Entrepreneur Support Guide

PALM BEACH COUNTY

ENTREPRENEUR
SUPPORT GUIDE

Palm Beach County is home to many
support organizations dedicated to
stimulating a robust entrepreneur
ecosystem. In fact, the Business
Development Board’s Entrepreneurship
Task Force encourages a strong startup
culture that includes multi - disciplinary
collaboration, accelerating innovation,
and connecting to educational institutions.
Home to a thriving entrepreneurial
environment, Palm Beach County supports
the world-changing technologies and
innovative companies that are created here.
In this guide, you’ll learn about the wealth
of resources and support organizations
that can help with the many different
stages of entrepreneurship.

To learn even more about Palm Beach
County’s entrepreneurial environment,
visit www.pbceship.org.

PALM BEACH COUNTY
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS HELP

ENTREPRENEURS WITH
TOPICS SUCH AS:

ACCESS TO CAPITAL
ACCELERATOR/INCUBATOR SPACE

BUSINESS SERVICES
CONSULTING SERVICES
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

MENTORSHIP
BUSINESS WORKSHOPS

ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT GUIDE

Entrepreneur Access Accelerator/ Business Consulting Local Mentorship Business Business Student
Support to Incubator Services Services Government Workshops Plan Entrepreneurs

Organization Capital Space Support Competitions

Adams Center for x x
Entrepreneurship at FAU x x
x
Business
Development Board

CareerSource
Palm Beach County

City of Boca Raton x

City of Boynton Beach x xx

City of Delray Beach x x

City of Lake Worth x

City of West Palm Beach xx

FAU Tech Runway x xxx x xx x x
x x x x
Florida Institute for the x
Commercialization of xx x
x
Public Research xx x xx

Florida Venture Forum xx x

Florida Women's
Business Center

GBDC
Entrepreneurship

Institute
Golden Bell
Education Foundation

GrowFL

Entrepreneur Access Accelerator/ Business Consulting Local Mentorship Business Business Student
Support to Incubator Services Services Government Workshops Plan Entrepreneurs

Organization Capital Space Support Competitions

Jim Moran Institute x x
For Global

Entrepreneurship

Junior Achievement of xx
the Palm Beaches &

Treasure Coast, Inc.

Minority Business x x x
Development Center

Mosaic CoWork x

NEXUS Palm Beach x x
xx
Palm Beach County
Office of x xx

Small Business

Palm Beach SCORE

Palm Beach Tech x xx

Research Park at FAU x

School District of x
Palm Beach County x

Small Business x x x
Administration xx
xx
South Florida District x

Small Business x xx
Development Center

South Palm Beach x
SCORE

Startup xx
Palm Beach

The TED x
Center

Young Entrepreneurs
Academy

Adams Center for Entrepreneurship
at Florida Atlantic University

ABOUT: The Adams Center for Entrepreneurship at Florida Atlantic University brings students, faculty and the

community together in the spirit of entrepreneurship to fuel the innovation needed to create new opportunities in the
ever-changing global marketplace. The Adams Center for Entrepreneurship provides students with a unique academic
experience by fostering revolutionary intellectual growth beyond conventional wisdom in the pursuit and creation of
sustainable solutions to business and social problems.

SUCCESS STORY: Boca Raton businessman Logan Skees recently received the Governor's Young Entrepreneur

Award. The 25-year-old Marine Corps veteran co-founded personal training studio Trainerspace with two other U.S. military
vets. Skees serves as director of business development for the business. His partners are Cary Reichbach and Chris
Brown. Skees completed the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program in 2016.

"I'm proud to recognize Logan with the Young Entrepreneur Award today for his hard work to grow
Trainerspace," Gov. Rick Scott said. "I would also like to thank him for his service in the military.
Florida is one of the best states in the nation for veterans, and we'll keep working to ensure our
brave service members like Logan have every opportunity to succeed in our state."

Skees said that he was "beyond grateful" for the recognition. "Empowering our clients at Trainerspace to reach more of their
full potential through both safe and effective personal training is an absolute privilege," he said. "I am honored to continue
my service to this great nation through combating our greatest adversaries: obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Semper
Fi." Veterans Florida is a non-profit corporation created by the State of Florida to help veterans transition to civilian life. The
organization connects veterans to employers and connect employers with grant funds to hire and train veterans while
educating veterans on how to open their own businesses in Florida.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Michelle Paredes - [email protected]

561.297.3654
www.business.fau.edu

Business Development Board
of Palm Beach County

ABOUT: As Palm Beach County’s official economic development organization, the Business Development Board (BDB)

supports entrepreneurship in Palm Beach County. Our overall mission is to stimulate economic energy, promote business
diversity, and enrich the vitality of Palm Beach County through the relocation, retention, and expansion of companies to or in
Palm Beach County. Since entrepreneurship fuels economic development, we have convened a group of entrepreneur
support organization leaders to help foster the growth of the startup industry. The BDB Entrepreneur Task Force oversees

PBCeShip.org, an online platform created to highlight our entrepreneurship ecosystem.

SUCCESS STORIES:

1 When new companies grow, they need to hire more employees. This is where economic development and
entrepreneurship intersect. For example, Boca Raton’s Modernizing Medicine was founded by entrepreneurs
Daniel Cane and Dr. Michael Sherling and has quickly grown to over 550 employees. The BDB recently assisted the
company in expanding its operations to add 838 net new jobs while making a capital investment of more than $15
million in Palm Beach County by 2022.

2 The BDB also assisted Halo Technologies in facilitating the opening of its office in downtown West Palm Beach.
Not only did the company anticipate hiring 50 new employees and making a capital investment of $300,000, but it
introduced interactive technology and engineering solutions to the community. The possibilities that this company
provides are endless.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Shereena Coleman - [email protected]

561.835.1008
www.bdb.org | www.pbceship.org

CareerSource
Palm Beach County

ABOUT: CareerSource Palm Beach County is chartered by the state of Florida to develop and retain a high quality

workforce system in Palm Beach County. The career centers are instrumental in placing thousands of entry-level through
executive suite job seekers. An average of more than 7,500 people each month are helped by specialized services at
CareerSource Palm Beach County career centers in West Palm Beach and Belle Glade. CareerSource Palm Beach County
acts as a resource to local entrepreneurs who are interested in growing and expanding their organization through career
assistance programs and services. For many small to medium size businesses, it acts as a human resource generalist. The
company has assisted several local firmswith their expansion efforts in hospitality, financial services, landscaping/
maintenance and construction. Career center services are free to both employers and job seekers.

Services at Career Centers Include:

 Priority service for U.S. military veterans
 Job search workshops and assistance
 Career consulting
 Employers recruiting on site
 Use of computers, copiers and fax
 Access to hundreds of jobs
 Labor market information, such as jobs in demand
 Programs for persons with disabilities

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Michael Corbit - [email protected]

561.340.1060
www.careersourcepbc.com

City of
Boynton Beach

ABOUT: The City of Boynton Beach aims to create a SUCCESS STORY: Non-Prophet Brewing Co.

business-friendly, innovative environment where entrepreneurs opened in the City in 2017 and offers a twist on brewing in
can not only establish themselves but flourish. To help the form of fermented sweat tea with multiple flavors
generate this environment, it offers two Economic called kombucha. This is a new and untapped market in
Development Grants that aim to help the establishment of new the City and in the South Florida region where
businesses and aide in the expansion of existing businesses. Non-Prophet has been selling wholesale throughout Miami
The Commercial Rent Reimbursement and Interior Build-Out -Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. You can find
Grant Programs are designed to provide financial assistance to Non-Prophet Brewing products in over 60 establishments
business during their critical first year or expansion year of throughout the tri-counties, but their home-base is in
operation. The city also created a Local Business Preference Boynton Beach. The products are brewed and
ordinance establishing a local business preference of 5% in manufactured at its Boynton Beach location in the heart of
the acquisition of goods and services. A sealed bid or proposal
submitted by a certified local firm that is located within the City the brewery district. To assist Non-Prophet in
of Boynton Beach will receive a 5% or $5000, whichever is
less, bid evaluation preference. For informal purchases, expanding its business, the City Commission
City departments and staff are strongly encouraged to utilize awarded them two economic development
local businesses if they otherwise meet purchasing
policy requirements. grants totaling $27,000. They received both

Commercial Interior Bold-out and Rent Reimbursement
Grants that help Non-Prophet in its critical first year of
operations in the City. These grants also allowed
Non-Prophet to hire new employees to expand its
operations into a sit-down environment for tastings. The
City is thrilled to have a successful business settle in
Boynton Beach where the product market is growing
exponentially every year.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
David Scott - [email protected]

561-742-6014

www.boynton-beach.org

City of
Delray Beach

ABOUT: Delray Beach is a robust $9 billion small Four years ago, we launched the We ♥ Small Biz
campaign to recognize and celebrate the contributions
business economy where 93% of the entrepreneurial firms made by the entrepreneurial firms and small
are small, defined as employing less than 30 people. Every businesses who call Delray Beach home. Regular
day, more than 18 professionals from the City of Delray touchpoints and feedback from them are driving and
Beach, Delray Beach CRA, Chamber of Commerce, inspiring more business-friendly policies, processes
Downtown Development Authority, Small Business and programs in Delray Beach.
Development Center, SCORE, Florida Women’s Business

Center and The TED Center give advice and counsel to
entrepreneurs as they start-up, scale and grow their
ventures in Delray Beach.

SERVICES: A one-stop shop for business owners, executives and entrepreneurs who find themselves needing

assistance with site selection for a new office, commercial or industrial space; navigating local business processes,
permitting, licenses and funding assistance (grants-incentives) programs; seeking introductions to key business,
community, civic and/or elected officials or even with solving the challenges of growing your team and hiring new people
(workforce development services).

SUCCESS STORY: One of the entrepreneurial firms that the City of Delray Beach supported and watched grow

from a startup is Delivery Dudes, a food delivery service who is growing nationally and currently employs 82 from their
Delray Beach headquarters.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Joan K. Goodrich - [email protected]

www.mydelraybeach.com

City of
West Palm Beach

ABOUT: The City of West Palm Beach is a diverse, vibrant, and evolving community that couples big-city amenities with

the personality and appeal of a small town. The City of West Palm Beach is built for business, and through the prioritization of
businesses large and small, entrepreneurship remains an economic development goal for the city. As one of the three largest
cities of South Florida, and the center most city in Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach also continues to be at the forefront
of sustainable and energy-efficient practices. The City has been awarded a 4-Star rating by the STAR Communities Rating
System for social, environmental, and economic sustainability, and continue to be a leader in developing environmentally
progressive practices. A vibrant and diverse cultural hub, the City of West Palm Beach offers opportunities to enjoy
world-class art, entertainment, shopping, and dining experiences. A historic city, West Palm Beach has always been a
destination for those who wish to build new enterprises, achieve success, and personally flourish. A resilient and progressive
community, the City of West Palm Beach continues to exemplify Business. Life. Balanced.

ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT: The City of West Palm Beach puts entrepreneurs squarely in the middle of its

economic development efforts. One of the ten goals in the City's economic development plan is dedicated to entrepreneurs
and small businesses. This goal includes tactics such as entrepreneur network building, City sponsored events for
entrepreneurs, grants that can assist with building improvements and partnerships with local organizations such as Palm
Beach Tech, Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, and local universities and colleges to provide resources
for entrepreneurs.

SUCCESS STORY: The City of West Palm Beach helped Queen of Shiba, an Ethiopian restaurant , expand to a full

restaurant with two incentives (Facade and SIP), which resulted in $28,000 for phase one. They also helped with adjacent
building owned by same owner with Facade incentives, which resulted in $67,000. The restaurant had help with purchasing a
building directly across street to create another business to assist with critcal mass. Last but not least, the city assisted with
marketing the grand opening event and other events held at restaurant and also created Styx Alley for additional businesses
to drive traffic along with adding additional parking for Queen of Sheeba - 2019

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Chris Roog - [email protected]

561.822.2222
www.wbp.org

FAU Tech Runway

ABOUT: FAU Tech Runway is a South Florida public-private partnership that serves as a hub to accelerate technology

development and incubate startup companies. This incubation and acceleration happens in a 28,000-square-foot
collaborative working space that provides entrepreneurs with a complete ecosystem to house, educate, mentor and fund
their companies from origination through venture funding. Since launching in 2014, FAU Tech Runway has helped
entrepreneurs secure more than $46 million in investor funding and generate $23 million in revenue. More than 52
companies have launched at FAU Tech Runway, creating more than 300 new jobs with an average salary of $63,000. FAU
Tech Runway provides startups with free working space, expert mentoring, interns, marketing assistance, Stanford’s Lean
LaunchPad curriculum, privileged access to angel and investor networks and regional events, and $15,000 awarded to the
top seven startup companies.

STUDENT SUCCESS STORY: FAU Tech Runway student entrepreneur Devin Willis has developed a way to

improve the speed and accuracy of cancer diagnoses. Willis’s invention, SlideMap, is a low-cost 40x slide scanner that uses
recent advances in deep learning for image recognition, technology that can be found in driverless cars. SlideMap can
accurately classify every cell on a tumor slide, which can help a pathologist provide a more accurate diagnosis. Willis placed
fourth in the national 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, where he won $1,000 and attended a taping
of a Discovery Network show. As a part of the FAU Tech Runway Venture Class 5 Program to accelerate startups, SlideMap
is benefitting from top-notch mentors who could prove instrumental in bringing the product to market. For cancer patients,
that can’t come soon enough.

COMMUNITY SUCCESS STORY: No FAU Tech Runway company has sky rocketed to success more quickly

than EagleEye Intelligence, a game-changer in technology-driven public safety. The company is the brainchild of serial
entrepreneur and FAU alum Scott Adams, who was one of the first entrepreneurs directly affiliated with FAU Tech Runway. “I
needed infrastructure and space, and it was very helpful to be close and involved in some of the early decisions as they
unfolded while Tech Runway formed,” Adams said of his decision to launch EagleEye Intelligence there. In two years,
EagleEye has raised $14 million in venture capital and grown from two employees – Adams and co-founder Rex Ciavola – to
31. The company provides critical incident management solutions for public safety and security.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jessica Beaver - [email protected]

561.297.8000
www.techrunway.fau.edu

Florida SBDC
at Florida Atlantic University

ABOUT: The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Florida Atlantic University is part of a statewide

network that provides tools, training and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed. As the only statewide
provider of entrepreneurial and business development services, the Florida SBDC plays a vital role in Florida’s economic
development by assisting entrepreneurs in every stage of the business life cycle.

SERVICES: In addition to the FSBDC’s core service offerings of no-cost consulting, training, and business research, the

Florida SBDC also provides a comprehensive toolkit of specialized services for qualifying businesses looking to accelerate
market growth, including Growth Acceleration, International Trade, Government Contracting, and Business Continuation. The
Florida SBDC Network is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Defense Logistics Agency, State of
Florida and other private and public partners, and is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs. Since 1976, FSBDCs
have assisted hundreds of thousands of emerging and growing businesses by providing the professional expertise, tools, and
information necessary to make sound business decisions in a complex and ever-changing marketplace.

SUCCESS STORY: Fenton Baijnath, CEO of Radical Cosmetics, relocated his business to Lake Worth in 2010.

Florida SBDC at Palm Beach State College helped him expand his operations internationally by introducing him to their
Export Marketing Plan (EMP) Services. By analyzing trade statistics, industry reports, and conducting market research, an
EMP was created to help identify the best markets for Fenton’s cosmetics. After reviewing the EMP, Fenton took advantage
of a Gold Key Service grant available from Enterprise Florida and, along with the U.S. Commercial Service, he traveled on a
trade mission to the Dominican Republic, a country identified as having high potential. Fenton met with pre-screened
distributors interested in purchasing cosmetics and left with a $110,000 sale and interest in future orders.

More success stories can be found at www.floridasbdc.org/success-stories/.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Debbie Lanford - [email protected]

561.297.4229
www.sbdc.fau.edu

Golden Bell
Education Foundation

GOLDEN BELL FOUNDATION: The Boca Chamber’s Education Foundation, known as Golden Bell, is a 501c3

non-profit corporation that was created by the Chamber's Board of Directors as a separate operating entity, for the sole pur-
pose of supporting the Boca Raton Public School System and administrating educational programs that promote business
skills and workforce readiness. One of their premiere programs is the Young Entrepreneurs Academy.
Visit www.bocaratonchamber.com/goldenbell for more info.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY: The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is an exciting program

that transforms local middle and high school students into entrepreneurs. YEA!’s direct mission is to help students embrace
their passion, energy, creativity and talents, launch a venture, and view entrepreneurship as synonymous with success and
freedom. Through the nine-month long curriculum, students in grades 6-12 work in close cooperation with local leaders of
industry, community members, and educators to develop life skills, generate business ideas, conduct market research, write
business plans, and launch their very own companies. The program culminates with a shark tank style event as students
pitch their ideas to a panel of investors and ask for funds to support their business venture. The 2018-2019 year introduces
new topics on mental health awareness to understand the balance between work and play and a networking session to help
these soon-to-be business leaders grow comprehensively. Learn more at: www.bocaratonchamber.com/yea.

SUCCESS STORY: Rachel Zietz, founder and CEO of Gladiator Lacrosse, is a graduate of the Boca Raton

Chamber of Commerce YEA! Program. Her company creates a high-quality sports training equipment line with an
affordable price point. Since its inception in 2013, the company has grown from $200,000 in revenue in its first year, to a
projected $1M in revenue in its second year. Rachel has been featured in many publications, including The New York
Times, South Florida Business Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, Fortune Magazine’s online Broad Sheet page,
Inc.com, Teen Boss, and Kidpreneur.
Visit http://www.gladiatorlacrosse.com/about-us/.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
[email protected]
561.395.4433

www.bocaratonchamber.com/goldenbell

Jim Moran Institute
For Global Entrepreneurship

ABOUT: The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at the Florida State University College of Business is a source

of education and expertise for both current and aspiring entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. It serves more than 1,000
businesses in the community each year. The Jim Moran Institute maintains one of the most extensive business development
and outreach programs in the nation. Its South Florida Operations, which launched in 2009, serves Palm Beach and Broward
Counties through its Small Business and Nonprofit Executive Programs (SBEP & NPEP), Expert Speaker Series, CEO
Peer2Peer roundtables, and an annual Business & Leadership Conference. Services are for nonprofit and for profit businesses
and are geared toward CEOs, entrepreneurs, business owners, and presidents of small businesses.

ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT: The Jim Moran Institute presents a series of workshops, seminars and instructive

lessons at no cost to the area’s small business owners and nonprofit leaders. We strive to provide valuable insight and advice
and we foster innovation and entrepreneurial ideals in our participants. Our rigorous application process ensures that we have
strong, business-minded individuals take our courses, and our remarkable array of speakers who present to the classes are
highly respected, knowledgeable role models in their respective industries. Many of our program speakers are graduates who
enjoyed the program so much that they decided to return and share what they learned with future classes.

SUCCESS STORY: Jennifer Wilson, founder of All About Entertainment, came to the Jim Moran Institute as a highly

creative person with a lack of business operations knowledge. “I had a degree in communications, but had never taken any
business courses and didn’t know what I was doing with the business aspect of the company,” Wilson said. “SBEP taught me
how to put together a strategic plan with specific goals, and, most importantly, a pricing structure that would make my company
profitable. I had been to a couple of seminars that claimed to offer the same kind of business education,” said Wilson. “But they
were not nearly as comprehensive and only lasted one or two days. With SBEP it’s more of a classroom setting and you know
you’re going to have an opportunity to learn over several months.” Today, All About Entertainment has expanded to provide
professional entertainment and rentals to corporate and public events for the South Florida area. “There was not one class I
didn’t thoroughly love,” Wilson said. “To this day I use the strategic planning packet they gave us in our first class.
Whether it be a member of the Jim Moran Institute staff, or fellow classmates, everybody I met during the program
continues to be a great resource.”

CONTACT INFORMATION:
[email protected]

954.228.3082
www.jimmoraninstitute.fsu.edu

Junior Achievement
of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast

ABOUT: The mission of Junior Achievement is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global

economy. Junior Achievement is dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their
economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Junior Achievement's
programs focus on financial literacy, work readiness, entrepreneurship and seeks to ignite the spark in young
people to recognize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century. JA works with the next
generation of entrepreneurs within middle and high schools across Palm Beach County and on the Treasure
Coast. Entrepreneurship education programs include the following:

JA ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK is a one-hour JA PIVOT & PITCH is a new program in which middle

educational experience built around the theme of and high school students will learn about business creation
entrepreneurship. delivered locally by entrepreneurs in and improvement through rigorous, unique, one-of-a-kind,
classrooms, after-school facilities, and other student venues hands-on experiences. This entrepreneurial immersion
around the United States during Global Entrepreneurship provides knowledge and tools for teams to launch
Week. The local event will create a point-of-entry experience businesses during the school year and serves youth with an
for students, volunteers, and educators. emphasis on those socio-economically at-risk and those
attending Title 1 schools.
For more information:
For more information:
www.juniorachievement.com/global-entrepreneurship-week/
www.juniorachievement.com/ja-company-program/

SUCCESS STORY: Chris Rocha is only 14 but he is the CEO of his own company; Kryptic Tech. He is also

a JA Company student who will present his business plan to a panel of judges at JA Pitch on April 25th. Chris
interned with JAPBTC during his Spring break where he assisted with building our brand new website. Chris
started his game development company in 2014; and plans to launch his first game this year. Chris is a freshman
at South Tech High School studying computers. He taught himself to code in Elementary school and is now
earning certifications even before he graduates.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Claudia Barto - [email protected]

561-242-9468
www.juniorachievement.com

Mosaic Group
Co-Working

Complete Contract Consulting is just one of Mosaic CoWork’s success stories:

In January 2018, Sharna Barnes, owner of Complete Contract Consulting (CCC), became one of Mosaic CoWork’s
first members. She began utilizing the conference room for her government contracting training program for small
businesses. As a result, she began to acquire clients to utilize her consulting services and has since upgraded to a
monthly package that includes both office space and the training room. Mosaic CoWork provides its members an
opportunity to become a part of its business network through various events including weekly and monthly networking
events. Ms. Barnes participates in these events, allowing her to connect with a variety of business owners and
professionals, thus increasing her clientele so rapidly in a short period of time, she had to resign from her employer to
work her business full time. In addition, some of CCC's clients have become members of Mosaic CoWork.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rosemary Diehl– [email protected]

561.651.9565
www.mosaicgroup.co

Nexus

ABOUT: NEXUS brings together strategic investors, dynamic entrepreneurs, and key leaders in local

communities to expand the innovation economy. The organization was established to increase the number of
deserving Florida companies successfully raising the necessary capital to scale, increase their headcount, and fulfill
their corporate objectives. NEXUS Members have invested in 67 Florida companies over $20.1M. The NEXUS
membership of individuals, family offices, investment funds, and corporate partners streamlines the funding process
for Florida entrepreneurs. Florida companies now can gain access to a growing community of informed investors
who can enhance their businesses through strategic and passive capital investments.

ENTREPRENEUR SERVICES: Entrepreneurs scaling companies in Florida can access the NEXUS

community of 70+ investors by applying for funding at poweredbyNEXUS.com. The Entrepreneur Guide and
Investor Guide provide insights into preparing to raise capital and the investor mindset. Venture teams can enroll in
the NEXUS Advantage program for coaching from the NEXUS team and investors on their funding strategy,
financials, and pitch. Once an entrepreneur applies, they will receive questions and feedback from the NEXUS
Analyst team. Select companies will be chosen to present to active investors on the Weekly Wednesday Webinar
and potentially at our live pitch events around the state.

SUCCESS STORY: Veteran Affairs (VA) granted $5M for research at Florida State University’s (FSU)

High-Performance Materials Institute with the purpose of identifying a superior padding for amputee veterans’
prosthetics. FSU successfully patented the proprietary process and Joe Condon, who lives in rural Keystone
Heights, FL, licensed the patents from FSU and filed for additional patents to protect this disruptive manufacturing
process. Condon and the Auxadyne team was able to raise $390,000 in private investment at three NEXUS
events around the state in less than a month. The VA’s research is now on its way to solving a critical need for
wounded veterans, active military, and athletes. In the six months after raising the funding, Auxadyne has moved out
of Condon’s garage and into a state-of-the art advanced manufacturing facility, hiring 6 full-time professionals and 6
engineering students.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Blaire Martin – [email protected]

386.530.3714
www.poweredbynexus.com

Palm Beach
SCORE

ABOUT: SCORE Palm Beach’s mission is to enhance the success of small businesses through mentoring and

education with the vision to provide every person with the support necessary to thrive as a small business owner.
SCORE has a 70-year history as a resource partner with the Small Business Administration (SBA). They support

small business owners with workshops, certificate programs, and signature events for little or no fee, conducted by
subject experts on topics relevant to small business owners. Go to palmbeach.score.org for a complete schedule of

upcoming workshops. In addition, SCORE Palm Beach’s Certified Mentors provide free-for-life mentoring to help
solve our clients’ small business challenges either on a one-on-one basis or with an assembled executive team,

called SWOT0224.

ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT: Each year, SUCCESS STORY: In 2011, Scott and Amy

SCORE Palm Beach advises more than 600 clients, Angelo opened the doors of Oceana Coffee. But in
has over 1,000 clients attending workshops and 2014, when the Angelos were ready to grow their
certificate programs, holds over 1,800 mentoring business, they struggled to find guidance that was both
sessions and donates more than 5,000 volunteer sound and affordable. Scott and Amy attended Palm
hours to our community. The chapter of SCORE Beach SCORE’s workshops on online sales and
offers over 90 low cost or free workshops per year marketing that provided new ideas and a new approach
and is also registered with the National Association of to some common challenges for growing businesses.
State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor When they heard about the Palm Beach chapter’s
of continuing professional education on the National SWOT224 program for businesses older than two years,
Registry of CPE Sponsors. The low cost certificate they applied and were accepted. The SWOT224
programs include Entrepreneur Academy, Strategic program provided Oceana Coffee with free, in-depth
Steps to Growing Your Business, and Strategic mentoring based on the business’ strengths,
Communications and Marketing. weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, helping them
implement an action plan for growth.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Roy Davidson – [email protected]

561.833.1672
www.palmbeach.score.org

Palm Beach Tech

ABOUT: The Palm Beach Tech Association is a non-profit 501(c)6 membership association uniting and building the

innovation, entrepreneurial, and technology industries throughout Palm Beach County. As a countywide trade
association, Palm Beach Tech promotes industry growth by working with business groups, educational institutions,

and government entities to support the goals of member companies. The core focus is fixed on producing long-term
economic impact by attracting new business, supporting startups, and building the talent pool. With a scope of

services that meets the needs of a wide range of industry professionals, from corporate CEO’s to freelancers, we
believe in fostering the industry through a unified and holistic approach. Our goal is simple, Build the Palm Beaches

into a Tech Hub!

ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT: Palm Beach SUCCESS STORY: Palm Beach Tech has

Tech provides a physical co-working space, events, men- grown by 100% each year since its July 2015
torship, and resources promoting connection & engage- Founding, to over 150 technology companies from
ment for local entrepreneurs! So visit an event to learn Jupiter to Boca Raton.
more!

FOCUSING THEIR EFFORTS ON TALENT, BRAND, AND COMMUNITY:
 Talent: Built our county's first technology career board and reverse job board.
 Brand: Brought local and national attention to companies and the industry in Palm Beach County.
 Community: Created the monthly Palm Beach Tech Meetup, hosted annual Startup Weekends,

and facilitated Entrepreneur Week Palm Beach.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Joe Russo – [email protected]

561.425.8918
www.palmbeachtech.org

Research Park
at Florida Atlantic University

ABOUT: The Research Park at Florida Atlantic University® is a 70-acre destination for R&D companies working to

support the research and development activities of Florida Atlantic University and to foster economic development and
broaden the economic base of Broward and Palm Beach counties. Our goal is to facilitate relationships between private
sector entrepreneurs and research faculty and students at Florida Atlantic University, focusing on advancements in
biotechnology, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the
environment.

SUCCESS STORY: Research Park at FAU company DECORA was one of the first to participate in the GrowFL

Strategic Research pilot program in March 2017. Data received from the program that validated the size of their market
was presented to investors of CreativeDrive. In March 2018, DECORA completed a $100M merging acquisition with
CreativeDrive.

Success stories have long been a part of our history. With companies such as Modernizing Medicine, MobileHelp and
Dioxide Materials that call the Research Park at FAU home, we’ve created an ideal environment that maximizes the
academic and entrepreneurial talent for South Florida to accelerate economic development and prosperity.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Christine Burres – [email protected]

561-416-6092
www.research-park.org

School District
of Palm Beach County

ABOUT: The School District of Palm Beach County’s programs support entrepreneurship on multiple levels. First, the

district introduces entrepreneurship by curriculum through teaching. Entrepreneurship is written into their standards. The
students are held accountable to the knowledge and understanding of what entrepreneurship truly means to the
community and economic development. Programs such as Culinary, Hospitality and Tourism, Business, Marketing,
Entrepreneurship, Finanance, and E-Commerce allow students to build their own businesses as well as go into the
industry and work alongside successful business owners.

The School District of Palm Beach County
truly appreciates its business partnerships!

SUCCESS STORY:

Jimmy Everett, a former student of the School District of Palm Beach County’s Culinary Program, now owns Driftwood
restaurant in Boynton Beach.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Junnell Hughes – [email protected]

561.434.8000
www.palmbeachschools.org

Small Business
Administration

ABOUT: The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a United States government agency that provides support to

entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the
nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses and by assisting in the economic
recovery of communities after disasters". The agency's activities are summarized as the "3 Cs" of capital, contracts and
counseling.

ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT: SBA has at least one office in each U.S. state. In addition, the agency provides

grants to support counseling partners, including approximately 900 Small Business Development Centers (often located
at colleges and universities), 110 Women's Business Centers, and SCORE, a volunteer mentor corps of retired and
experienced business leaders with approximately 350 chapters. These counseling services provide services to over 1
million entrepreneurs and small business owners annually.

SUCCESS STORY: Diana Pierre-Louis knew she wanted to expand her successful blog into a full-blown social

media and marketing company, and thanks to the services and support of the Florida SBDC, she was able to achieve her
goal of working full-time in a business she is passionate about and that could sustain her financially. Thus, Empower Your
Brand, a full-service marketing and branding company, was born.

“While I was employed at Palm Beach State College, I had the pleasure of hearing how the SBDC
counselors helped entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses; and I knew they were the best
organization for me. They helped me identify areas I was not aware of and set-up strategies to help

me expand my on-line presence and photographic skills,” said Diana Pierre-Louis.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Lonnie Koyama – [email protected]

772.466.3176
www.sba.gov

Business Development Board of Palm Beach County
310 Evernia Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
www.bdb.org | www.pbceship.org | 561.835.1008