Oren Kantor (BSBA ’10, MSE ’11) suffered an indelible humiliation as a senior on his high school golf team. After hitting an overzealous first putt that sailed past the hole, followed by a subsequent stroke that was struck too timidly leaving himself three feet shy of the target, his yips continued with a lip out before he finally found the back of the cup on attempt number four. His team lost the match by one stroke. “But if Kantor, who went
Entrepreneurship Articles: page 1
Warrington College of Business mourns the loss of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center founding director Arnold Heggestad
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It is with the greatest sadness we share the loss of University of Florida Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center Founding Director and Professor Emeritus Arnold “Arnie” Heggestad. He was 77 years old. “We were all brought together as part of Arnie’s vision to create an entrepreneurship center that would challenge students to launch companies and change the world,” said Jamie Kraft, director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center. “The Center has grown to do just that since its
UF students inspect, certify businesses for COVID-19 safety
Students from the Warrington College of Business have tapped into their entrepreneurial education to create a new business aimed at helping businesses show they are following local and federal health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more in this story from The Gainesville Sun.
The biggest education company you’ve never heard of
Warrington alumnus Ethan Fieldman (BSBA ’03) shares about his journey from tutor at UF to starting Study Edge, which now serves a million students a month and has contracts with some 700 universities. Learn more about Fieldman and how his company facilitates learning for college and high school students in this story from Forbes.
UF MBA alumnus has the ‘Midas touch’ when it comes to helping build successful companies
When Jeff Gold (MBA ’78) started his life after graduating from Northeastern University with his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, there were two factors he knew would influence his next steps. One, even after all his schooling, he wasn’t sure he would be a great engineer, and two, he was determined to live somewhere warmer than Boston. Luckily for the Brooklyn, New York-native, Gold was able to expand his engineering background into something more suitable for his skills and interests
Cocovana wins $25,000 in 2020 Big Idea Competition
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Cocovana won first place at the 2020 Big Idea Gator Business Plan Competition. Founded and led by Sheldon Barrett, Cocovana is a tropical lifestyle company currently focused on creating innovative tools for opening coconuts and other fruits, which promotes a healthier lifestyle and sustainability. Its first product, the Coconut Twist, allows anyone to safely open coconuts in seconds without creating a mess, much like a can opener, but for coconuts. “Winning the Big Idea Competition makes me
Weathering the COVID-19 storm: Tips for small business owners
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues across the globe, small businesses are struggling with its impact. According to a survey by Goldman Sachs, 75% of small business owners said their business has already been impacted by fewer sales, with 51% indicating they will only be able to continue to operate for 0-3 months. “COVID-19 and the variable of the unknown ending has created much upheaval,” said Seyi Falade, Vice President of Gainesville-based Cornerstone Barricades. “Confirmed contracts have been postponed. Current projects
Entrepreneurship students consult with local business owner to revamp marketing efforts and prepare for Guinness World Record attempt
Jill Davis (BSA ’09) has long been passionate about animals. You can see it across her business, non-profit organization and ideas for products that benefit our furry companions. But in the time since the University of Florida alumna and Gainesville Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program participant first started her pet daycare Dogs Rule and her non-profit Animals Helping Humans and Humans Helping Animals (AHHHHA), a lot has changed. Shifting technology has outdated her website and social media platforms have altered the
Driven by passion: How a UF Warrington alumnus conquered his shyness and built a million-dollar business
When Erick Rodriguez (BSBA ’16) first started at the University of Florida, he was a shy kid – in spite of having already sold hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise on eBay, Amazon and Craigslist (including a car). The budding entrepreneur looked down at the ensuing four years and knew that he’d be guided by two crucial values: first, to follow his passion for entrepreneurship, and second, the drive to better himself. These two values, coupled with a
Lokesh, Fracture give back to Warrington
Abhi Lokesh learned about the importance of giving back from his time at the University of Florida. Today, it drives his decision making as the co-founder of Fracture, which specializes in printing photos on glass. Fracture continued its reputation for giving back by donating $50,000 to support UF Warrington’s Social Impact & Sustainability Initiative. “Fracture wouldn’t be here today without Warrington’s focus on social entrepreneurship and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center,” Lokesh said. “Those were the things that started this