Capstone Design
Where Innovation Becomes Reality
At Florida Poly, your education doesn’t end in the classroom—it launches into the real world.
The Capstone Design program is the ultimate hands-on experience where seniors tackle real challenges, engineer real solutions, and influence real companies. Capstone is more than a project—it’s the culmination of everything you’ve learned at Florida Poly. It’s where your curiosity turns into creativity, and your hard work transforms into breakthroughs that inspire confidence for the next step in your career.
What is Capstone Design?
Capstone Design is a two-semester, team-based course that puts your skills to the test. You’ll work with fellow seniors, faculty mentors, and industry sponsors to:
- Solve complex, real-world problems
- Design, prototype, and test innovative solutions
- Present your work to industry leaders and the campus community at our Capstone Showcase
This is not just a class project—it’s your launchpad into a successful tech career.
Sponsored by Industry. Powered by You.
Our Capstone projects are often sponsored by leading companies and government agencies who are looking for fresh ideas and innovative thinking. These sponsors provide a real problem, mentorship, and funding. You provide the brains, creativity, and execution.
Past sponsors include: Lockheed Martin, NASA, Publix, L3Harris, and Saddle Creek Logistics.
Project areas include:
- Autonomous systems
- AI and machine learning
- Smart sensors and IoT
- Sustainable energy
- Robotics and automation
- Software engineering
- Biomedical tech
“Florida Poly students are bright, driven, and bring new energy to our toughest challenges.”
— Capstone Project Sponsor
Why Capstone Sets Florida Poly Apart
Real-World Experience
You’ll solve actual problems—not textbook hypotheticals.
Career Ready
Employers love Capstone experience—it shows you can collaborate, engineer, and deliver.
Innovation Culture
At Florida Poly, pushing the limits is part of the curriculum.
Portfolio Power
Your Capstone project will shine on your résumé, LinkedIn, and grad school applications.
Capstone Stories
Companies: Sponsor a Capstone Project
Fuel Innovation. Discover Talent.
Sponsoring a Capstone Design project at Florida Poly isn’t just a partnership—it’s a strategic investment in innovation and future talent. By engaging with our top engineering and computer science students, your organization gains fresh insight, creative solutions, and a front-row seat to tomorrow’s workforce.
Whether you’re exploring new product ideas, testing out alternative solutions, or tackling projects you haven’t had time to start, Capstone sponsorship connects you with a motivated team ready to deliver.
Why Sponsor a Capstone Project?
- Access Emerging Talent – Collaborate with some of Florida’s brightest future engineers and tech professionals—potential hires already working on real-world challenges.
- Advance Innovation – Let students explore alternate designs, optimize existing processes, or build functioning prototypes that address your organization's goals.
- Strengthen Industry-Academia Ties – Influence the next generation of STEM leaders while advancing your own R&D efforts.
How Sponsorship Works
Capstone sponsorships are open to companies, nonprofits, and individuals. Here’s what to expect:
- Proposal Submission: Submit your project proposal online between April and June for the coming academic year. Multiple proposals are welcome.
- Project Fee:
- $2,500 for physical prototype projects ($1,000 used directly for project materials)
- $1,500 for software/modeling/simulation projects ($500 for support materials or licenses)
- Additional Costs: Sponsors agree to cover any additional material or software costs beyond the included budget.
- Confidentiality & IP: Florida Poly offers a standard Non-Disclosure Agreement and Intellectual Property Waiver upon request. Students who prefer not to sign these will be reassigned to other projects.
We’ll work with you to match your challenge to the right student team and provide guidance through the process.
What Makes a Great Capstone Project?
Ideal projects are:
- Open-ended and design-focused
- Non-critical to your business operations
- Exploratory or experimental in nature
- Aspirational—things you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet
Projects critical to your company’s success or requiring tight controls are not good candidates.
The Capstone Timeline
- Spring (Proposal Submission): Submit your ideas by March or early April
- Fall Semester: Needs assessment, brainstorming, initial design and alpha prototype
- Spring Semester: Sponsor feedback, detailed design, testing, and beta prototype
- April: Final presentation at the Capstone Design Showcase
Ready to Partner With Us?
Have an idea? Let’s bring it to life.
Contact Dr. Matt Bohm to learn more or begin your sponsorship journey.
