booths and 5 stellar pitches filled the space with purpose and passion.
These 11th graders from Hillsborough County and surrounding districts weren’t just impressive, they were next-level. Tackling real-world challenges with thoughtful, community-centered solutions, they brought ideas that were sustainable, creative, and surprisingly polished. I found myself thinking back to my own high school years when I was more focused on Disney Channel reruns and GPA than solving global problems!
I had the honor (and let’s be real – the challenge!) of serving as one of the five superlative judges at the 3DE Innovators Showcase. Let’s just say: it was not easy. Choosing winners meant weighing everything from innovation and market fit to creativity and impact. The students made our job tough, in the best possible way.
More Than an Event: A Mission in Motion
Tampa Bay Wave’s mission is to help build, launch, and grow great tech companies, but we also believe the foundation starts early. Engagements like these allow us to connect the dots between the students and the innovation ecosystem that’s thriving right in their own backyard.
Through partnerships with Junior Achievement, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk County Public Schools, and educators across the region, we’re investing in the next generation of tech talent. These students aren’t just the future, they’re already building it.
If the 3DE Showcase was any indication, that future is bright, bold, and full of impact.
These moments matter. They help us inspire the next generation, strengthen our local pipeline, and foster a culture of innovation that begins in the classroom and continues into the boardroom.
We’ll keep showing up.
We’ll keep cheering them on.
We’ll keep building, together.
Until next time..
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Stay tuned for more moments like these by following us on our social media accounts, and if you’re a mentor, founder, or community supporter looking to get involved, we’d love to hear from you.