Building Companies, Changing Lives
Issue 8- August 2013
The Institute works with some of Florida’s most promising startup companies and entrepreneurs, delivering both company building and company funding programs. KeriCure, a Tampa-based company that developed a highly effective topical wound care product based on research conducted at the University of South Florida, recently received a large distribution order from Publix Supermarkets, and their product will be available in 855 locations throughout Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Alabama. To read the full article, please click here.
Institute Funds Miami-Based Cancer Screening Company
Vigilant Biosciences received funding through the Institute’s Seed Capital Accelerator Program (SCAP), which provides loans to qualified companies who must raise private investment capital to match Institute funding. The company is developing a low-cost, easy-to-use and selective adjunctive screening test for oral cancer based on technology exclusively licensed from the University of Miami. The tests enable identification of more cancers at an earlier stage, thereby improving overall survival rates while minimizing healthcare costs.
Call for Mentors!
Startup Quest™ is helping to drive Florida's economy by providing opportunities for unemployed and underemployed degree holding professionals to participate in an entrepreneurship training program. Participants are paired with a yet-to-be commercialized technology and experienced entrepreneurs who understand how to move discoveries from research organizations to the commercial market.
Critical to the success of the program are the mentors and coaches who participate. The schedule consists of ½ day sessions once a week for ten weeks, and there is an immediate need for mentors in Gainesville and Tampa Bay, with other regions launching in the coming months. If you are interested in participating in the program as a mentor or know of others who might be, please contact Joann Ocampo at
Creativity and Collaboration Collide at 2 South Florida Events
Alison Tanner, Florida Institute, and Jeff Anderson, Ph.D Florida Atlantic University
Business, academic and community leaders gathered in South Florida last month to discuss research and discovery in life science and emerging technologies. The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience hosted “Neurons and Networking”, an event organized by the Life Science and Technology HUB, crafted to showcase how three organizations, Scripps, The Max Planck Society, and Florida Atlantic University are collaborating to solve some of the most challenging brain degenerative diseases of our time.
Florida Earth Foundation presented “Water Choices VI,” a one-day forum that explores solutions to Florida’s water issues. Participants gathered to advocate for the future integrity of Florida’s environment and quality of life. Alison Tanner, Institute Entrepreneur- in- Residence spoke at the event and discussed what Florida is doing to turn research into commercially-viable solutions.
Institute Acknowledges Leadership Circle Members
The Institute wishes to thank the following companies for their contributions to Florida’s entrepreneurial community: 4xor Corporation (Diamond Level), National Holdings Corporation (Platinum Level) Dazkal Bolton, Element-m, Oswald Insurance, and The Research Park at FAU (Gold Level), and Edwards Wildman (Silver Level).
For more information on the program, please contact Suzanne Melton at