From hatchling idea to thriving Gator business: How UF’s business incubator fuels entrepreneurship
Gator Hatchery is a student business incubator through the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center that provides all University of Florida student entrepreneurs with a co-working space, office support, mentors and other resources necessary for early-stage business growth. Students can network with peers and alumni companies to help grow their hatchling idea into a thriving Gator business.
Megan Crosby, Andrew Reynolds and Domenick Cook are just three Business Gators who have received support from the Hatchery. Read how these entrepreneurs are bringing their business ideas to life.
Megan Crosby, BSBA Finance ’28, StopSafe Founder
Megan Crosby (BSBA Finance ’28) developed her business idea in high school when her peers first started getting their driver’s licenses.
She’d hear conversations about traffic stops, ticketing or fear around violent encounters with police. After doing more research she realized there aren’t educational tools that can tell you “what you’re supposed to do when you’re in a traffic stop.”
Thus, StopSafe was born, an app designed to make accidents and traffic stops safer by leveraging a highly trained virtual assistant that can provide next steps and peace of mind for drivers.
While StopSafe is still being developed, she envisions the app as “a reliable tool that people could access in those times that they’re in need [to help make stops] a safer experience.”
In high school, Crosby competed in two local entrepreneurship business pitch competitions (X-Squared and Square 1 “Next”) where she won first place with StopSafe.
When she got to the University of Florida, she contacted Jamie Kraft, director of the UF Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, to learn more about entrepreneurship opportunities for students. He encouraged her to compete in UF’s 2024 AI Pitch Days Competition where she placed as a finalist.
Kraft also directed her to Gator Hatchery, where she now meets weekly with like-minded student entrepreneurs for an hour every Monday who each have their own business they’re developing.
Payal Khurana (BS Computer Science ’05), serves as the Co-Founder and President of Starter Space and has helped students in the Center for over 10 years.
Khurana connected Crosby to a lawyer in Gainesville for advice while doing legal research for her app.
“[At Gator Hatchery], they know people that would be excited to help us and are willing to give us their time,” Crosby said.
Crosby also shared that the community she’s joined through Gator Hatchery has helped her strengthen her entrepreneurial mindset.
“When you have doubts in yourself or your company [we can] work through those doubts [together],” she said.
She encourages students who want to make a positive impact through entrepreneurship to focus on tackling the problems they want to address.
“There are so many unmet needs and systems that don’t run efficiently,” she said. “But if you stay focused on your customers’ problems and what they need, you’ll be able to pivot to the right solutions and build something that makes a real impact on the world.”
Andrew Reynolds, BSBA Finance ’24, MIB ’25, SiloD Co-founder & Chief Product Officer
One internship paved the way for Andrew Reynolds (BSBA Finance ’24, MIB ’25) to launch his platform.
“I like the idea of looking to the future,” he said, which is what first led him to study finance at UF.
As an undergraduate, he completed several internships: first as an IT Consultant for Simply Automated Inc., then as a Financial Analyst Intern at Steel Grove Capital Advisors and finally as a Financial and Data Analyst for Norlee Group.
It was during that final internship that Reynolds met his now co-founder, Brendan Lammond, who was his supervisor at the time. After his internship, they started exploring the disconnects businesses face when trying to grow like juggling too many tools, brand experience ownership and using the right data to fuel real growth.
“We saw how scattered and inefficient the social commerce stack had become,” Reynolds said. He and Lammond envision the future as “lean and simple.”
That vision became SiloD, a social commerce hub for creators and modern businesses. The platform combines social, monetization, analytics and AI tools in a revolutionary way to simplify everyday operations, deepen engagement and ultimately, grow revenue.
“It’s amazing what happens when a community sees a brand through its creator’s eyes,” Reynolds said. “SiloD provides everything a modern businesses needs in one place, without 20 subscriptions.”
Reynolds joined Gator Hatchery in January to find support and guidance while developing the platform.
“The Hatchery has helped us step take a step back and look at every aspect of the business operation, from start to finish,” Reynolds said.
Before joining the program, Reynolds didn’t have a clear business plan. Now it’s 50 pages.
“I’ve seen him get clearer on the things he needs to do to make progress and also home in on his blind spots,” said Khurana.
“I’d recommend [the program] to any student who has a business idea and wants to see it start,” Reynolds said.
In the next few weeks, SiloD is soft launching their platform for a few select customers.
“We need to iterate quickly from platform feedback, and then once it reaches a certain level [I think] it’s going to surprise the world,” he said.
Reynolds encourages fellow young entrepreneurs to explore their ideas, even if they aren’t fully fleshed out.
“If you have that entrepreneurial spirit and you want to run your own company, don’t let it sit in the back of your head,” he said. “Now is the best time.”
Domenick Cook, MBA ’25, City Boy Beverages, LLC Founder
Domenick Cook (MBA ’25) has always loved to travel.
“I’ve been all over the world throughout the past [few] years,” he said, having been to every continent except Antarctica.
Cook knew he wanted to pivot from communications to product development by pursuing a master’s in business, and the flexibility of the Warrington College of Business’ Online MBA program as well as the Global Immersion Experiences offered him the opportunity to balance school with his passion.
“What’s really unique about this program specifically is that you’re able to do everything that you possibly want to do AND do your degree,” Cook said.
In October 2022, the idea for his product came to mind after a trip to South Africa and was further cemented after a trip to Japan in May 2023 where Cook tried several drinks at local pubs.
That’s where City Boy Beverages, LLC was born, a ready-to-drink beverage company with a mission to introduce authentic beverages to the American market in a way that celebrates the richness of diversity.
“I love to introduce myself to other cultures, meet people from different backgrounds, try the food and introduce myself to these new flavors,” he said. “I’m very fortunate that I’ve had the ability to do that; not everybody gets to go around the world,” he said.
While the product is still in its developmental phase, Cook hopes that through City Boy Beverages, he can make that experience more accessible.
Through the Gator Hatchery Program, Cook has been able to share his ideas with like-minded peers who can hold each other accountable as they progress from business idea to established company.
“The opportunity to dedicate yourself to be with those peers and reflect on what you have done throughout the past week [helps you] see the details come alive,” Cook said.
He encourages other student entrepreneurs to not let ideas linger, and to put positive energy toward making their entrepreneurial dreams become a reality.
“Don’t be afraid,” Cook said. “Just pour your heart into it.”
