Florida Atlantic Entrepreneurship Institute
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Supporting innovation and venture growth across Florida Atlantic University and South Florida. 🚀
FAU Tech Runway is launching South Florida’s next generation of global entrepreneurs and creating an ecosystem that provides them with all the resources they need to thrive in one collaborative hub. The annual Launch Competition selects 21 of the most promising companies for the year-long Venture Class program, including seven student-led companies, seven faculty spinouts, and seven community-based companies.
Two opportunities for veteran & military-connected entrepreneurs through the Veterans Florida Entrepreneur Program at Florida Atlantic. 🇺🇸
Tomorrow: Join Florida SBDC at FAU and Florida APEX Accelerator at Florida Atlantic for a FREE, hands-on Government Contracting Workshop. Learn about government contracting readiness, business structure, SAM.gov, Grants.gov, GSA.gov, and capital for dual-use technology. Bring your laptop!
📅 Sept. 24 | 3-6 PM
📍 Florida Atlantic | Boca Raton
🎟️ Register for the Government Contracting Workshop: https://fau.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3DlIr2dPVOagdIG
And next week: Our Fall Veterans Florida Entrepreneur Program Launch Cohort begins! This eight-week program helps veteran and military-connected entrepreneurs turn an idea or early-stage business into a stronger, more actionable business model through hands-on education, mentorship and connections.
📅 Thursdays, Oct. 1-Nov. 19 | 5:30–8:30 PM
📍 Florida Atlantic | Boca Raton
Interested in the Launch Cohort? There are still a few seats available. Apply now: https://fau.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dnTkGu0o2eiGawK
Veterans Florida
Florida SBDC at FAU
Florida APEX Accelerator
Florida Atlantic University Broward Campuses
FAU Military and Veterans Student Success Center Veteran Owls
FAU College of Business
West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System
Florida Atlantic University
09/21/2026
🌟 Mentor Spotlight: Edward Gargano 🌟
Entrepreneur, investor, strategic advisor, and Mentor Board member Edward Gargano has spent more than four decades helping companies grow from startup to successful exit.
Throughout his career, Edward has founded seven companies, achieved five successful exits, evaluated thousands of business opportunities, and advised founders across healthcare, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, media, and emerging technologies. Today, he serves as a Strategic Board Advisor to Coditect, where he advises on commercialization strategy, enterprise positioning, strategic partnerships, and market adoption.
Edward works with founders to transform innovative ideas into investable businesses by refining their strategies, strengthening their business models, validating market opportunities, improving go-to-market ex*****on, and preparing leadership teams for fundraising and long-term growth.
His advice to founders:
“Don’t fall in love with your technology. Fall in love with the problem you’re solving. Customers buy outcomes, and investors fund companies that can consistently deliver them.”
We are grateful for Edward’s continued leadership and commitment to supporting Florida Atlantic University’s entrepreneurial community.
🔗 Connect with Edward: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-gargano-b5359022/
🔗 Learn more about Coditect: https://www.coditect.ai/
09/21/2026
We are excited to welcome Liz Sara to the Florida Atlantic Entrepreneurship Institute Advisory Board!
Liz is the Founder and President of Best Marketing LLC. Her marketing expertise, entrepreneurial experience, and leadership will be valuable additions to our community and mission.
Please join us in welcoming Liz to the team! 🦉
09/15/2026
Is your business ready to pursue government contracts?
Join SBDC at FAU, APEX Accelerator, and Florida for a consulting-led, hands-on workshop at Atlantic University.
Participants will learn about:
• Government contracting readiness
• Business structure and preparation
• SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and GSA.gov
• Capital for dual-use technology commercialization
Veteran entrepreneurs, military spouses, and members of the Atlantic Military and Veterans Student Success Center and Florida Atlantic University College Of Business communities are especially encouraged to attend!
📅 Thursday, September 24, 2026
🕒 3:00–6:00 p.m.
📍 Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton Campus
Register today: https://fau.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3DlIr2dPVOagdIG
09/09/2026
Proud to continue our partnership with Veterans Florida! 🇺🇸 Since 2015, Florida Atlantic has supported veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs through the Veterans Florida Entrepreneur Program, and we’re excited to kick off another year of programming through the Florida Atlantic Entrepreneurship Institute. Stay tuned for more information - let's go build and launch some veteran-owned businesses!🚀
FAU College of Business
West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System
Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
Veteran Owls
We’re proud to announce and welcome our FY 2026–2027 Entrepreneur Program Partners!
With this year’s selection of training partners completed, we are expanding the Program to more parts of the state to reach even more veterans, separating and retiring servicemembers, and spouses.
Our dedicated and experienced Partner Network provides training, mentorship, connections, and resources designed to help veteran and spouse small businesses launch, grow, and thrive.
Together, we’re strengthening Florida’s veteran entrepreneurship ecosystem and connecting those who have served, and their families, with the resources, expertise, and opportunities they need to succeed.
We’re fortunate to partner with organizations across Florida that share our commitment to empowering veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs.
Read more at https://na2.hubs.ly/H07Bz3C0
Meet our FY 2026–2027 Entrepreneur Program Partners:
Action Zone
Accelerate Brevard
Florida A&M University
FAVOB
FAU College of Business
FGCU
Florida SBDC at UWF
Gilchrist Veterans Business Council
Meritorious
Northwest Florida State College
Project Solvers
St. Petersburg College
SWFL Inc.
UF Innovate
Valor2Venture
Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative - VEI
Season 7 | Episode 367
This week on The Shrimp Tank, we sit down with Yosef Martin, Serial entrepreneur and Investor, to discuss their entrepreneurial journey, business insights, lessons learned, and the experiences that helped shape their success.
The Shrimp Tank is produced in collaboration with the Florida Atlantic Entrepreneurship Institute at the Florida Atlantic University College of Business in Boca Raton, Florida.
About The Guest:
From $375 to Over $1 Billion in Sales
Yosef Martin is a serial entrepreneur and investor who turned an initial $375 investment into a career generating more than $1 billion in sales, with two successful exits.
His journey began in 2004 as an international student at Florida International University (FIU), where he specialized in internet marketing while launching his first company, Merchandise Liquidators, with just $375. The company was ultimately acquired by private equity in 2016.
In 2014, Yosef founded BoxyCharm, which he scaled into a beauty powerhouse generating approximately $500 million in annual sales. In 2020, IPSY acquired BoxyCharm for approximately $500 million, marking his second successful exit.
Today, Yosef applies the same instinct for identifying emerging markets and building disruptive consumer brands as an entrepreneur and investor, with a growing focus on health, longevity, biotechnology, and human performance.
About The Shrimp Tank:
The Shrimp Tank is the first podcast in the world fully integrated into a university course curriculum, filmed at the Florida Atlantic University College of Business in Boca Raton, Florida. Each episode brings 30–40 entrepreneurship students into the studio to engage directly with CEOs, founders, and successful business leaders through live discussions and on-air questions. This immersive experience bridges the gap between classroom learning and the real world, creating opportunities for internships, mentorships, job offers, and meaningful professional connections.
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08/10/2026
🌟Mentor Spotlight: Carol Miller
For nearly a decade, Carol Miller has shared her experience, insight, and encouragement with founders at The Runway at Florida Atlantic. She has served as a mentor since 2017, joined the Mentor Board seven years ago, and was recognized for Excellence in Mentoring in 2023.
As Executive Director, Business Development at GCP Research, Carol brings 25 years of experience in pharmaceuticals and early-phase clinical research. Her expertise in customer discovery, business development, strategic relationships, and marketing helps founders identify priorities, see the bigger picture, and move their ventures forward with greater clarity.
We are grateful for Carol’s continued dedication to supporting entrepreneurs and building what’s next.
08/03/2026
🌟 Mentor Monday: Meet Mark Clifton!
As an independent technology and business advisor, Mark combines strategic thinking with hands-on engineering expertise to help founders turn complex technologies into practical products, compelling business models, and scalable opportunities.
His expertise includes:
⚙️ Product and hardware development
📈 Strategy and business development
💰 Venture finance
🥽 AR/VR and emerging technologies
🌊 Marine renewable-energy systems
📡 Smart sensors and IoT applications
We are grateful to have Mark supporting our founders and entrepreneurial community!
07/31/2026
🚀 Flashback Friday: Achieving Escape Velocity!
The AI Collective brought together founders, innovators, and members of our community for an exciting showcase of the technologies shaping the future of AI.
Congratulations to our winners:
🏆 Best Overall: Patriot Logistics Group
🧠 Best Tech: Nyquest.ai
We are especially proud of Patriot Logistics Group, a veteran venture from The Runway, for taking home the Best Overall award!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for an inspiring evening of innovation, ideas, and connection.
07/24/2026
Confidence isn’t something we have to wait for... it’s something we build. 💪✨
At last week’s ENT Xchange, guest speaker Jill Pavlov challenged “The Confidence Myth” and shared why confidence is a trainable skill, not simply a personality trait.
“Confidence isn’t something you have before you do hard things. It’s something you earn after doing them.”
We were also so excited to have Regina Thompson back in action following her maternity leave! 💗
Thank you to Jill, Regina and everyone who joined us for an afternoon filled with valuable insights, great conversation and plenty of laughter!
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