Meet DisasterReady: Future Fest 2025 Champions

The Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship recently hosted Future Fest 2025, an all-day event dedicated to showcasing student innovation and entrepreneurial talent. The festival featured a hackathon-style tournament, judged by the Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship, where student teams developed business ideas addressing disaster relief.

One standout team, DisasterReady, secured first place in the competition, earning $2,500 for their innovative survival kit and learning app designed to help families in disaster-prone areas prepare for emergencies. As part of the Close School’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurial problem-solvers, the competition encouraged students to develop real-world solutions while refining their business expertise. Comprised of Drexel students from various disciplines, the team demonstrated how cross-disciplinary collaboration and strong presentation skills can turn an idea into a winning venture.

In a recent article, The Triangle sat down with this year’s winners to discuss their experiences, key takeaways, and the lessons they learned throughout the competition. From refining their business models to navigating the challenges of pitching under pressure, these students offer valuable insights into what it takes to succeed in the startup world.

Read the Article

More on

With the rise of tools like AI, no-code platforms, and cloud infrastructure, launching a product no longer requires a Fortune 500 budget or a Ph.D. in computer science. All it takes is a problem worth solving and the will to solve it. At the heart of this movement are tech-driven startups, rewriting not only the rules of business but what’s possible in our careers, incomes, and impact.
Future Fest 2025 transformed Drexel's campus into a hub of innovation, empowering students and aspiring entrepreneurs to unleash their creativity and shape the future.
Drexel Engineering student Andrew DeLuca's pitch idea has blossomed into a successful startup, Raptor Defense Co., poised to revolutionize military safety technology with its innovative Landmine detection rover.

Recent Posts