The Runway at FAU Returns to the College of Business

Move Signals New Era of Increased Entrepreneurship, Collaboration 

The Runway at Florida Atlantic University will merge under the College of Business, a move designed to strengthen the synergy between entrepreneurship initiatives and the college’s core mission.

The transition includes not just The Runway accelerator, but also programs like Florida Atlantic Wave, aimed to broaden the entrepreneurship brand housed within the College of Business. The programs have collaborated for years across the university, while sharing resources, co-developing startups and operating under the same mission.  

“We are pleased to have The Runway return to its roots here at the College of Business. It started in the college 12 years ago and has since played an integral role in the launch of numerous successful startups and business ventures,” said Daniel Gropper, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business and Kaye Family Professor. “This new partnership allows us to serve more companies, founders, and students on a new level.”

The Runway at Florida Atlantic® is a South Florida public-private partnership that serves as a hub to accelerate technology development and incubate startup companies. The Runway’s companies can access mentoring, introductions to early-stage capital, grants and seed funding. In addition, they are provided with tools to become successful entrepreneurs, including a rigorous boot camp, access to business and technology events, and connections to a thriving regional innovation network. The Florida Atlantic Wave Program is a student-focused applied research and entrepreneurial program that challenges undergraduates and graduates to submit and develop innovative ideas.

“It strengthens the pipeline and the ecosystem to serve and support internal and external participants in a more official capacity,” said Kevin Cox, Ph.D., director of the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship. “When someone enters our pipeline, most people see it as a comprehensive unified system. I expect our program to support a record number of founders and startups during the next year, resulting in more economic growth and additional opportunities for partnerships and sponsors.”

Some new initiatives set to roll out with the merger include rolling admissions and flexible timelines for startups, to reduce barriers and to provide better support based on each venture’s development stage. The merger will also help grow the mentor pool by at least half, broadening the expertise available to startups and allowing better specialization.

The new ecosystem will also expand to the John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter, bringing an increased entrepreneurship presence to the northern parts of Palm Beach County through workshops, mentorship opportunities, and partnerships with local institutions.

A key part of the merger will also focus on the ocean economy by emphasizing technologies and startups related to it, as well as establishing an ocean economy competition track for business pitches, and enhancing recruitment of research-driven ventures from science and engineering programs. Not only will this foster more growth in the area, but it will also support the university’s strategic growth and creation of the Office of Ocean Economy.

“We have a comprehensive and robust ecosystem at FAU and this move represents us putting those pieces together,” said Jessica Beaver, associate director of The Runway at Florida Atlantic®. “As the only university in the state with an Office of Ocean Economy, it’s crucial for us to support those projects and initiatives.”

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