UCF's Startup Scene
Resources for interested investors or aspiring founders from UCF/Central Florida.
Hi again!
First off, a huge thank you to all of my new subscribers! People that I look up to are on my email list, which is crazy to think about. Good news for all of you is that whenever I make it in life, I won't forget the OGs.
Also a big thank you to everyone who gave me amazing feedback, I really appreciate all of the thoughtful input and I'll continue to implement that feedback in future posts 😀!
This post will be a little bit different as I wanted to share an assignment I had for an interview. I know Twitter doesn't like to talk about any university besides Harvard Online, but I wanted to shine a quick spotlight on my school (UCF!!). I had to map out the UCF startup ecosystem, a sort of cheat sheet for interested investors and a resource guide for aspiring entrepreneurs at my school. I wanted to make it public for a few reasons: First off, applying to those campus VC internships, not seeing my school in the "Our Network" pages pretty much told me my chances of even getting a reply. I was right because they still probably don't know I exist. It's tougher to come from a non-Ivy or non-coastal school but we gotta make do. I wanted to provide a "living" resource for anyone interested in the UCF and Central Florida startup space and to expand these conversations beyond SV. I'll constantly come back and add or change things as needed!
Second off, I want to encourage more students to make their own versions! I can say with certainty that there are many overlooked and undervalued companies and markets throughout the country, Orlando/UCF included. The talent is 1000% there, the opportunity is not.
Finally, I want to give a special shoutout to a few people I follow who are starting the movement to serve these founders. Lolita, Gefen, and Envision come to mind for serving underrepresented founders, so check them out! I know I’m missing a bunch but please let me know and I’ll add those resources as well.
Now for the info: you don't have to read everything as I just straight up copied my assignment submission, but I'd be glad to make some intros to any companies or founders you may find exciting. And for a tiny plug: I am starting a club at UCF this fall focusing on product, so any operators, PMs, VCs, or founders who would like to give back, hit my DMS 👀.
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UCF Entrepreneurial Network
Overview: The UCF entrepreneurial ecosystem is anchored by the UCF Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. They focus on helping students and alumni throughout the central Florida region with the help of their many satellite campuses and incubators. UCF offers many exciting businesses that are in a growing metropolitan and are incredibly undervalued when compared to other traditional tech hubs.
UCF Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
UCF Business Incubation Program
Innovation District Incubators: Each Innovation District leverages assets of UCF’s campuses and are highly focused on targeted industries and technologies based in that geographical area.
Downtown Orlando: Digital Media, Smart City, FinTech, EdTech, Hospitality & Tourism Tech
Lake Nona: Life Sciences, Healthcare, Medical Simulation
Research Park (On Campus): Defense/Military, MST, Cyber, Photonics, Robotics, Energy, Space
Resources include: Mentorship, Business development/operations, capital, leadership development, specialized space
Regional Business Incubators: Entrepreneurs receive feedback, accountability, connections, and resources to achieve their business goals.
Locations span Central Florida: Kissimmee, Orlando, Volusia, Winter Springs
Resources include: Business coaching, business development/operations, community, office space, educational events, networking events
Soft Landing Program: Helps international firms, as well as domestic companies headquartered outside the region, quickly adapt and connect to the Central Florida business community to help expanding companies establish a presence in one of the most thriving economic markets in the country.
Great opportunity for UCF students and alumni to partner with companies that have a broader reach.
Takeaways: These programs are available to UCF students, staff, and alumni that have an established business in the state of Florida. The business must be in the early stages of development and must be ready to launch to market within 2 years of joining the program.
This is great territory for pre-PMF startups that are beyond the discovery and “I have an idea” phase.
The district incubators provide a great opportunity to leap ahead within your business vertical with industry tailored guidance and resources.
UCF Technology Transfer
The Office of Technology Transfer: responsible for managing the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) intellectual property assets, and supporting the commercialization of discoveries made at UCF.
Work with UCF faculty, students, and staff to protect and promote their discoveries so they may be used in publications, presentations, and in the marketplace.
Takeaways: Good initiative to promote entrepreneurship within the research community at UCF.
Angel & pre-seed investors can find their “take a bet on the person/product” type of people here
UCF Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership
“The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership helps UCF students succeed by empowering them with entrepreneurial mindsets and skillsets”
Located in the business building and student union, they offer a variety of programs and events to encourage entrepreneurship within the undergraduate population.
UpStarts Accelerator: “Once selected as an UpStarts venture, student entrepreneurs will work with the UpStarts staff to set value-generating milestones and work towards hitting those milestones during their tenure.” Best performers gain access to The Joust.
UpStarts will provide office space, office equipment, advanced coaching resources, and collaboration space. UpStarts ventures will also have extensive access to the StarterSpace (provides various amenities like 3D-printing and graphic design)
The Joust: Aids student entrepreneurs by introducing them to community leaders, and providing key resources to help launch their ventures. The top four ventures will earn up to $50,000 in cash and essential business services provided by sponsors and donors.
Social Venture Competition: Ventures focused on some of society’s biggest problems
Sponsored by State Farm (shout-out Jake), winning teams are provided monetary prizes.
Starter Riot: Basically a giant event with every entrepreneur on campus, where they gain access to one-on-one coaching and networking opportunities with alumni who have started their own successful ventures.
Resources:
I-Corps: funded through the National Science Foundation, I-Corps aims to offer seed funding to each selected team to be used as early development seed money to turn their entrepreneurial ideas into potentially viable companies.
Teams will consist of an entrepreneurial lead (UCF Student) and an academic lead (UCF staff) and an external industry mentor.
Catalyst: Venture ScaleUp provides mentorship, strategic advice, and inspiration through its mentor network of role models, startup investors, and seasoned entrepreneurs.
StarterStudio: Supports central Florida tech startups with educational programming, coaching, funding, and other resources they need to succeed.
Small Business Development Center: provides business seminars and no-cost, one-on-one business consulting.
Orlando Entrepreneurs: helps existing and emerging entrepreneurs navigate the local ecosystem and find the events, resources, and support they need to succeed.
Student Lead Initiatives
Engineering Leadership & Innovation Institute at UCF (eli2)
Student organization with a focus on the professional development for the leadership minded CECS (College of Engineering and Computer Science) students.
Another great place to find the founders to “take bets on”
Events range from technical workshops to marketing strategies, creating well-rounded professionals and a good starting point for many founding teams.
CEO Knights
UCF’s entrepreneurial club focused on establishing a community of dedicated, passionate, and entrepreneurial minded leaders and innovators.
Offer Networking events, resources, speaker series with UCF alumni that have created successful ventures.
Student run, 500+ Members
Product @ UCF (New, my baby)
Focused on expanding the PM/technical founder candidates at UCF (We talking rocketship, Softbank funded growth goals)
Create a community of well-rounded professionals that can pursue 1) product management or 2) their own ventures
Well-connected networking and mentorship relations with VCs, PMs, Founders, and Operators from companies as small as pre-seed to rocketships and FANG
UCF's Startup Scene
One more thing worth adding: Who are the anchor tenants in Orlando? In what industries does it punch above its weight?
I just pulled up a list of companies based in Orlando. Here's what I see:
- Entertainment broadly (thanks to DW)
-- Audiovisual tech
-- Hospitality
-- Major restaurant chains
People who start businesses that sell into those spaces or otherwise rely on expertise in those fields wouldn't be wrong to do it in Orlando.