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Orlando, FL · Finance at UCF

Aaron Riddle

I study finance at UCF, work in energy consulting at Siemens Energy, and build businesses on the side, including a vending company I grew and sold.

Portrait of Aaron Riddle

Currently atSiemens Energy

Wind project invoices tracked at Siemens Energy
$200M+
Substation project: I owned the cost research
$6M
Potential solar sites evaluated
100+
Vend Orlando exit
$24K
Raised for Solar Knights Racing
~$17K
Major GPA
4.0

About

Finance, energy and building things

Studying
BSBA Finance, UCF (expected May 2028)
Working
Junior Consultant (Intern), Siemens Energy
Previously
Founder of Vend Orlando (exited)
Based in
Orlando, FL (from Lakeland, FL)

I'm Aaron Riddle, a finance student at the University of Central Florida. I grew up in Lakeland, Florida, and earned my associate degree from Polk State College through dual enrollment while I was still in high school.

I started at UCF in mechanical engineering and switched to finance. The engineering side still shows up in my work: at Siemens Energy I do cost research and modeling for energy infrastructure projects, and on my own time I build software with AI.

Along the way I built and sold a vending machine business and co-founded a student solar racing nonprofit. Outside of work you'll find me playing pickleball, studying poker strategy, skydiving or at the piano.

Work & ventures

What I've worked on

Siemens Energy

Junior Consultant (Intern), Energy Transformation Consulting

Nov 2025 – Present

I owned the cost research for a $6M substation conversion project, built a capital cost model from 25 benchmarks across five technologies (battery storage, solar, wind, gas turbines and more), and scored 100+ potential solar sites for client recommendations. I joined in March 2025 as a finance intern, linking $200M+ across 1,000+ wind project invoices into tracking files.

  • Energy infrastructure
  • Cost modeling
  • Public-sector & aerospace clients

Vend Orlando

Founder (exited)

Dec 2024 – Jan 2026

Built a vending business to 7 machines and about $22K in annualized revenue at a 67% gross margin, managing pricing and product mix item by item. Sold it location by location to three buyers for $24K in total.

  • 7 machines
  • 67% gross margin
  • Exited for $24K

Solar Knights Racing

Co-Founder & Vice President

Jan 2025 – Jan 2026

Co-founded and registered a 501(c)(3) student nonprofit at UCF that builds a solar-powered race car. Set up fundraising, budgeting and governance, and raised about $17K toward a $50K car build.

  • 501(c)(3)
  • ~$17K raised
  • Pitched to 600+ people
solarknightsracing.org

Recognition & press

Awards and mentions

Writing

Latest posts

All posts →

Let's talk

Reporters, recruiters, founders and fellow students: email is the best way to reach me.