South Florida Tech HubSouth Florida Tech Hub

By Nikki Cabus

Research Park at FAU recently announced the launch of The Smartest Place initiative

Read Time 5 Minutes

The Research Park at Florida Atlantic University® (the “Research Park at FAU”) recently announced the launch of The Smartest Place, an initiative to partner with FAU’s Institute for Sensing and Embedded Networks Systems Engineering (“I-SENSE”), creating a physical place for emerging IoT technologies to blend with real-time infrastructure, testing new technologies and locate deployment teams addressing common objectives.

Strategically located in Boca Raton, at the center of South Florida – the ninth largest metro area in the US – and adjacent to FAU’s flagship campus and leveraging a multi-million dollar, multi-year National Science Foundation (“NSF”) Engineering Research Center (“ERC”) grant to Florida Atlantic University along with four other collaborating universities and colleges, to create a rich ecosystem of streetscape applications built upon real-time, hyper-local intelligence to advance livable, safe, and inclusive communities, the Research Park at FAU will become a natural home and living test bed for the next generation of real-world smart infrastructure.

“We are excited to launch The Smartest Place initiative,” said Andrew Duffell, president of the Research Park at FAU.

“We’re determined to bring the right partners to the Research Park at FAU and will be providing common shared office and laboratory space which will be set aside for participating smart infrastructure and IoT technology companies to use on a part-time or full-time basis.  In addition, we will aide in the deployment and trial use partners’ solutions and technology.”

The Research Park at FAU is creating a place for emerging IoT technologies to blend with real-world infrastructure, offering flexible office space to become not only a place to trial technologies but a place for companies to locate engineering and deployment teams in collaboration with their peers to address the needs and objectives of the NSF grant.

The Research Park at Florida Atlantic University® is home to technology companies and research-based organizations working to support the research and development activities of Florida Atlantic University and to foster economic development and broaden the economic base of Broward and Palm Beach counties. The Research Park at FAU hosts Global Ventures, an international soft-landing center for second-stage technology companies and FAU Tech Runway, a South Florida public-private partnership that serves as a hub to accelerate technology development and incubate startup companies.

The Research Park at FAU is a 70-acre destination for R&D companies to thrive, established in 1985, it is widely regarded as South Florida’s laboratory for new entrepreneurial ideas and technologies. The Research Park at FAU is governed by the Florida Atlantic Research and Development Authority, an independent special district created by Palm Beach and Broward counties in partnership with Florida Atlantic University, organized under Chapter 159, Part V, Florida Statues.

A primary benefit of locating in the Research Park at FAU is the ability to collaborate with FAU’s research faculty and student body: Smartest Place partners will have the opportunity to work with I-SENSE faculty and equipment as well as commercial real-world spaces to deploy and study the outcomes of the technology.

“The Research Park at FAU has been a critical partner for I-SENSE since the institute’s inception in 2015. Today, we could not be more excited to see this partnership strengthened even further. The Smartest Place initiative reflects an incredible opportunity to deliver new tools and services to Research Park at FAU tenants, while fostering the future of public space, public interest technologies through the new NSF ERC for Smart Streetscapes (CS3). Access to this proving ground is an absolute game changer,” stated Jason Hallstrom, Ph.D., Founding Executive Director of I-SENSE (currently on IPA assignment).

FAU’s College of Engineering is among the top three fastest improving engineering colleges in the United States, sitting in the increasingly important South Florida marketplace. South Florida is one of the fastest growing regions in the United States, rich in diversity and with a technology aware population in close proximity to the Latin America markets.

The IoT M2M Council, or “IMC,” is the largest community of qualified IoT adopters constantly measuring the pulse of their 25,000 rank-and-file members. They will be partnering with Florida Atlantic University. The IMC is comprised of companies providing solutions from all parts of the global Iot/M2M ecosystem as Sustaining Members. The organization has brought together large-scale connectivity providers, more dedicated network operators, systems integrators, equipment manufacturers, and chipware maker giants.

“Our data shows that the biggest hurdle the industry faces is getting IoT projects from proof-of-concept to larger scale, so the IoT sector needs more initiatives like The Smartest Place at Research Park at Florida Atlantic University®,” says IMC Executive Director Keith Kreisher. “We look forward to cooperating with industry participants of the Research Park at FAU initiative by providing access to IMC’s digital media channels and events in order to share The Smartest Place research, use cases, and success stories.”

IMC Adopter Members are qualified individuals that deploy IoT/M2M technology at companies as diverse as Fedex, Hyundai, Siemens Medical, Tata Group, Saudi Aramco, and the US Department of Defense. As of this writing, the IMC can claim to be the largest and fastest-growing IoT/M2M organization in the world, with over 25,000 Adopter Members on four continents, and growing at a rate of 300 Adopters per week.

The Iot Evolution Expo team will also be partnering with Florida Atlantic University. The recently hosted FAU at the expo in February as part of the larger annual ITEXPO to help make the announcement publicly. From IoT location solutions to securing the supply chain, IoT Evolution focuses on the IoT use cases around automation, security ESG, healthcare and more. There focus has been on AI and analytics and the role that plays in launching new innovative IoT solutions.

“The team from IoT Evolution Expo has been dedicated to fostering and growing the IoT ecosystem and South Florida market for many years. As the organizers of IoT Evolution, the industry’s longest continuously running annual trade show and educational event focused on IoT held each year in Fort Lauderdale, we were pleased to host the Research Park at FAU as they made their announcement from our keynote stage,” said Carl Ford, co-founder of IoT Evolution and conference co-chair. “As a trusted partner in the IoT ecosystem, IoT Evolution is delighted to collaborate with the Research Park at FAU as it creates a South Florida destination for IoT innovators.”

Interested IoT or smart infrastructure companies should contact Ryan Lilly at SmartestPlace@Research-Park.org or by telephone at +1 561-416-6092 Ext. 1401.

By Adam Ross

FAU Entrepreneur Boot Camp – Jupiter Campus

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or ready to take your existing business to the next level, the Entrepreneur Boot Camp is for you. Upon completion of the Boot Camp, you will be prepared to enter the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition** or the FAU Tech Runway Venture Program and compete to fund your business. **There must be 1 student from FAU on your team in order to compete in the Business Pitch Competition.
Through 24 contact hours, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students learn:
-How to deliver value to your customer.
-How to validate an effective business model.
-How to write an effective business plan.
-How to pitch a plan to investors.
-How to determine sales methods and how to project sales revenues and expenses.
-How to find seed funding for your new venture.
-How to enter a business plan in the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition and compete for seed funding

In addition, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students will:
-Discover the most effective research tools available, from using databases in researching competition to understanding customer segments.
-Learn how to create a valuable marketing plan.
-Learn how to gain investor attention from family and friends, crowdsourcing, SBA, and institutional funding.

Course Overview
Entrepreneur Boot Camp is made up of eight sessions and includes access to mentor consultation. All participants will receive a Florida Atlantic University Certificate upon satisfactory completion of all sessions as well as assignments and class discussions. To receive the FAU certificate, unexcused class absences must not exceed two (2) sessions and participants must be on time. Classes are hybrid. In-person attendance preferred but Zoom option offered.

By Adam Ross

FAU Entrepreneur Boot Camp – Boca Raton Campus

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or ready to take your existing business to the next level, the Entrepreneur Boot Camp is for you. Upon completion of the Boot Camp, you will be prepared to enter the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition** or the FAU Tech Runway Venture Program and compete to fund your business. ** Must have one FAU student on team to compete in BPC.

Through 24 contact hours, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students learn:
-How to deliver value to your customer.
-How to validate an effective business model.
-How to write an effective business plan.
-How to pitch a plan to investors.
-How to determine sales methods and how to project sales revenues and expenses.
-How to find seed funding for your new venture.
-How to enter a business plan in the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition and compete for seed funding

In addition, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students will:
-Discover the most effective research tools available, from using databases in researching competition to understanding customer segments.
-Learn how to create a valuable marketing plan.
-Learn how to gain investor attention from family and friends, crowdsourcing, SBA, and institutional funding.

Course Overview
Entrepreneur Boot Camp is made up of eight sessions and includes access to mentor consultation. All participants will receive a Florida Atlantic University Certificate upon satisfactory completion of all sessions as well as assignments and class discussions. To receive the FAU certificate, unexcused class absences must not exceed two (2) sessions and participants must be on time. In-person attendance preferred but Zoom option available.

By Nikki Cabus

FAU announces winners of 2023 ‘Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition’

Read Time 4 Minutes

Florida Atlantic University has announced the winners of the 7th annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition.

Hosted by the Graduate College, this year was the first live and in-person ‘s 3MT® Competition since the pandemic. It was held at the Boca Raton Campus Student Union with students, faculty, and the public in attendance.

Developed by the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008, the idea for 3MT came about at a time when the state of Queensland was suffering severe drought. To conserve water, residents were encouraged to time their showers, and many people had a three minute egg timer fixed to the wall in their bathroom. The then Dean of the Graduate School, Emeritus Professor Alan Lawson, put two and two together and the idea for the 3MT competition was born.

Since 2011 the popularity of the competition has increased, 3MT competitions are now held in over 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide.
In November 2013, the first Universitas 21 (U21) 3MT competition was held with several universities from around the world competing in a virtual competition. The 3MT® competition challenges graduate students around the world to pitch their research in only 3 minutes to a live audience.

FAU’s 3MT® is a venue for graduate students from various disciplines to interact with one another and discuss their research and its implications. The competition provides an opportunity for undergraduates, alumni, industry partners, various on-campus departments, institutions and the community to gain exposure to high-level, cutting-edge research at FAU.

The goal of the 3MT® competition is for FAU graduate students from all colleges and departments to cultivate the ability to explain their research, including both breadth and significance, in a language appropriate to an audience containing both specialists and non-specialists in three minutes or less. The 3MT® competition provides FAU graduate students with the opportunity to sharpen their professional development skills, reignite their passion for discovery, promote preeminent research, and foster community.

  • Skills development for research candidates
    Participating in 3MT develops academic, presentation and research communication skills, while developing research candidates’ ability to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
  • Building research culture in universities
    3MT provides a valuable opportunity for HDR candidates to come together (live or virtually), get to know one another and talk about their research. It also provides a supportive environment in which schools, institutes and universities can provide presentation skills training.
  • Building external relations for the university
    3MT winners may go on to represent their university at national and international 3MT competitions which provides an excellent networking and professional development opportunity. Previous 3MT finalists have benefited from invitations to a variety of other networking events following their participation in the competition.

At FAU’s annual competition, over $30,000 in scholarship prizes are awarded annually to winners from both the Preliminary Rounds and the Championship. Distinguished FAU community members serve judges and a public vote determines the People’s Choice winners. FAU’s 3MT® Championship Award is generously sponsored through the Dr. Eric H. Shaw 3MT® Championship Award Endowment Fund.

A panel of distinguished FAU community members determined the 2023 first-place, runner-up, and second runner-up championship winners. This year’s FAU 2023 3MT® Heat & Championship judging panel included: Dr. Stacy Volnick, President, Florida Atlantic University, Dr. Michele Hawkins, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Larry Faerman, Vice President for Student Affairs and Nikki Cabus, Chief Executive Officer, South Florida Tech Hub. More than 200 online votes submitted by public viewers named the People’s Choice Award winner.

“Conducting research is a critical component of graduate education, and being able to effectively communicate the significance of that research to a broad audience is a valuable skill,” says William D. Kalies, Ph.D., interim dean of the Graduate College.

“The graduate students at Florida Atlantic perform impactful research, and the Graduate College is honored to support this annual competition and provide a platform for students to gain experience presenting their research to the public while having the opportunity to earn scholarships.”

A total of 51 graduate students pitched their research projects to a live audience with 19 of them awarded scholarship prizes in the championship round. The championship winners of the 2023 3MT® competition are:

FAU championship winner and recipient of the Dr. Eric H. Shaw 3MT® Championship Endowment Award* (tie)

Title: “From Poop to Parent: Examining Paternity in Dynamic Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Populations in the Bahamas”
Presented by: Hayley Knapp, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Faculty Advisor: John Baldwin, Ph.D.
Title: “Corrosion is in the Air”
Presented by: Ingrid Santillan Barragan, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Faculty Advisor: Francisco Presuel-Moreno, Ph.D.
FAU 3MT® runner-up and People’s Choice Award
Title: “So, You Wanna Build a Protein?”
Presented by: Amish Mishra, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Faculty Advisor: Francis Motta, Ph.D.
FAU 3MT® second runner-up
Title: “‘What Does A Surgeon Look Like?’: How Stereotypes May Negatively Impact Recruitment Into the Least Diverse Specialty in Medicine”
Presented by: Emmanuel McNeely, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
Faculty Advisor: Jennifer Caceres, Ph.D.

The two (We had a tie!) championship winners and recipients of the $2,500 Dr. Eric H. Shaw 3MT® Championship Award also will represent FAU at the Conference of Florida Graduate Schools at the University of Miami from April 17 to 19 and present their 3MT® research. For more information on FAU’s 3MT® competition or to see all submissions and heat winners, click here.

By Adam Ross

FAU Entrepreneur Boot Camp – Jupiter Campus

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or ready to take your existing business to the next level, the Entrepreneur Boot Camp is for you. Upon completion of the Boot Camp, you will be prepared to enter the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition** or the FAU Tech Runway Venture Program and compete to fund your business. **There must be 1 student from FAU on your team in order to compete in the Business Pitch Competition.
Through 24 contact hours, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students learn:
-How to deliver value to your customer.
-How to validate an effective business model.
-How to write an effective business plan.
-How to pitch a plan to investors.
-How to determine sales methods and how to project sales revenues and expenses.
-How to find seed funding for your new venture.
-How to enter a business plan in the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition and compete for seed funding

In addition, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students will:
-Discover the most effective research tools available, from using databases in researching competition to understanding customer segments.
-Learn how to create a valuable marketing plan.
-Learn how to gain investor attention from family and friends, crowdsourcing, SBA, and institutional funding.

Course Overview
Entrepreneur Boot Camp is made up of eight sessions and includes access to mentor consultation. All participants will receive a Florida Atlantic University Certificate upon satisfactory completion of all sessions as well as assignments and class discussions. To receive the FAU certificate, unexcused class absences must not exceed two (2) sessions and participants must be on time. Classes are hybrid. In-person attendance preferred but Zoom option offered.

By Adam Ross

FAU Entrepreneur Boot Camp – Boca Raton Campus

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or ready to take your existing business to the next level, the Entrepreneur Boot Camp is for you. Upon completion of the Boot Camp, you will be prepared to enter the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition** or the FAU Tech Runway Venture Program and compete to fund your business. ** Must have one FAU student on team to compete in BPC.

Through 24 contact hours, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students learn:
-How to deliver value to your customer.
-How to validate an effective business model.
-How to write an effective business plan.
-How to pitch a plan to investors.
-How to determine sales methods and how to project sales revenues and expenses.
-How to find seed funding for your new venture.
-How to enter a business plan in the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition and compete for seed funding

In addition, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students will:
-Discover the most effective research tools available, from using databases in researching competition to understanding customer segments.
-Learn how to create a valuable marketing plan.
-Learn how to gain investor attention from family and friends, crowdsourcing, SBA, and institutional funding.

Course Overview
Entrepreneur Boot Camp is made up of eight sessions and includes access to mentor consultation. All participants will receive a Florida Atlantic University Certificate upon satisfactory completion of all sessions as well as assignments and class discussions. To receive the FAU certificate, unexcused class absences must not exceed two (2) sessions and participants must be on time. In-person attendance preferred but Zoom option available.

By Adam Ross

FAU Entrepreneur Boot Camp – Jupiter Campus

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or ready to take your existing business to the next level, the Entrepreneur Boot Camp is for you. Upon completion of the Boot Camp, you will be prepared to enter the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition** or the FAU Tech Runway Venture Program and compete to fund your business. **There must be 1 student from FAU on your team in order to compete in the Business Pitch Competition.
Through 24 contact hours, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students learn:
-How to deliver value to your customer.
-How to validate an effective business model.
-How to write an effective business plan.
-How to pitch a plan to investors.
-How to determine sales methods and how to project sales revenues and expenses.
-How to find seed funding for your new venture.
-How to enter a business plan in the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition and compete for seed funding

In addition, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students will:
-Discover the most effective research tools available, from using databases in researching competition to understanding customer segments.
-Learn how to create a valuable marketing plan.
-Learn how to gain investor attention from family and friends, crowdsourcing, SBA, and institutional funding.

Course Overview
Entrepreneur Boot Camp is made up of eight sessions and includes access to mentor consultation. All participants will receive a Florida Atlantic University Certificate upon satisfactory completion of all sessions as well as assignments and class discussions. To receive the FAU certificate, unexcused class absences must not exceed two (2) sessions and participants must be on time. Classes are hybrid. In-person attendance preferred but Zoom option offered.

By Adam Ross

FAU Entrepreneur Boot Camp – Boca Raton Campus

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or ready to take your existing business to the next level, the Entrepreneur Boot Camp is for you. Upon completion of the Boot Camp, you will be prepared to enter the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition** or the FAU Tech Runway Venture Program and compete to fund your business. ** Must have one FAU student on team to compete in BPC.

Through 24 contact hours, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students learn:
-How to deliver value to your customer.
-How to validate an effective business model.
-How to write an effective business plan.
-How to pitch a plan to investors.
-How to determine sales methods and how to project sales revenues and expenses.
-How to find seed funding for your new venture.
-How to enter a business plan in the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition and compete for seed funding

In addition, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students will:
-Discover the most effective research tools available, from using databases in researching competition to understanding customer segments.
-Learn how to create a valuable marketing plan.
-Learn how to gain investor attention from family and friends, crowdsourcing, SBA, and institutional funding.

Course Overview
Entrepreneur Boot Camp is made up of eight sessions and includes access to mentor consultation. All participants will receive a Florida Atlantic University Certificate upon satisfactory completion of all sessions as well as assignments and class discussions. To receive the FAU certificate, unexcused class absences must not exceed two (2) sessions and participants must be on time. In-person attendance preferred but Zoom option available.

By Adam Ross

FAU Entrepreneur Boot Camp – Jupiter Campus

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or ready to take your existing business to the next level, the Entrepreneur Boot Camp is for you. Upon completion of the Boot Camp, you will be prepared to enter the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition** or the FAU Tech Runway Venture Program and compete to fund your business. **There must be 1 student from FAU on your team in order to compete in the Business Pitch Competition.
Through 24 contact hours, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students learn:
-How to deliver value to your customer.
-How to validate an effective business model.
-How to write an effective business plan.
-How to pitch a plan to investors.
-How to determine sales methods and how to project sales revenues and expenses.
-How to find seed funding for your new venture.
-How to enter a business plan in the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition and compete for seed funding

In addition, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students will:
-Discover the most effective research tools available, from using databases in researching competition to understanding customer segments.
-Learn how to create a valuable marketing plan.
-Learn how to gain investor attention from family and friends, crowdsourcing, SBA, and institutional funding.

Course Overview
Entrepreneur Boot Camp is made up of eight sessions and includes access to mentor consultation. All participants will receive a Florida Atlantic University Certificate upon satisfactory completion of all sessions as well as assignments and class discussions. To receive the FAU certificate, unexcused class absences must not exceed two (2) sessions and participants must be on time. Classes are hybrid. In-person attendance preferred but Zoom option offered.

By Adam Ross

FAU Entrepreneur Boot Camp – Boca Raton Campus

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or ready to take your existing business to the next level, the Entrepreneur Boot Camp is for you. Upon completion of the Boot Camp, you will be prepared to enter the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition** or the FAU Tech Runway Venture Program and compete to fund your business. ** Must have one FAU student on team to compete in BPC.

Through 24 contact hours, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students learn:
-How to deliver value to your customer.
-How to validate an effective business model.
-How to write an effective business plan.
-How to pitch a plan to investors.
-How to determine sales methods and how to project sales revenues and expenses.
-How to find seed funding for your new venture.
-How to enter a business plan in the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition and compete for seed funding

In addition, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students will:
-Discover the most effective research tools available, from using databases in researching competition to understanding customer segments.
-Learn how to create a valuable marketing plan.
-Learn how to gain investor attention from family and friends, crowdsourcing, SBA, and institutional funding.

Course Overview
Entrepreneur Boot Camp is made up of eight sessions and includes access to mentor consultation. All participants will receive a Florida Atlantic University Certificate upon satisfactory completion of all sessions as well as assignments and class discussions. To receive the FAU certificate, unexcused class absences must not exceed two (2) sessions and participants must be on time. In-person attendance preferred but Zoom option available.

By Nikki Cabus

$1 million dollar gift from FPL establishes new Center for Intelligent Energy Tech at FAU

Read Time 4 Minutes

 

A $1 million dollar gift from Florida Power & Light Company will help establish the FPL Center for Intelligent Energy Technologies (InETech) at Florida Atlantic University  

The considerable donation will be made through FPL’s charitable arm the NextEra Energy Foundation. The foundation supports organizations involved with arts and culture, education, the environment, health, animals and wildlife, affordable housing, human services, neighborhood development, economic development, government administration, and economically disadvantaged people. NextEra Energy provides a dollar-for-dollar match of employee gifts to eligible high schools, colleges and universities. Since 2003, the NextEra Energy Foundation has provided millions of dollars in support to the communities across Florida.

FAU and FPL have agreed to a four-year collaboration to establish the FPL Center InETech which will be housed in the FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science which is internationally recognized for cutting edge research and education in the areas of Computer Science and Artificial intelligence (AI), Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Bioengineering, Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Ocean Engineering.

Research conducted by the faculty and their teams expose our students to technology innovations that push the current state of the art of the disciplines. The College research efforts are supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Education (DOEd), the State of Florida, and Industry.

“Florida Atlantic takes great pride in its partnerships with community and industry leaders,” said FAU President Stacy Volnick, Ph.D

“We truly appreciate this gift from our partners at FPL and NextEra Energy, which will support our bold vision to solve tomorrow’s challenges today and create impactful opportunities for our students and faculty.”

Dr. Volnick collaborates with the Board of Trustees and other stakeholders to determine priorities and accomplish the many objectives of the University. The decision to approve the $1 million dollar gift was officially approved by the Board of Trustees on February 14th, 2023.

The primary focus of InETech will be research relating to smart technologies and products relevant to the energy sector, along with workforce development. This exciting partnership will enhance student recruitment for the College of Engineering and Computer Science and enable the brightest minds at the undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral levels to participate in state-of-the-art projects that are directly related to the current and future needs of the energy industry.

“We have a long-standing partnership with FAU, and we are honored to work together to bring this state-of-the-art facility to life to inspire and motivate the energy leaders of tomorrow.”“

FPL, one of the state’s largest employers, has some of the best technology internship opportunities across the state. FPL’s approach to hiring reflects a belief in bringing in diverse backgrounds and experiences to their technical teams. Entry-level interns are often very eager to put their new skills to work and learn from the seasoned professionals and FPL hopes to attract an retain this innovative generation of technical talent.

At FPL, we hope that many of these students will become our future employees that can help drive innovation and creative solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers and our communities,” said Pam Rauch, FPL vice president of external affairs and economic development.

Yufei Tang, Ph.D., associate professor and I-SENSE fellow in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, will serve as the director of the FPL Center for Intelligent Energy Technologies, and James VanZwieten, Jr., Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, will serve as the center’s associate director.

FAU Professor, Nancy Romance told South Florida Tech Hub that “the award was a major effort on the part of the Dean [Stella Batalama] and Michael Miller, Director of Development for the College of Engineering.” Miller said that the FAU team has been “collaborating with various entities within FPL” to make this happen. He mentioned working closely with the Power & Delivery team at Florida City Gas, Manny Miranda, Executive VP President Florida City Gas and Mike Putt, Senior Director of Real Zero Design and Application. NextEra Energy, Inc

“We are delighted to deepen our relationship with FPL/NextEra,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

“This generous gift will have a multiplier effect on FAU’s successes in cutting-edge research and development, and endorses FAU’s capabilities to produce technologies and a skilled workforce for the energy industry.”

In addition to funding research for the benefit of the energy sector, the gift from the NextEra Energy Foundation also allows for the creation of the FPL InETech Center Scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students, which will assist in the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s ability to attract highly qualified students. The gift also makes available community outreach and K-12 activities that educate and engage younger students about the energy industry.

By Adam Ross

FAU Entrepreneur Boot Camp – Jupiter Campus

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or ready to take your existing business to the next level, the Entrepreneur Boot Camp is for you. Upon completion of the Boot Camp, you will be prepared to enter the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition** or the FAU Tech Runway Venture Program and compete to fund your business. **There must be 1 student from FAU on your team in order to compete in the Business Pitch Competition.
Through 24 contact hours, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students learn:
-How to deliver value to your customer.
-How to validate an effective business model.
-How to write an effective business plan.
-How to pitch a plan to investors.
-How to determine sales methods and how to project sales revenues and expenses.
-How to find seed funding for your new venture.
-How to enter a business plan in the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition and compete for seed funding

In addition, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students will:
-Discover the most effective research tools available, from using databases in researching competition to understanding customer segments.
-Learn how to create a valuable marketing plan.
-Learn how to gain investor attention from family and friends, crowdsourcing, SBA, and institutional funding.

Course Overview
Entrepreneur Boot Camp is made up of eight sessions and includes access to mentor consultation. All participants will receive a Florida Atlantic University Certificate upon satisfactory completion of all sessions as well as assignments and class discussions. To receive the FAU certificate, unexcused class absences must not exceed two (2) sessions and participants must be on time. Classes are hybrid. In-person attendance preferred but Zoom option offered.

By Adam Ross

FAU Entrepreneur Boot Camp – Boca Raton Campus

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or ready to take your existing business to the next level, the Entrepreneur Boot Camp is for you. Upon completion of the Boot Camp, you will be prepared to enter the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition** or the FAU Tech Runway Venture Program and compete to fund your business. ** Must have one FAU student on team to compete in BPC.

Through 24 contact hours, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students learn:
-How to deliver value to your customer.
-How to validate an effective business model.
-How to write an effective business plan.
-How to pitch a plan to investors.
-How to determine sales methods and how to project sales revenues and expenses.
-How to find seed funding for your new venture.
-How to enter a business plan in the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition and compete for seed funding

In addition, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students will:
-Discover the most effective research tools available, from using databases in researching competition to understanding customer segments.
-Learn how to create a valuable marketing plan.
-Learn how to gain investor attention from family and friends, crowdsourcing, SBA, and institutional funding.

Course Overview
Entrepreneur Boot Camp is made up of eight sessions and includes access to mentor consultation. All participants will receive a Florida Atlantic University Certificate upon satisfactory completion of all sessions as well as assignments and class discussions. To receive the FAU certificate, unexcused class absences must not exceed two (2) sessions and participants must be on time. In-person attendance preferred but Zoom option available.

By Nikki Cabus

FAU Tech Runway announces Venture Class 11 companies

Read Time 6 Minutes

FAU Tech Runway® just announced the 20 companies accepted into the 11th cohort of its Venture Program.

The Venture Program provides the most promising startups and talented entrepreneurs in South Florida with an opportunity to join a year-long program that offers resources from FAU’s Innovation and Business Development pipeline, entrepreneurial instruction, structured team-based mentoring, networking, marketing and capital-raising assistance, co-working space, events, intern support, and other vital programs. This program will run February – December

Companies accepted into the Venture Program must have strategic alignment with FAU’s research focus areas, including drone technologies; educational technologies; environmental science; marine science; ocean engineering; neuroscience; healthy aging; big data analytics; artificial intelligence; machine learning; cyber security; sensing; and smart systems.

“The program has been a tremendous help in many founders’ journeys, and when we joined the program, we were a one-person company with an idea,” stated Saida Florexil, Venture Class 8 alumnus and Co-Founder & CEO of Imanyco, a company aiming to improve communication accessibility for people with hearing loss.

“By the time we graduated, we had built a team, and a product, raised funds, and we were able to work with some of the world’s largest companies. The mentorship, resources, and support that we received were incredibly valuable to our journey.”

At Tech Runway, experts have created a program that harnesses and directs the entrepreneurial spirit, providing a complete ecosystem for forward-thinking entrepreneurs, innovative students, faculty, alumni and the community. Program participants receive more than $100,000 in resources and services, including but not limited to mentoring, entrepreneurial education, introductions to early-stage capital, pitch practice opportunities, networking, co-working space and much more. Applications are opened twice a year to be accepted into the Venture Program.

Jessica Beaver, Associate Director of FAU Tech Runway, told South Florida Tech Hub that as the region continues to grow as national leader for tech and business that they have seen more of a need for startup resources as startups flock to the area.

“Due to a high demand, FAU Tech Runway has committed to providing our area two cohorts each year versus only one. This is the second cohort of the year allowing us to serve 40 companies, doubling the amount of startups served in previous years.”

From smart sensors to a fitness app to a decorative planter box company, this cohort has it all. “We are excited about the mix of students, faculty, and community in this cohort and the interesting combination of both SaaS-based and physical products.”

Jessica also noted that they have seen an influx in AI-driven startups. “It’s certainly becoming more prevalent as the tech industry continues to transform. AI is becoming more and more of a common trend with the companies that apply.”

Venture Class 11 participants joined a robust community of fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, instructors and top-level support professionals. They have a lot of work ahead of them, but having the right community supporting them is the best first step. FAU Tech Runway® is a public-private partnership formed to incubate and accelerate early-stage technology-based companies, under the purview of FAU’s Division of Research. Applications for the next cycle of the Venture Program will open on March 3.

The 20 companies in Venture Class 11 are:

  • ADAM Rehabilitation sells dynamic performance braces and expert-level training services to individuals with full functional abilities or disabilities, to help them achieve safer and stronger joints.
  • AskDaddysaurus is a media-based avatar targeted at new parents to provide fun, engaging and accessible childcare content to save time and energy, increase efficiency and build confidence as a new caregiver.
  • AskTakeGo Inc (ATG) is a startup based in Fort Lauderdale, engaged in the development of software for the heavy construction equipment industry.
  • Carevocacy is a learning platform aimed at the elderly population that provides 1:1 online tutoring and classes that address social determinants of health, bridge the digital literacy gap, and offer opportunities to be competitive in the workplace.
  • Enchanted Wave is a Florida-based tech startup that has developed a brainwave-sensing headband and its companion mobile apps for research use, in the field of sleep and cognitive studies and sport performances.
  • EpiPaws is developing epigenetic biomarkers for age and health to improve pet healthcare and increase pet longevity. Its first product, the Pet Age Test, estimates age in dogs and cats from a simple mouth swab.
  • Esther.ai is a cloud-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) application that will disrupt the application development market. Esther.ai’s objective is to reduce testing time and budget from weeks to hours post-development.
  • Fair Witness Technologies (a DBA of ANV Services LLC) offers a self-authenticating digital document format that is the core element of an integrated ecosystem of technology tools. This new, open-source format creates persistent authenticity.
  • Fitnessatyourdoor is a software as a service (SaaS) marketplace that matches trainers and clients and uses data to make recommendations to both parties to improve their results.
  • K Executive Solutions Inc. is a virtual assisting agency that helps business owners and busy professionals streamline their administration tasks, handling the busy work so clients can focus on what matters the most to them.
  • MedAI/SmartBioSense has developed an AI-driven decision support system that helps build a model to understand how well we can predict mortality, ICU admission, and mechanical ventilation for patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
  • Modern Trials Inc. partners with health care organizations and leverages electronic health care data to identify patients in need of advanced treatment options and match them with appropriate clinical trial opportunities.
  • My Autoimmune LLC empowers individuals with autoimmune conditions to take ownership of their health and well-being using holistic methods. It connects individuals with a trusted network of holistic health professionals and evidence-informed research.
  • Parking Genie provides an innovative peer-to-peer business concept to revolutionize how consumers park cars and store boats. Through a digital listing, homeowners can create passive income and customers can search – then pay in advance – for parking.
  • Primary AI is building a patient-centric data-sharing ecosystem in health care and medicine. Its primary goal is to bridge the gap between patients, providers and scientific research.
  • RaiseLink provides startups and startup ecosystem partners with instant matching based on personalized algorithms. Education, business planning and feedback features enhance user engagement, keeping data fresh and accurate.
  • RedeLit’s mission is to redefine literature to help people fall in love with reading, learn how to write/read in a fun way, and bring an increase to literacy percentages in the USA – and the world – so people have a better quality of life.
  • ScreenPlanter LLC is a decorative planter box for horizontal beams of screen enclosures. No tools are required as the company uses ScreenExtender™ brackets. Boxes measuring 2 feet, 4 feet, 6 feet, or a Corner ScreenPlanter™ are available.
  • Show Agents connects overbooked realtors to local licensed showing assistants that can show properties on their behalf, similar to that of Uber for realtors.
  • SyncData Inc. is a compliance tech SaaS company that automates compliance norms like ISO’s with the use of AI.

Pete Martinez, Founder and Chairman of RaiseLink, an intelligent platform for investors and startups, is one of the recently accepted Venture Class 11 cohort members. Although a long time techie and former IBM executive, Pete still understood the importance of programs like FAU Tech Runway.

“We felt it was critical that we walk in the shoes of the startup and go through all the education a startup goes through. FAU’s Venture Program is providing great insight which will in turn make us and our platform even better.”

For more information on FAU Tech Runway®, visit techrunway.fau.edu.

By Adam Ross

FAU Entrepreneur Boot Camp – Jupiter Campus

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or ready to take your existing business to the next level, the Entrepreneur Boot Camp is for you. Upon completion of the Boot Camp, you will be prepared to enter the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition** or the FAU Tech Runway Venture Program and compete to fund your business. **There must be 1 student from FAU on your team in order to compete in the Business Pitch Competition.
Through 24 contact hours, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students learn:
-How to deliver value to your customer.
-How to validate an effective business model.
-How to write an effective business plan.
-How to pitch a plan to investors.
-How to determine sales methods and how to project sales revenues and expenses.
-How to find seed funding for your new venture.
-How to enter a business plan in the prestigious FAU Business Pitch Competition and compete for seed funding

In addition, Entrepreneur Boot Camp students will:
-Discover the most effective research tools available, from using databases in researching competition to understanding customer segments.
-Learn how to create a valuable marketing plan.
-Learn how to gain investor attention from family and friends, crowdsourcing, SBA, and institutional funding.

Course Overview
Entrepreneur Boot Camp is made up of eight sessions and includes access to mentor consultation. All participants will receive a Florida Atlantic University Certificate upon satisfactory completion of all sessions as well as assignments and class discussions. To receive the FAU certificate, unexcused class absences must not exceed two (2) sessions and participants must be on time. Classes are hybrid. In-person attendance preferred but Zoom option offered.

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