Florida’s Entrepreneurial Community
Flourishes with FLVEC
With zero cash flow and no customers, all entrepreneur Joshua Watson could along with owning a business,” said Michael
think about was the steady job offer on the table. He was at a crossroads: Zaharios III, FLVEC director. “We added the
Fight through the uncertainty and pursue his passion, or give up and take the ability for users to connect to each other after
safe route. seeing how entrepreneurs engage face-to-
face at events like 1 Million Cups and Startup
“I called my father who has always wanted to start his own business, but Weekend. The result is an online platform that
took the safe job instead,” said Watson, founder of Polk County’s IronRock elevates all entrepreneurs and drives traffic to
Software. “I decided to stick with it after our discussion. A year later, the them based on their story of entrepreneurship.”
business took off and I’m better off today than I would have been had I taken
the comfortable job.”
The value of FLVEC’s entrepreneurial
community has been realized by more than
All entrepreneurs struggle with uncertainty, but not all are fortunate to 300 entrepreneurs from more than 30 counties
have the sound advice of Watson’s father. Luckily, a community exists with who are now featured on the website.
hundreds of entrepreneurs in Florida who are willing to lend a helping hand. Entrepreneurs from all industries in all stages
of business are encouraged to participate
Earlier this year, The Corridor’s Florida Virtual Entrepreneur Center (FLVEC)
at www.flvec.com.
redesigned its web presence to showcase the stories of entrepreneurs from
across the state. The profiles are more than just light reading. They offer “Many people start businesses that are all
encouragement, opportunities for potential partnership, guidance for tough about them making money and extracting
decision-making and more. funds, said Watson. “Zig Ziglar said you can
have anything in the world you want as long
“We started FLVEC to help entrepreneurs find resources for permitting,
as you first help others get what they want.”
securing funding, hire employees and the many other things that come
florida.HIGH.TECH 2017
7