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University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida·University

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Pitch competitionsIncubatorVenture fund

At a glance

Indexed programs

15

15 currently active

Top direct funding

No direct cash prizes indexed

Equity

Mixed equity terms

Program mix

9

Pitch Competition · Entrepreneurship Center · Incubator

Research verdict

Research in progress.

Programs to explore

Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.

15 programs indexed

Incubator

UF Gator Hatchery

Incubator

Also: Gator Hatchery, UF Student Business Incubator

—

funding range

Equity unknownApplication based, rollingActive
Last activity
2026-07-01
Participants
All UF students (undergraduate through PhD, on campus and online)
Verification
Verified

UF Innovate Accelerate at The Hub

Incubator

Also: The Hub, UF Accelerate at The Hub

—

funding range

Equity unknownRolling admissionActive
Last activity
2026-07-01
Participants
90+ companies in incubation
Verification
Verified

UF Sid Martin Biotech Incubator

Incubator

Also: Sid Martin Biotech, Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator

—

funding range

Equity unknownRolling admissionActive
Last activity
2026-07-01
Participants
18 companies at 100% occupancy (112+ total since 1995)
Verification
Verified

UF Startup Springs Incubator

Incubator

Also: Startup Springs, IA Business Incubator

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funding range

Equity unknownAnnual, Spring applications (January March)Active
Last activity
2026-07-01
Participants
UF students pursuing Innovation minor
Verification
Verified

Known startups and winners

Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.

See every startup

Axogen

University of Florida · UF Sid Martin Biotech Incubator

Notable alumni outcome

Nerve repair biotech; Sid Martin Biotech incubator graduate, publicly traded.

Biofrontier Lab

University of Florida · UF Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center

Student venture

Brazilian biopharmaceutical research venture; UF entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Coastal Resilience Solutions

Grand prize

placement

University of Florida · UF Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative

Competition winner

2023 UF Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative winner.

Cordelia Bioscience

Grand prize

placement

University of Florida · UF Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative

Competition winner

2024 UF Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative winner.

MoringaPure

$25,000

prize won

University of Florida · UF Big Idea Business Plan Competition

Grand prizeCompetition winner

2026 UF Big Idea Business Plan Competition winner.

Purposed Studios

Grand prize

placement

University of Florida · UF Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative

Competition winner

2022 UF Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative winner.

RTI Surgical

University of Florida · UF Sid Martin Biotech Incubator

Notable alumni outcome

Surgical implant company; UF Sid Martin Biotech incubator graduate.

Sharklet Technologies

University of Florida · UF Sid Martin Biotech Incubator

Faculty spinout

Shark-skin inspired antibacterial surface technology; UF Sid Martin Biotech portfolio company.

The University of Florida is the flagship public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida, with approximately 58,000 students (35,000 undergraduate, 23,000 graduate/professional). Its entrepreneurship ecosystem is anchored by a powerful dual-track structure: student-facing programming through the **Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC)** at Warrington College of Business (2,000+ students/year) and research commercialization through **UF Innovate** (Tech Licensing, Ventures, Pathways, Accelerate). UF was ranked #1 in innovation impact by the George W. Bush Institute (2020) and #2 in tech transfer nationally (Heartland Forward, 2022).

Ecosystem Overview

  • Student hub: Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center at Warrington College of Business — 2,000+ students/year, Gator Hatchery incubator, pitch competitions ($130K+ annual pool), GatorNest consulting (600+ clients)
  • Research commercialisation: UF Innovate umbrella — Tech Licensing (350+ startups), Ventures ($2M annual fund), Pathways (academic innovator training), Accelerate (The Hub + Sid Martin Biotech incubators)
  • Incubation: The Hub (100K sq ft, 90+ companies, $25.3B economic impact, 14 international awards) + Sid Martin Biotech (32K sq ft, 112+ companies, $9.1B raised, since 1995)
  • Venture fund: $2M annual fund (UF Innovate Ventures), co-invests with accredited lead investors
  • Student VC: Warrington Ventures — student-managed VC deploying real capital, targeting $500K-$1M fund
  • Pitch competitions: Luby Microgrant ($90K total/$10K per team), Big Idea ($40K+/$25K first place), GatorPitch (Miami)
  • Academic programs: MS in Entrepreneurship (Thomas S. Johnson, 32 credits, Launcher track), undergraduate minor, graduate minor, BABA Entrepreneurship Specialization
  • Startup Springs: Innovation Academy student incubator, first cohort Summer 2026

Known Startups

  • Axogen — nerve repair, Sid Martin graduate, publicly traded
  • Sharklet Technologies — shark-skin inspired antibacterial surfaces
  • RTI Surgical — surgical implants, Sid Martin graduate
  • MoringaPure — 2026 Big Idea Competition winner
  • Biofrontier Lab — Brazilian biopharmaceutical research
  • Cordelia Bioscience — 2024 Impact Entrepreneurship winner
  • Coastal Resilience Solutions — 2023 Impact Entrepreneurship winner
  • Purposed Studios — 2022 Impact Entrepreneurship winner

Assessment

Recommendation: Include Tier: 1 Confidence: High Key Factors: Comprehensive dual-track ecosystem with world-class incubation infrastructure (The Hub + Sid Martin Biotech, 14 international awards), $2M annual venture fund, $130K+ student pitch competition pool, 350+ startups launched, 300+ invention disclosures/year, $11.4B+ private investment generated, 2,000+ students/year engaged in entrepreneurship programming. Comparable to UGA, Georgia Tech, and UNC Chapel Hill in ecosystem breadth.

News & articles

15 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at University of Florida.

15 sources

Official sources(15)

This profile lists 15 programs for University of Florida. Some details may be outdated until a director verifies them.

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