Broward's entrepreneurial program draws hundreds of applications
Broward County entrepreneurial program Startup Quest has more than 400 applications for 130 slots available in its new program that is starting Sept. 12, regional project manager Michael O'Donnell said Monday.
The emerging technology-focused program is designed for unemployed and under-employed people who have college degrees or are veterans. Startup Quest is being offered under a statewide grant through WorkForce One, Broward County's employment agency.
"People are at that point in their lives where they have been laid off or working two or three jobs and making less money than what they were at their previous job, " O'Donnell said. "They know they have to create a job for themselves or get a job with a growth company."
Startup Quest is reviewing the applications, with a goal of notifying chosen participants the week of Sept. 2, O'Donnell said. Those who don't make the fall program will be directed to other entrepreneur training in the region or apply to Startup Quest again in the spring.
O'Donnell said the 10-week program will be looking for a variety of backgrounds when choosing participants. He expects that most won't have technology backgrounds, but will have experience in general business, human resources or other fields.
Richard Tobier, 52, of Tamarac is one of the hopeful. "I think it would a great opportunity," he said. "It would be interesting to learn how to take that idea to a viable business."
During the first session, 15 mentors will pitch the technology to participants, who will be matched with a mentor. Mentors have chosen technology that have patents from Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University, University of Florida and NASA.
Each group will work on a "commercialization" plan for the emerging technology, O'Donnell said.
All participants will meet together once a week to hear speakers from local companies and entrepreneurial groups including Michael McKiernan, vice president of business technology for Citrix Systems in Fort Lauderdale; Amjad Shamim, chief executive of AAJ Technologies in Fort Lauderdale; and Zee Aganovic, founder and CEO of HiConversion in Boca Raton.
Startup Quest plans to train a total of 300 people over three years to either start a business or become more marketable for a technology job.
O'Donnell, who has led other Startup Quest ventures in the state, is a Seattle entrepreneur with 25 years of experience in starting technology businesses, including Ask-Me Multimedia and StartupBiz.com.
At the end of the program, each group will give a "Shark Tank" TV show-style presentation to venture capital and business experts on the commercialization of their chosen technology.