Sponsorship
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University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida·University
At a glance
Indexed programs
10
0 currently active
Top direct funding
No direct cash prizes indexed
Equity
Mixed equity terms
Program mix
10
Grant Program · Student Accelerator · Training Program
Research verdict
Research in progress.
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
10 programs indexed
Pitch Competition
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
9Yaps
$5,000
prize won
University of South Florida · THRIVE Pre-Seed Award Program
Spring 2026 USF THRIVE Pre-Seed Award winner ($5,000); Nicholas Eisengrein founder.
Addison Bounds
$10,000
prize won
University of South Florida · THRIVE Pre-Seed Award Program
Spring 2026 USF THRIVE Pre-Seed Award top winner ($10,000).
Groovy Smoothie Pops
$5,000
prize won
University of South Florida · THRIVE Pre-Seed Award Program
Spring 2026 USF THRIVE Pre-Seed Award winner ($5,000); Darren Booth founder.
Simple Referral
$5,000
prize won
University of South Florida · THRIVE Pre-Seed Award Program
Spring 2026 USF THRIVE Pre-Seed Award winner ($5,000); Jackson Poynor & Sudeepa Pasupuleeti.
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida (USF), founded in 1956, is a public research university in Tampa, Florida with additional campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee. USF has built a comprehensive multi-node entrepreneurship ecosystem anchored by the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship (founded 2002, top 10 graduate program Princeton Review) and USF CONNECT (innovation enterprise arm in the USF Research Park).
Ecosystem Overview
- Central hub: Nault Center for Entrepreneurship — founded 2002, top 10 Princeton Review graduate program
- Student accelerator: HUSTLE — student accelerator with Chessler Holdings investment pathway
- Student incubator: Student Innovation Incubator — since 2013, two pathways
- Tech incubation: Tampa Bay Technology Incubator and Evolve Accelerator at USF CONNECT
- Non-dilutive funding: THRIVE Pre-Seed Award (up to $10K), Foundation BRAG grants ($25K, $650K+ to 26 companies, $7.5M follow-on)
- Spinout pathway: USF Ventures Launch Program — structured spinout company formation
- Tech transfer: Technology Transfer office
- I-Corps: I-Corps@USF — since 2016, 380+ teams, $12.5M raised, leads Florida in national teams
- Competitions: Frank and Ellen Daveler statewide competition and multiple pitch competitions
Known Startups
- Addison Bounds — Spring 2026 THRIVE Pre-Seed Award top winner ($10K)
- Groovy Smoothie Pops — Spring 2026 THRIVE winner ($5K)
- 9Yaps — Spring 2026 THRIVE winner ($5K)
- Simple Referral — Spring 2026 THRIVE winner ($5K)
Assessment
Recommendation: Include Tier: 1 Confidence: High Key Factors: Comprehensive Tier 1 ecosystem spanning student incubation through faculty/community commercialization — Nault Center central hub, HUSTLE accelerator with investment pathway, SII since 2013, TBTI/Evolve incubator, BRAG $650K+ deployed, I-Corps@USF largest in Florida (380+ teams, $12.5M raised), and structured Ventures Launch spinout pathway.
News & articles
9 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at University of South Florida.
9 sources
Official sources(9)
Foundation BRAG (Bull Ring Accelerator Grant)
University of South Florida
University of South Florida
Foundation BRAG (Bull Ring Accelerator Grant)
Foundation BRAG provides up to $25,000 grants for early-stage startups based on licensed USF technologies. Since 2016: $650K to 26 companies, $7.5M+ follow-on.
Read on University of South Florida
University of South Florida
Competitions and Daveler Program
Multiple pitch competitions hosted by the Nault Center including RAIN Startup Plan Competition, USF Business Plan Championship, Daveler Entrepreneurship Program, Startup Team Challenge, Business Model Competition, St. Pete Sustainability Pitch, and Techstars Startup Weekend.
Read on University of South Florida
USF CONNECT and Student Innovation Incubator
University of South Florida
University of South Florida
USF CONNECT and Student Innovation Incubator
USF CONNECT is the innovation enterprise arm in USF Research Park, housing the Tampa Bay Technology Incubator (TBTI), Student Innovation Incubator (SII), and Evolve Accelerator.
Read on University of South Florida
University of South Florida
HUSTLE Program
HUSTLE (Helping University Students Tackle Leadership and Entrepreneurship) is USF's student incubator and accelerator program with a real-world investor pitch opportunity.
Read on University of South Florida
University of South Florida
I-Corps@USF
NSF I-Corps site at USF since 2016, one of the earliest in the US and the largest in Florida. Selected for NSF Southeast Hub in 2024 ($1.6M).
Read on University of South Florida
University of South Florida
Nault Center for Entrepreneurship
Official homepage for USF's Nault Center for Entrepreneurship, the central entrepreneurship hub founded 2002 in Muma College of Business.
Read on University of South Florida
University of South Florida
USF Technology Transfer
USF Technology Transfer office handles patents, licensing, and startup formation for university inventions.
Read on University of South Florida
University of South Florida
THRIVE Pre-Seed Award Program
Hafer THRIVE (Targeted Help for Rising Innovators and Venture Expansion) Pre-Seed Award Program at the Nault Center. Provides up to $10K per venture.
Read on University of South Florida
University of South Florida
USF Ventures Launch Program
Pilot program within USF Technology Transfer that identifies high-potential inventions and provides structured company formation pathway.
Read on University of South Florida
This profile lists 10 programs for University of South Florida. Some details may be outdated until a director verifies them.
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