Author: Abraham Aboraya
Publisher: Orlando Business Journal
Date: May 20, 2013

U.S. Rep John Mica had a clear message for the modeling, simulation and training industry in Central Florida at a May 20 meeting: Contact Congress.

At the Partnership III building in Research Park, Mica spoke to a packed room, including U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. Topics included the impact of sequestration on the industry, the threat of base realignment and closure and opportunities in other government industries to use simulation to save federal dollars.

Mica asked everyone in the room to contact a lawmaker in the next week to talk about the industry. Read more here.

Author: Bill Orben
Publisher: Orlando Business Journal
Date: May 8, 2013

Just about everyone in the audience at the May 7 VenturePitch Orlando wanted to be Rob Wight.

What startup CEO wouldn’t want to sell hiscompany to Google for $125 million and become the largest e-commerce transaction in the first quarter of 2013.

So when Wight was telling the group of entrepreneurs and others involved in startup companies at the May 7 event — launched in March 2012 by Florida Venture Sourcing to boost venture capital for startups — what was behind the success of Celebration-based Channel Intelligence Inc., you can bet they were hanging on his every word.

Succeeding in business is dreaming the impossible dream, which Wight equated to competing in the Ironman championship in Kona, Hawaii. Wight said the only way he was able to finish the race involving a 2.24-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bicycle ride and 26.2-mile marathon was preparation, adaptability and perseverance — all elements he said were necessary to operating a successful business. Read more here.

Author: Abraham Aboraya
Publisher: Orlando Business Journal
Date: April 19, 2013

Under a clear sky in Winter Springs, Al Ducharme, a founder at Hoverfly Technologies Inc., starts pressing buttons on a remote control hanging from his neck.

In front of him, as two University of Central Florida interns step away, the Erista series heavy lifter drone comes to life. It beeps like R2D2, and red and green lights on the eight rotors flip on.

As the rotors whirl, there’s a breeze, and the unmanned aerial vehicle — a commercial drone — comes to life, floating in the empty field. Its payload is a gimbal holding a digital camera. It sounds like a swarm of angry bees.

Hoverfly Technologies Inc. is at the forefront of a growing field. The company, which has 10 employees, is projecting $50 million in revenue by 2015 — if it can break into the law enforcement market. Read more here.

Author: Bill Orben
Publisher: Orlando Business Journal
Date: April 23, 2013

Florida venture capital deals in the first quarter of 2013 were down sharply, with five deals worth $11.3 million, including one involving an Orlando-based company, according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree Report, based on data provided by Thomson Reuters.

That’s compared to the five Florida firms that received $37.4 million in the first quarter of 2012 and 16 Florida firms that received $129.3 million in the first quarter of 2011.

Doccaster Inc., an Orlando-based content management sharing system used at conventions and meetings, was one of the five deals during first-quarter 2013 and received $20,000. Read more here.

Author: Kent Hoover
Publisher: Orlando Business Journal
Date: April 18, 2013

The United States’ rate of entrepreneurial activity dropped in 2012 for the second year in a row, according to a new study by the Kauffman Foundation.

The report found that 0.3 percent of adult Americans were involved in starting a business last year, down from 0.32 percent in 2011. That means 514,000 people were starting businesses each month in 2012, compared with 543,000 in 2011.

Don’t blame women for this decline — their entrepreneurial activity rate remained steady at 0.23 percent. Instead, the drop came among men, whose entrepreneurial activity rate fell from 0.42 percent to 0.38 percent. Read more here.

Author: Abraham Aboraya
Publisher: Orlando Business Journal
Date: April 12, 2013

Got a health care innovation? Florida Blue and Healthbox are looking for you.

Jacksonville-based health insurer Florida Blue is bringing Healthbox to Florida with a partnership program. The health care business accelerator program is designed to foster innovative health tech entrepreneurs and startups.

If accepted into the program, companies get an intensive 16-week mentorship program, office space and $50,000 in seed capital. At the end of the four-month program, the companies will participate in Innovation Day, where they can pitch to investors and industry leaders. Read more here.

Author: Abraham Aboraya
Publisher: Orlando Business Journal
Date: April 4, 2013

It’s official: Hoverfly Technologies Inc. in Winter Springs has formed the Aerial Robotics Industry Association, the company announced April 4.

The company also plans to create a certification for pilots using the unmanned aircraft for filming. ARIA’s goal is to set the standards for the safe operation of aerial robotics for commercial use and thereby advance the growing community of professional pilots, the release states.

ARIA will set safety standards, and certifications will be granted by ARIA for flight schools around the country.

“ARIA’s mission is similar to the Federal Aviation Administration’s mission ­— to strive to reach the next level of safety, efficiency and global leadership in the aerial industry,” said Al Ducharme , a founder of Hoverfly Technologies and associate professor in the College of Engineering & Computer Science at the University of Central Florida. Read more here.

Author: Abraham Aboraya
Publisher: Orlando Business Journal
Date: March 27, 2013

The Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship at Rollins College has awarded a $25,000 cash award to BioCurity Inc., the school announced March 26.

BioCurity, based in New Smyrna Beach,previously won $100,000 from Space Florida. The company is developing an injectable and topical drug that would mitigate damage to healthy cells during radiation for cancer patients.

Cari Coats, executive director and adjunct faculty member at the Rollins College Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship, said the goal of the competition is to find commercially viable companies. Read more here.

Author: Abraham Aboraya
Publisher: Orlando Business Journal
Date: March 11, 2013

Blackstone Charitable Foundation is putting $1.4 million over three years in an entrepreneurship program at the University of Central Florida, officials are expected to announce later this morning.

The program — the Blackstone LaunchPad — is an extension of a pilot program at the University of Miami. The program will be accessible to all 60,000 UCF students.

Students will be able to create a profile, fill out a venture assessment form, get individualized consultations and venture coaching. The $1.4 million will go mostly to hire staff at the center, plus a little extra toward the buildout of space. Read more here.

Author: Bill Orben
Publisher: Orlando Business Journal
Date: March 6, 2013

The Florida Venture Forum is seeking companies to present at its sixth annual early capital conference May 15 at Reunion Resort near ChampionsGate.

Between 15-20 companies will present to venture capitalists, investors and service providers.

Florida Venture Forum selected Greensleeves LLC of Winter Springs and Knetik Media of Longwood to present at the 22nd annual Florida Venture Capital Conference in Ponte Vedra Jan. 31-Feb. 1.

To apply, companies must email the executive summary form on the website to pat@floridaventureforum.org. The early deadline is March 18 and final deadline is April 19. Read more here.