In the News

If Jacksonville is to be a true tech hub, pitch meetings and networking events such as the ConnectFest that took place on the campus of the University of North Florida on Wednesday afternoon must become commonplace.

Sam Maule, a key account director for Google Cloud, said he believes the Jacksonville area's tech scene is emerging. What the region needs are stronger bonds between business -- whether startups or established entities like Google Cloud -- and the talent those companies require...(read more)  

The University of North Florida's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) is Jacksonville's first equity-free, comprehensive business incubator located in downtown Jacksonville's urban core in the renovated historic Barnett National Bank building.

Early-stage startup companies are provided services, space and support critical to their development for one year at no charge. CEI facilitates this development by offering a variety of programs to nurture selected startups with services including business plan development, co-working space, support from student interns, professional advice and networking opportunities ...( read more )

The success of a startup can often rely on finding the right help when needed. That might be a key investor, accelerator program or support group that helps a young company achieve its next stage of growth. For entrepreneurs, a city's ecosystem -- the community of startups, funding mechanisms and support groups that serve that region -- matters.

This "ecosystem at a glance" guide is designed to serve as a general onboarding tool, a guide to help you quickly identify the businesses, capital resources, co-working spaces, events, resources and more that make up, support and embody the First Coast ecosystem ...( read more )      

The University of North Florida, in partnership with Google Cloud, MasterCard StartPath and VyStar Credit Union, will host "ConnectFest" to connect Florida technology startups with UNF students and alumni to help fill positions for early-stage growing companies.

The event is scheduled 1 to 4 p.m Oct. 13 at UNF's Adam W. Herbert University Center.

ConnectFest will bring together tech startups that need quality talent with UNF students looking for career experiences and opportunities, states a news release from the university ...( read more )  

While there isn't a secret formula for business success, leaders at University of North Florida's Entrepreneurial Center do feel they can offer startups a platform to increase the odds.

Now, the Center is looking to expand the diversity of the businesses it works with, launching the Swisher Growth Cohort for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs.

The program builds off of an early program that focused on startups: While still aimed at early-stage companies, the free, eight-week program is built for early stage companies that are generating revenue...(read more)

Swisher awarded three entrepreneurs funding to support the development and growth of their businesses as part of the Swisher Startup for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs program.

The company created the program with the University of North Florida's (UNF) Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and it is designed to encourage innovators and entrepreneurs from all walks of life, according to Swisher. Through e-learning, participants gain access to university faculty and resources to improve their business knowledge and plans, and the program awards top pitch winners with funding to support the development of their business...(read more)

New medical and health solutions are on the horizon. In March, entrepreneurs working with UNF's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation presented what they hope will be tomorrow’s companies offering new strategies in healthcare.

The University of North Florida's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is hosting a Demo Day on March 25 to introduce the six startups from the center's health and medical cohort and present their companies.

A news release states the event begins at 5 p.m. with 10-minute pitches from each of the founders to members of CEI's Advisory Council and guests. Awards and refreshments will follow the presentations...(read more)

UNF's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation's most recent cohort of small businesses will be "graduating" from the program at the end of March and launching their businesses across the First Coast.

The Center, located in the renovated Barnett Bank building downtown, is a place with a wide range of local resources available to entrepreneurs and a spot where budding business owners, from several industries, can learn from one another, UNF faculty and other professionals. Since opening in February 2019, the Center has held three cohorts total and incubated a total of 42 startups.

"What we learned from the first cohort is that a year is a long time (for the program)," said Karen Bowling, the university's vice president of jobs... ( read more )    

Riju Thomas promises that he sleeps. In bed most nights by 11 p.m. and up at 4:30 the next morning, he crams the most into every waking moment.

At 27, he is the president of RNJ Tech, a company he created in June 2017 that custom-builds computer web servers. He has two full-time sales staff and employs four to five contract workers as needed.

With sales last year of $1.768 million, that would be enough to fill a workday. Add to it that he is working on earning his MBA at the University of North Florida and at the end of this semester will have his Master of Science in Data Analytics from the University of Central Florida.

Then there are two other projects. He is co-founder or Oakheart Health, which will develop medical applications for artificial intelligence. He wants to launch this company by year-end...( read more )    

A Jacksonville-based company that pledged to grow opportunities for Black-owned businesses is sponsoring a University of North Florida program to prepare minority entrepreneurs to follow their dreams.

Cigar industry titan Swisher is underwriting UNF's Swisher Startup for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs, an eight-week online program about the nuts and bolts of turning an idea into a business.

"This was something that we wanted to make happen," said Alexandria Deal, manager of diversity, inclusion and transformation at Swisher, which produces some of the country's top-selling cigar lines as well as smokeless and tobacco-free nicotine...(read more)

This interview is part of the Jacksonville Business Journal's "The Future of Florida Health Care" special section published in October 2020. In this series, the Business Journal took a deep dive into the major drivers of change in the health care industry: The state's aging population, a rising prevalence in chronic diseases, technological advancements and the advent of new health care "players" in the marketplace. This is a look at local "players" on the First Coast.

Describe what you do in 10 words or less: Using AI to help create more efficient processes in surgeries 

Describe what you are currently working on: So, say you got into an accident and you broke your jaw and they wanted to create a custom implant for you. They would take a CT scan of your face and they would send that to a medical device company that would make a custom implant. They have to do that manually through two softwares. If you use AI, that would create more accuracy and save time in the segmentation. Our end goal is to use machine language and deep learning to understand the scan. It might take a week or two weeks, but we can cut back on surgery from a three week lead time to a one week lead time...(read more)

Several years ago, Drew Messer and Justin Dennis had a casual conversation over brunch. Little did they know that discussion would kick off an entrepreneurial journey for them both. Today they are the co-founders of an emerging business that has already earned nearly $1 million in revenue and is laying the groundwork to expand beyond Florida into other U.S. states.

The company is Urban Software Development Kit, or Urban SDK, one of six promising businesses to emerge from the UNF Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation's first group of start-ups...(read more)

The University of North Florida has established a concept for higher education that's intended to create new opportunities in Jacksonville.

“Anyone who walks through these doors has the potential to build a business — and they'll have the support here to do it,” said Karen Bowling, director of the UNF Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

The center has classroom, coworking and office space on two floors at The Barnett, Downtown at 112 W. Adams St. It is the university's second urban learning resource center, joining the Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary Art two blocks north along Laura Street...(read more)

Up to 200 Coggin College of Business students will take classes in the 16,000-square-foot space on the fourth and fifth floors, which includes an Entrepreneurial Center, where students work with people in the business community to pitch ideas and help come up with solutions to issues in various industries...(read more)

University of North Florida President David Szymanski, left, holds the ribbon at UNF's new Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at The Barnett building in Downtown Jacksonville.

He was joined Monday night by his wife, Maria Szymanski; philanthropists Luther and Blanche Coggin; and the center's director, Karen Bowling.

The center will serve graduate students and entrepreneurs interested in incubating business ideas...(read more).

The University of North Florida appointed alumna Karen Bowling the director of its new Center for Entrepreneurship.

Bowling is an executive with more than 30 years of experience in public and private companies in the health care, government and technology industries.

Prior to her appointment, Bowling served as president of Thrive Consulting LLC in Jacksonville, where she worked with clients in the health care and government sectors...(read more)

Ahead of the spring semester, a permit for the build-out of the fourth and fifth floors of the Barnett Bank Building has been awarded to Danis.

In April, the University of North Florida signed a lease for the 16,000-square-foot space. Up to 200 students will take classes at the satellite campus, which in addition to classrooms will include an "Entrepreneurial Center," where students will intern while working with people in the business community...(read more)