2013 Summer June 11, 2013/By Incubator
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Quarterly Newsletter of the UCF Business Incubation Program Quarterly Newsletter of the UCF Business Incubation Program Showcasing News from Clients, Graduates and Partners Volume 6 Issue 12 Summer 2013 UCFBIP Receives National Recognition The National Business Incubation the nation’s leading business incubation Association (NBIA), which annually network,” said Tom O’Neal, executive recognizes the best business incubators, director of the UCFBIP. “Over the client companies and graduates in years, we have been very successful in the industry, recently named the systematically growing our network to UCF Business Incubation Program meet the entrepreneurial demand of (UCFBIP) “Incubator Network of Central Florida.” the Year” during the NBIA’s 2013 The UCFBIP currently manages International Conference on Business nine site locations, creating a network Incubation. This is the first time that that stretches across seven cities within the NBIA has issued an award that four counties in Central Florida. specifically recognizes the achievements The network sites are of organizations that operate multiple predominantly mixed use, with clients business incubators. (From left to right) UCFBIP team members Chait Rendu, Gordon Hogan, Esther Vargas-Davis, Tom O’Neal, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 Connie Bernal, Henriette Schoen and Essa Batarseh accept the NBIA award in Boston. “We are thrilled to be recognized as IN THIS EDITION UCFBI—Daytona Beach International Airport Pages 2-3 Message From Tom, Calendar, UniKey and NEC 10th Anniversary Celebrates Milestone Achievements Pages 4-5 Board Profiles, Smartway Goes July marked the two-year anniversary of the Nationwide, Michael Weiss Joins UCFBI—Daytona Beach International Airport. To UCFBIP celebrate, the incubator hosted an open house on July 29 to commemorate its achievements and showcase the Pages 6-7 Earthrise Space Sets Eye on the Moon, Garmor Breakthtough progress of its clients. The event drew more than 250 business and community leaders from the community. Pages 8-13 Client Profiles The ceremony included a tour of the facility, Page 13 Veterans Become Entrepreneurs introductions to current clients, and the launch of the Fusion Fitness Designs firm and the Daytona Incubator Page 14-15 UCFBIP Gives Back, Isabella’s Bella Cucina Research Library and co-working space initiative. During the ceremony, Magdy Attia, president of Volusia County Chair Jason Davis speaks at the UCFBI-Daytona Beach Page 16 21st Century Learning Solutions AbM Engineering LLC, was honored as “Entrepreneur of International Airport two year anniversary. Behind Davis, (from left to right), the Year” for his success in the alternative energy industry. are Connie Bernal, site manager; M. J. Soileau, UCF’s Vice President Most recently, Attia and his team designed an innovative of Research and Commercialization; County Council members Josh Wagner, READ ONLINE gearbox, which uses a sophisticated and efficient method Deborah Denys and Pat Patterson. Photo/JEFF CRUMBLEY of rotating components that operate in compression. This Use your smartphone translates to less wear on the gearbox and allows for higher edition of the Volusia/Flagler Business Report, a monthly QR reader and read this newsletter online! loadings, making it a premier solution for various gearbox publication of the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Nominees applications. were selected both by readers and staff. The incubator’s site manager, Connie Bernal, was “I’m honored to be selected for this award,” said recently selected as one of the top “30 Influential Women Bernal. “It’s one of my biggest achievements, and I in Business from Volusia and Flagler” counties. Bernal couldn’t be prouder of the entrepreneurs in our incubator was recognized in the Influential Women in Business and throughout Central Florida whom we support.” PAGE 1 The Accelerator UCF Business Message From The Founder Incubation Program Welcome to the the Martin Corporation, so the Florida legislature summer issue of opted to put the university (known then as Florida Advisory Board The Accelerator, the Technology University) among the citrus groves Members 2013-2014 quarterly newsletter on the outskirts of town near Cape Canaveral. of the UCF Business Since its founding in 1963, UCF has grown Incubation to become the second-largest university in the Program country, recognized worldwide for its academics Richard Charles Lacey (UCFBIP). The and research in fields such as optics and photonics, Anderson purpose of this Mayor, City of modeling and simulation, solar energy, materials, City of Apopka Winter Springs newsletter is to keep and of course, engineering and computer science. our clients, partners, sponsors, volunteers, and Today, UCF stands for opportunity not only for Randy Berridge Dean Monaco staff informed about the activities of the UCFBIP. the students it serves, but also for the region’s economy it helps to grow and diversify. Florida High Tech MyInnoVenture Corridor Council The UCF Business Incubation Program UCF’s story is important because it shows what (UCFBIP) has many reasons to celebrate. In March, can happen when you combine talent, innovation, Michael J. we were awarded the “Incubator Network of the an entrepreneurial spirit and a “can-do” attitude. Rebecca Borders O’Donnell Year,” a new honor presented by the National At UCF, we believe in entrepreneurs and the Mayor, City of St. UCF Faculty/ Cloud Business Incubation Association. We are thrilled to importance of providing them with guidance and Florida Angel receive the award as it is a testament to our program’s support early on, to help foster stronger companies. Nexus superior clients, staff, partners and supporters. At the UCFBIP, our mission is to help Terence F. In addition, this year also marks major entrepreneurs create successful companies, Brennan Tony Ortiz anniversaries for both UCF and the National something that we couldn’t do without the support Brennan Legal Commissioner, City Group LLC Entrepreneur Center (NEC). The NEC was and partnerships of our local community. I of Orlando founded in 2003 as a collaboration between Walt encourage you to read about our upcoming events, Disney World Resort, Orange County government expansions and milestones at incubator.ucf.edu. Rob Ehrhardt Randall E. and UCF. With our entrepreneurs in mind, and in Volusia County Poliner light of these joint anniversaries, I thought it would Tom O’Neal, Ph.D. Antares Capital be interesting to tell the story of UCF’s beginnings. Associate Vice President Tom George Corporation In the early 1960’s, the citrus and aerospace Office of Research & Commercialization City of Sanford, industries dominated Central Florida. Few people Executive Director, UCF Business Economic Eric Ushkowitz opposed the creation of a new university that Incubation Program Development Orange County would focus on supplying engineers to NASA and Economic Jeff Jones Development CALENDAR OF EVENTS Osceola County UCFBIP Strategic Initiatives Heather Bond Vargas To help foster new business opportunities across Central Florida, the UCF Business Incubation Cobb Cole P.A. Program hosts educational seminars and networking functions at each of its nine convenient site Rick Karl locations. For more details, please visit incubator.ucf.edu. Volusia County Florida Ken York Employee vs. Independent Contractor Innovation Concourse of the Southeast Seminole County August 27, 3:00-4:30 p.m. MegaWatt/FL-CAN Showcase Kim King Economic UCF Business Incubator—St. Cloud September 24-25, 2013 Development MOSI-Tampa, FL City of Orlando Networking Workshop & Business After Hours August 28, 3:00-5:30 p.m. Excellence in Entrepreneurship UCF Office of Research & Commercialization Certificate Course Belinda Ortiz October 22 - November 19, 2013 Kirkegard Leveraging Google+ For Business UCF Office of Research & Commercialization City of Kissimmee, September 10, 9:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Economic UCF Business Incubator – Winter Springs Florida Companies to Watch 2013 Development October 24, 2013 Federal Healthcare Reform: Hard Rock Live Challenges and Solutions September 10, 3:00-4:30 p.m. UCF Business Incubator—St. Cloud PAGE 2 Quarterly Newsletter of the UCF Business Incubation Program The Evolution of the Key – Coming Soon Fumbling with keys will soon be an annoyance accidentally unlock the door as you’re walking by. The idea and founded the company in 2010. In 2012, of the past. With Kevo, unlocking the front door will lock will glow blue once it establishes a connection. Dumas beat out more than 24,000 applicants for be as simple as tapping the lock with your finger. The Kevo lock will be available as a deadbolt a spot on the season finale of the Kevo, a mobile app that lets you send, receive lock replacement and has been designed for a do-it- television series “Shark Tank.” and delete eKeys, is the first product by lock makers yourself installation that takes Kevo will be available Kwikset and Weiser to implement UniKey’s touch- less than five minutes. Simply in late summer 2013. to-open technology. UniKey, a graduate of the UCF download the Kevo mobile When launched, it will Business Incubation app from the Apple App only work on iOS- Program, developed the store to your smartphone, based products with high-tech access control and you’re done. The app will Bluetooth capabilities, technology that will allow allow you to set up your Kevo currently the iPhone residents to touch the lock to enter their home as long lock; send, disable and delete 4S, iPhone 5, fifth- as they have their smartphone with them. UniKey has eKeys; and manage Kevo generation iPod Touch, Phil Dumas, Unikey CEO licensed its technology to Kwikset and Weiser, who Fobs. The Kevo Fob (included current-generation iPad, will manufacture the lock. with the lock) offers the same and the iPad mini. UniKey, The new Kevo lock uses Bluetooth low energy so touch-to-open technology and convenience to users however, anticipates that the user’s smartphone will need to be fairly close to who don’t have a smartphone. support for Android, Blackberry and the lock for it to communicate.