University of Florida: A school made up of alligators, smart people, Tim Tebow, smart people, chomping gestures all the time and smart people. We’re a pretty genius group of people here in the swamp. I may be a little biased since I’m a UF student myself, but they don’t call us the Harvard of the South for nothing.
Regardless of my bias, one thing is certain: UF pulls some of the most intelligent students in the country, fostering a strong and engaging learning environment.
We have all of the resources to be a unique university that can really make an impact. So, why aren’t we?
Via: Business Magazine Gainesville
Quang Tran, co-founder of Starter Space, explains that Gainesville has the right learning environment and the right people to create innovative businesses. However, Gainesville lacks the space and encouragement to enable that entrepreneurship.
Enter Starter Space.
Starter Space is a creative haven for aspiring entrepreneurs at UF to pursue their business plans and ideas. It’s one of the only places around here devoted to that goal.
“You’re here for four years. You might as well earn something more than a piece of paper,” Tran said.
There are several up-and-coming businesses thriving within the walls of Starter Space. One recent development that caught Gainesville Scene’s attention was College Launchpad.
Via: Facebook
Launchpad is a hackathon-hosting event. It sets out to bring the start-up scene to Gainesville by hosting a hackathon. For those of us still in the dark ages, a hackathon is an event that allows computer programmers to meet with other like-minded people to come up with the newest and latest ideas for software development and other projects for the expansion of the industry.
Alejandro Ruperti, Chief Hustle Officer at Launchpad, said the best way to facilitate an entrepreneurial scene in an impactful way is to host a hackathon.
Not only will it bring attention to the university and to the company, but it will also bring in local and national sponsors to support the event, Ruperti said.
Not a coding champ? No worries. There’s a place for your skills in the hackathon.
“We’re breaking the myth that you need to know code to participate in this event,” Ruperti said.
Ruperti describes the perfect team comprised of three personas.
Via: H3 Tech Conference
You’ve got the hackers a.k.a. computer science badasses. Picture “The Social Network” — a room full of skilled hackers trying to make the Facebook team.
Then you have the hustlers. They’re able to come up with a feasible and unique idea, and they really know how to sell it to you.
The last necessary persona is the hipster. The hipster is the creative side of the team. The hipster has you covered on your graphics and your design layout. You’ll need them for the aesthetics of your business.
Any person can apply to participate in this event, which will take place on Jan. 17 and 18. Launchpad’s team will set individuals up in teams of four.
Each team has 24 hours to come up with a creative business idea and then launch it.
Via: Tech Crunch
A panel of local entrepreneurs from several industries will judge each team’s idea. The winning team will be awarded $15,000 to fund their business plan.
The idea can be anything, but Launchpad is leaning toward a tech-centric business idea, Ruperti said.
College Launchpad is hoping to host a hackathon twice a year in Gainesville.
That would be a welcome addition to our college town. UF is a gold mine of innovative ideas. We’re just looking for the right miner to strike it rich here, and College Launchpad’s hackathon might be our answer.
You can apply here and come one step closer to being a part of something that can change our lives, our city and our world.
Feature photo courtesy of: Department of Coffee
