In 2012, Gainesville was America's fastest-growing startup ecosystem. The pandemic broke the connective tissue. We're stitching it back as a Chapter and Community.

Here's the room. Eight Thursdays at GTEC starting April 30: a 30-minute war story from a business leaders like John Spence, an hour of training weekly training facilitators - local business leaders and Mentors of SCORE North Florida, two hours of small-group mentorship with founders who've built 6-figure businesses. Institutional leaders, bankers and investors judging the day of our final pitch competition.

Top pitch-day teams walk out with donated legal from Hutch Law, accounting from Dwight Hulse CPA, and branding from our design partners.

Reply with the part of your business that's eating your weekends. I'll tell you which week of the program cuts that hour.

P.S. Free info session April 23rd at the Hyatt, 6-8 PM.

Augi Lye speaks. Startup Hour at 7. Come for thirty minutes, bring a friend. If it's not for you, the drinks still are.

In humble service,

Eli Newman, Program Director

Startup Engine Program, SCORE North Florida

Aligning AI Entrepreneurs

(352) 559-3320 mobile

More info below:

It is 2026! Welcome to the Startup Engine Program (SEP)—a high-stakes "Venture Prototype Laboratory" designed to help Gainesville entrepreneurs dominate the emerging "Human + AI" economy. Our mission is to foster a vibrant, resilient local economy by bridging the gap between traditional small business and modern tech orchestration.

Program Structure: Participants join a collaborative Startup team guided by a CEO Mentor to navigate an 8-week, high-stakes simulation (not real business) of a 2026-ready startup venture that will present to investor on Week 8. Through hands-on sessions, teams build an investor-ready business model and investor pitch using modern tools like AI and no-code platforms.

Program Benefit: You gain "risk-free" entrepreneurial muscle memory and a real local professional network by solving a Mentor led business challenges in a safe, simulated environment. You leave with a proven digital toolkit and a "Startup Engine Program" completion credential from SCORE North Florida.

SCORE North Florida is the local Chapter of the nation's premier resource for small business growth and entrepreneurial excellence, SCORE national. As a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE provides free, confidential mentoring from a network of 10,000+ vetted, successful, business leaders certified to mentor you. Your Chapter 408, in North Florida has committed Mentors serving small businesses and startups from Gainesville to Pensacola.