Monmouth County Teens Win National Business Competition With Life-Saving Device

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — Two Monmouth County teens have won full-tuition scholarships to the University of Vermont (UVM) after being crowned the winners of the 2026 Vermont Pitch Challenge, a Shark Tank-like competition for teens.

Aarav Upadhyay and Ayden Pinto, high school entrepreneurs from Asbury Park and Englishtown, were awarded the competition’s top prize of full-tuition scholarships after presenting their plan for their business venture, Yevla, to a panel of judges at UVM.

Yevla is an affordable, modular search‑and‑rescue drone kit that provides thermal imaging and two‑way communication — delivering professional‑grade capabilities at under half the cost of traditional enterprise systems.

Life-threatening delays are some of the most common complications search and rescue teams face.

With their kit-based system, Upadhyay and Pinto hope to achieve lower production costs, reduced waste, customization options and lower purchase prices for search and rescue teams.

“[This] validates every hour I poured into building Yevla from the ground up,” said Upadhyay, a high school senior.

“It’s meaningful to see that the idea we’ve been building is something others believe in,” added Pinto, also a senior.

The Vermont Pitch Challenge is a unique competition that empowers high school students from around the world to pitch their most innovative business ideas for the chance to win scholarships and cash prizes by presenting their ventures in a live pitch event at UVM.

The competition aims to support young entrepreneurs who are focused on solving real-world challenges through creative, impactful solutions.

"The Vermont Pitch Challenge showcases the incredible talent, innovation, and passion of young entrepreneurs from around the world,” said Jay Jacobs, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at UVM. “These students are tackling real-world challenges with creative, forward-thinking solutions, and we are honored to support their journey."

This year’s competition saw more than 100 teams from 24 U.S. states submit business ideas. After extensive evaluation, five finalist teams were invited to present their pitches in person at UVM on April 7.

“The Vermont Pitch Challenge is such a great opportunity for students to not only showcase their innovative ideas but also to receive feedback from peers who share the same passion for innovation,” said Logan Vaughan, the lead student judge and member of the UVM Entrepreneurship Club.

“It's been inspiring to see the passion and creativity this year’s finalists bring to the table, and I can't wait to watch them turn their ideas into reality.”

Looking ahead, the 2027 Vermont Pitch Challenge will open for submissions in October 2026, with the final pitch event scheduled for April 2027.

For more information about the Vermont Pitch Challenge and how to participate, you can click here.