A new training program called Startup Quest will give unemployed Northeast Florida residents with college degrees some real-life training in
turning cutting-edge research into marketable products.
Funded by $300,000 in federal grants for the next three years, Startup Quest
will kick off in May with an information session, organizers announced
Wednesday.
FloridaWorks, the University of Florida, JAX Chamber and WorkSource joined
forces on the program.
Those selected for Startup Quest will join other professionals on teams that
assess technology developed by University of Florida researchers and create
business plans for commercializing the ideas.
"The owners of the technology at the university are getting those [technologies]
advanced to possibly be licensed at some future point," said Carlton Robinson,
senior director of the entrepreneurial growth division at JAX Chamber.
In addition to unemployed people with at least a bachelor's degree, Startup
Quest is open to people who are "underemployed" because they are working, but
not at full-time jobs that match their qualifications.
Participants will take part in 11 sessions.
Each session will involve four hours per week, and there is no charge for
participants.
They won't be paid, but they will earn continuing education units and a
certificate from the University of Florida.
"They're gaining skills in terms of leadership, management and entrepreneurship
in a specialized way," Robinson said.
The program is open to people registered with WorkSource, the agency that helps
Northeast Florida residents find work. People can still sign up with WorkSource
to become eligible for participation in Startup Quest.
