Supporting Organizations


	Enterprise Development Corporation The Enterprise Development Corp. of South Florida (EDC) is a nonprofit organization that assists emerging science and technology companies. Our mission is the development of an innovation-based economy through the creation of high skill, high wage jobs in key industries that are driving global commerce.
	Gazelle Lab Gazelle Lab is a community initiative in every aspect of the program - from our entrepreneurs, to our investors, to the media, to our mentors, to the business and technology communities, to the outstanding partners below. We all take a long-term view when it comes to developing Tampa Bay's entrepreneurial ecosystem... and we invite you to participate. Or, even better, allow us to support your own program!
	The Launch Pad at University of Miami The Launch Pad opened in August 2008 as part of the Toppel Career Center and offers career guidance, resources, and advice to entrepreneurs, innovators, and inventors at the University of Miami. One basic goal of The Launch Pad is to show University of Miami students and alumni that starting a new venture is a legitimate career path. A second key goal is to encourage every UM student who wants to start a new venture - either for-profit or not for profit - to do so in South Florida and thereby contribute to the economic and social growth of our region. Through regular individual and group consultative sessions, workshops, and networking events - and through the good work of a network of local Venture Coaches - The Launch Pad is strengthening an entrepreneurial culture at the University of Miami and helping students and alumni from every school, college, and campus transform innovative ideas into successful and sustainable South Florida enterprises. The Launch Pad programs connect ideas, people, and resources; provide advice and guidance; builds relationships with experts in the local business community; and thus increases the likelihood of bringing new enterprises - whether for-profit or not-for-profit, to South Florida. The Launch Pad Team is comprised of entrepreneurs, inventors, business professionals, and students who are committed to helping you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey.
	Littlebanc Littlebanc provides highly effective investment banking services, and ultimately a lower present and future cost of capital. Utilizing a fundamental rather than structured approach, Littlebanc matches client companies with partner-minded investors. This fundamental focus fosters a stable and long-term shareholder base and lowers the cost of capital. One of Littlebanc’s most important assets is our deep relationships with many of Wall Street’s most influential professionals.
	Refresh South Florida Refresh is a community of web and new tech professionals, students, and enthusiasts in South Florida (Miami & Ft. Lauderdale). Our goal is to refresh the technical and professional communities, connect people, and improve the local landscape for technology. We offer a monthly educational/networking meetup in each city as well as workshops and other events. See our events calendar for more details.
	The Rollins College Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship The Rollins College Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship, located within the Crummer Graduate School of Business, is a catalyst and thought leader in the acceleration of successful entrepreneurship. Core to its mission is to prepare the advanced students of the Rollins MBA program for entrepreneurial thought and action. The Center connects students in a meaningful way with advanced entrepreneurs, and likewise, brings together entrepreneurs for peer-to-peer networking. This results in real-world insights providing advanced action learning for both students and entrepreneurs which is critical to the Center's success.
	Tampa Bay Wave Since our founding in 2008, Tampa Bay WaVE has maintained a clear commitment to one philosophy: Build a strong community of web tech entrepreneurs across Tampa Bay to create a greater number of successful home-grown web ventures. Our members are some of the best and brightest entrepreneurial minds around, building and growing more than 30 different web ventures. Some of our members are working on their first venture; some are on their second, third or fourth. Some of our ventures are still in development; some are already quite profitable and nationally recognized. We meet on a regular basis so that our members can fill in experience gaps by tapping into our own collective expertise.
	UCF's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation UCF's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation seeks to educate, empower and excite the entrepreneurial spirit of the UCF community. Our goal is to ensure that our community has the best educational, experimental and tactical support available to create and realize opportunities. In doing so, the CEI serves as a nexus connecting the College of Business Administration to academic disciplines across s campus and business interests throughout the Central Florida region.
	TRDA The Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) works with early-stage technology companies and entrepreneurs to accelerate their business planning, fundraising efforts, business development strategies and growth. Since its inception in 1987, TRDA has mentored hundreds of technology entrepreneurs and has supported over 175 new technology companies that have created more than 1,350 high wage jobs throughout Florida. In May 2007 TRDA opened a 31,000 square foot incubator in Melbourne
	The University of Tampa The University of Tampa Entrepreneurship Center in the Sykes College of Business teaches skills that are critical for today’s entrepreneur. Learning to identify opportunities, prepare executable business plans and hone skills through a combination of classroom study and applied learning, makes our program unique.
	University of Florida Engineering Innovation Institute The University of Florida Engineering Innovation Institute fosters a culture of innovation among faculty, students and staff of the College of Engineering (COE). The Institute serves as a nexus of engineering innovation education and experiential programs extending across the spectrum of creative discovery and invention, to the transition of UF engineering technologies and innovative students to the marketplace. Engineers have found their role as technology entrepreneurs over the last two decades and their impact to the world’s economy and standard of living have been tremendous. While entrepreneurship had traditionally been the purview of those that came from business oriented education and careers, the advent of enabling technologies such as the internet, microelectronics, nanotechnology, advanced instrumentation and sensing systems, and understanding of the human being, have opened new opportunities for discovery and innovation that play to engineers’ strengths. The Institute aims to produce leaders with engineering and innovation skills to attack the world’s most daunting problems and change the world. The Institute’s primary program elements are Creativity and Entrepreneurship built on the foundation of the College’s research programs. The College’s inter-disciplinary research institutes, and its broad spectrum of Departments and Schools, provide a unique platform upon which Creativity and Entrepreneurship education will produce many of our next generation innovation leaders, whether they work in the private, academic, public service, non-profit, or government / military sectors.
	IndoUS Chamber of Commerce North East Florida The mission of IndoUS Chamber of Commerce North East Florida is to provide an active forum in which Asian American professionals and business owners, through an exchange of ideas, with a unified voice, can communicate, interact, and secure a position within the business industry and become a source of inspiration by promoting professionalism and excellence through education and community involvement.
	University of Tampa Sykes College of Business The Sykes College of Business combines a strong liberal arts foundation with a broad-based business core. Through practical experiences and an advanced business curriculum, students receive a comprehensive education. Students can interact with the business community through internships, consulting projects, international programs and the Centers and Institutes. UT's relationship with more than 700 Tampa Bay area leaders provides opportunities for professional networking.