CIED: New Entrepreneurship Academy for SF Students

November 14, 2011

Santa Fe students interested in starting their own business are invited to apply for the new Santa Fe Entrepreneurship Academy, a program designed to promote entrepreneurial activity among Santa Fe College students in Alachua and Bradford counties.

This private/public alliance between Energent Ventures and Santa Fe College's Student Life and SF's Center for Innovation and Economic Development (CIED) provides seed capital, business training, and mentoring in order to energize entrepreneurial endeavors among college students/entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship Academy participants will receive business training at eight workshops held over the course of the spring 2012 semester.

Up to 10 budding entrepreneurs will be selected. Following completion of the Academy's workshops, each participant will receive a $250 grant, or "seed capital" investment, to help turn their ideas into businesses. Each will also be given 3 months of free incubation at the CIED.

As part of the application process, student applicants will explain their business idea to a panel of local entrepreneurs at Pitch Night, scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5 at the CIED, 530 West University Ave., Gainesville. (Professional attire recommended.)

Santa Fe students are encouraged to apply now by visiting https://www.sfcollege.edu/student/entrepreneurship. The application deadline is Monday, Nov. 21.

Questions about the Santa Fe Entrepreneurship Academy may be directed to Dug Jones, Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development, 395-5629, or Dan Rodkin, Director for Student Life, 395-4171.

~ submitted by Dan Rodkin, Director, Student Life