Over the past 25 years, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 1,000 businesses become established in Central Florida and significantly grow.
Today, the UCF Business Incubation Program is launching a newly structured and augmented program for its graduate companies. The goal is to help keep them connected to each other and to the program, giving opportunities to help current client companies become successful as well.
Many of the pieces of the program are currently available, but this new effort creates a centralized effort to assist the program’s graduates.
“The impact of companies which have graduated from the Incubation program is felt in all of our counties and nearly all of our key industries,” says Rob Panepinto,
director, Innovation Districts Strategy and Partnerships, UCF Business Incubation Program. “By continuing to provide resources for these companies, along with other unique opportunities, we’re able to provide an even greater impact over the coming years.”
The UCF Business Incubation Program’s Graduate Network launched this month and includes benefits such as:
- Admission to unique networking events exclusively for Incubator clients and graduates.
- Access to meeting rooms and training facilities at any of the Incubator locations.
- Invitations to workshops, seminars, and panels featuring experts in venture capital, market strategy, and industry trends.
- Peer-to-peer meetings with graduate CEOs and owners.
Plus, graduates can give back through the Incubation’s First Customer and Mentorship programs. The programs offered in the Graduate Network are at no cost to any of the graduate companies.
Already, graduate companies are looking forward to being involved.
“The Incubator was a true catalyst for the success of three of my companies. We are truly looking forward to engaging with other graduates and current clients to help improve our regional economy,” says Robert Abascal, founder of UCF Incubation Program clients AVT Simulation, StrongPoint, and SimStaff. “I am grateful the Incubation program is offering this program for companies like mine to stay engaged.”
Adds Michael Connell, president, SportzCast: "When we started SportzCast, being a part of the Winter Springs Incubator provided the resources to build our business to where we are today. We stayed in Winter Springs because it was our home and we truly welcome the opportunity to help and support others on their entrepreneurial journeys."
To join the Graduate Network, sign up here.
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For more information, please contact:
UCF Business Incubation Program: Rob Panepinto, 407-467-5689, rob.panepinto@ucf.edu or Alan Byrd, Alan Byrd & Associates, 407-415-8470, Alan@ByrdConnections.com
About the UCF Business Incubation Program: The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high-growth/impact enterprises. Since 1999, this award-winning program has provided vital business development resources resulting in over 300 local startup companies reaching their potential faster and graduating into the community where they continue to grow and positively impact the local economy.
With nine facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, and the cities of Eustis, Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs. In 2023, current incubator clients supported over 1,000 employees and generated over $120 million in revenue. Nineteen companies graduated from the program and remained in the local community. For more information, visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
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University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program
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Rafael Caamano Site Manager
- October 24, 2024
- (407) 278-4880
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