April 24, 2026 — Highland Campus

ACC Student Startup Showcase — Spring 2026

Where student
ideas take flight.

ACC's student startup showcase returns for Spring 2026. Pitch your idea, connect with mentors, and compete for prizes.

Hosted by Team EDGE

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Grand Prize

Four pillars of the experience

A one-day showcase where ACC student entrepreneurs present ventures, connect with the Austin startup community, and compete for recognition and prizes.

Present

Take the stage and pitch your startup idea to judges, mentors, and fellow students. Whether you have a prototype or just a concept, your idea deserves to be heard.

Connect

Network with Austin's entrepreneurship ecosystem. Meet investors, business leaders, and fellow student founders who share your drive to build something new.

Compete

Compete for recognition and cash prizes. Our panel of expert judges evaluates every venture on innovation, feasibility, and presentation. First place takes home $500.

Grow

Leave with real feedback, new contacts, and the confidence to take your venture to the next level. NEST FEST is just the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey.

Event Schedule

ACC Highland Campus
April 24, 2026
2:00 PM
Doors Open & Networking
Arrive, mingle with fellow founders and attendees, explore the venue
2:30 PM
Opening Ceremony
Welcome remarks, introductions, and event overview from the EDGE Team
3:00 PM
Student Presentations
All student ventures take the stage — 3 to 5 minutes each to pitch their ideas to judges and audience
4:00 PM
Break & Panel Deliberation
Networking break while judges deliberate and score all ventures privately
4:30 PM
Closing Remarks & Announcements
Winner announcements, judge feedback, and prize presentation ceremony
5:00 PM
Reception
Celebrate with founders, judges, sponsors, and the greater ACC community

The Entrepreneurship & Innovation Academy

The Entrepreneurship & Innovation Academy (EIA) at Austin Community College is a college-wide initiative designed to support students who want to explore, launch, and grow their own ventures. The program removes barriers to entrepreneurship by meeting students where they are — regardless of major, background, or experience level.

NEST FEST is the flagship event of the EIA, organized and run by the EDGE Team — a student leadership body dedicated to building an entrepreneurial culture on campus. EDGE stands for Entrepreneurship, Development, Growth, and Engagement.

ACC Highland Campus EIA Program EDGE Team Student Led
ACC Highland Campus at sunset — home of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Academy
Inaugural Event Archive

NEST FEST Fall 2025

ACC's Inaugural Student Startup Showcase

November 7, 2025 Riverside Campus 60+ Attendees 15 Live Pitches

On November 7, 2025, Austin Community College made history with the first-ever NEST FEST — a student startup showcase that brought together 15 bold entrepreneurs, 4 expert judges, and over 60 community members at the Riverside Campus. From AI-powered booking systems to custom sports card frames to home bakeries, the inaugural showcase proved that ACC students are ready to build. Three ventures took home prizes, and every founder left with something more valuable: community, confidence, and connections.

Winners Podium

1st Place

Big Bites Bakery

Deanna DeLeon

Pastry Arts

Made from scratch, baked with love. Custom cakes and holiday specials operating under cottage food laws, with a long-term goal of opening a brick and mortar shop.

$500 Grand Prize
2nd Place

CutQueue

Omer Ulucan

Computer Science

AI-powered appointment system handling phone, SMS, and WhatsApp bookings automatically for barbers. Reduces no-shows and creates a seamless customer experience.

3rd Place

Custom Card Frames

Christopher Winnier-Cline

Custom display frames for sports cards and graded collectibles. Aluminum and wood frames specific to featured cards, targeting the booming sports card collectibles market.

All NEST FEST Fall 2025 student presenters gathered on stage after the showcase

All Presenters — Fall 2025

Big Bites Bakery

1st Place

Deanna DeLeon

Pastry Arts

Food & Beverage Early Development

Made from scratch, baked with love. Custom cakes and holiday specials operating under cottage food laws, with a long-term goal of opening a brick and mortar shop.

CutQueue

2nd Place

Omer Ulucan

Computer Science

Technology & Apps AI System

AI-powered appointment system handling phone, SMS, and WhatsApp bookings automatically for barbers. Reduces no-shows and creates a seamless customer experience.

Custom Card Frames

3rd Place

Christopher Winnier-Cline

Retail & Consumer 3D Printed Samples

Custom display frames for sports cards and graded collectibles. Aluminum and wood frames specific to featured cards, targeting the booming sports card collectibles market.

The Paddock Society

Eduardo Mejia Arteaga

Business Administration

Food & Beverage Testing Phase

A curated social dining and events concept bringing people together through food experiences, community gatherings, and elevated casual hospitality in Austin.

Auntpreneur

Faiza Hussain

Hospitality / Culinary Arts

Technology & Apps Already Operating

A platform and community resource helping non-traditional entrepreneurs — especially aunts, caregivers, and family-first business owners — launch and scale their ventures.

Commercial Drone Work

Ben Harris

Economics

Service & Consulting Launch Ready

Professional FAA-certified drone photography and videography services for real estate, events, construction site documentation, and commercial clients in Central Texas.

Esthetician on the Road

Destiny Martinez

Business Administration

Beauty & Wellness Idea Stage

A mobile esthetics business bringing professional skincare services directly to clients — facials, waxing, and treatments delivered at home, office, or event locations.

A Women's Touch

Josie Flores

Business Administration

Service & Consulting Idea Stage

A service business offering handywoman and home repair solutions, filling the gap for clients who prefer to hire women professionals for in-home projects and maintenance.

Neuro Brainiacs

Kiara Quick

Psychology

Social Impact & Education Planning Phase

An educational enrichment program designed to support neurodivergent learners with engaging, brain-based learning strategies and tailored cognitive development activities.

FPV Media Consultants

Cullen Cline

Business

Service & Consulting Idea Stage

First-person-view drone media and content creation services for brands, events, and creatives. Cinematic FPV footage giving clients a new visual perspective on their story.

Refridge-O-Waiter

Jacob Moskalev

Technology & Apps Concept

A smart refrigerator management system that tracks inventory, suggests recipes based on available ingredients, and automates grocery ordering before items run out.

Quality Promotions

Cindy Gonzalez

Marketing

Service & Consulting Already Operating

A marketing and promotional services firm helping small businesses and events with branded merchandise, event promotion, and community outreach campaigns.

Glow & Roll

Brittany Sanders

Business / Photography

Beauty & Wellness Idea Stage

A mobile beauty and photography service combining on-site makeup and styling with professional photo sessions — ideal for events, headshots, and social content creation.

Facing Addiction with Hope and Understanding

David Dawson

Social Science

Social Impact & Education Planning Phase

A peer support and education program providing community-centered resources for individuals and families navigating addiction recovery, reducing stigma and promoting healing.

Focus Page

Chutian Wu

Computer Science

Technology & Apps Already Operating

A productivity-focused browser extension and web app that replaces the new tab page with a clean, distraction-free workspace featuring tasks, goals, and focus timers.

Judge Panel

Harshal Shah

Harshal Shah

Business Leader & Investor

Dannie Strubhar

Dannie Strubhar

Technologist & STEM Educator

Andrii Konovalskyi

Andrii Konovalskyi

Tech Founder

Josh Edmond

Josh Edmond

ACC Graduate & Tech Founder

Event Sponsors & Partners

Fall 2025 Schedule — Historical

2:00 PM
Doors Open & Networking
2:30 PM
Opening Ceremony
3:00 PM
Student Presentations
4:00 PM
Break & Panel Deliberation
4:30 PM
Closing Remarks
5:00 PM
Reception

Our Team

Faculty advisors and student leaders who make NEST FEST possible each semester.

Dr. Andrea Kehoe

Dr. Andrea Kehoe

Office for the Future, ACC

Harshal Shah

Harshal Shah

Business Leader & Advisor

Student Leadership — EDGE Team

Faiza Hussain

Faiza Hussain

EDGE Team

Carol Hernandez

Carol Hernandez

EDGE Team

Abel Rincon

Abel Rincon

President, EDGE Team

Cullen Cline

Cullen Cline

EDGE Team

Josh Edmond

Josh Edmond

EDGE Team

Spring 2026 Applications Open

Ready to pitch
your idea?

All ACC students welcome. No experience required.

Submit Your Idea

Deadline: April 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM