Securing the Future of Brevard One Entrepreneur at a Time.

Entrepreneurship is on the rise.

According to the United States Department of Labor, Entrepreneurship plays a vital role in the growth of the U.S. economy.

The old proverb reads, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” In Brevard we may not be able to control the National economy, but we can make a difference locally. Startup Quest is making a difference.   Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation grant, Startup Quest is an innovative training program for aspiring entrepreneurs. Startup Quest participants receive eight weeks of specialized curriculum concurrently with being placed into teams and matched with a team mentor to develop a market analysis, a preliminary business plan and an investor pitch for existing technology IP (intellectual property) out of Universities and NASA labs. StartUp Quest participants gain knowledge in starting a business and sharpening their job marketability. We expect to see many of these hypothetical companies become real start-up businesses that create jobs in Brevard.

Brevard Workforce was the first of eight Florida Workforce Boards to engage in this evaluation grant and to complete the first round of training. On July 11, 2013, 11 teams comprised of Brevard County residents shared their knowledge and pitched their Business and Commercialization Plans to an audience of nearly 200 people and a  panel of judges.  Successful entrepreneurs, business people and investors listened intently as the 10-minute pitches breathed innovation and optimism for the future of Brevard County.   Of the 11 teams that presented, four teams received recognition along with financial rewards and all winning teams announced that they intended to take their technology to market.

The Startup Quest program is one example of how the entrepreneurial programs at Brevard Workforce are helping to positively impact the local economy and lead to job growth and employment in the area. In fact, BizLaunch, Brevard Workforce’s two year old entrepreneur networking and skill-building group helped launch 86 businesses, resulting in 94 new jobs. Based on these results, great successes are expected from these Startup Quest teams and we sill share this information as their stories unfold.

To learn more about the future of StartUp Quest, email:  [email protected] or contact your Business Liaison.