CEO's of small but growing Central Florida companies could have been singing the memorable Fiddler on the Roof tune this week during the Grow FL Second-Stage CEO Summit. This first-ever event, designed specifically to address the needs of companies with 10 to 50 employees and looking to grow, was held at the Embassy Suites in downtown Orlando on Wednesday. Over 240 attendees made this fast-paced and interactive event standing-room-only.
Making the right connections can be a critical success factor in the evolution of smaller companies. This event -- presented by the University of Central Florida's Florida Economic Gardening Institute in partnership with the EDC and other community partners including CEO Nexus, Disney Entrepreneur Center, Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Manufacturers Association of Central Florida, Orlando Inc. and Rollins College Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship - was designed to encourage just that. Volunteers from established local companies, many of them EDC investors and board members, served as "concierges" or "ambassadors" who worked to ensure the second-stage company CEOs met with representatives of companies they were looking to connect with through one-on-one matchmaking sessions. Second-stagers were also given one-minute of time behind the microphone to share their company's story in a series of "rapid fire" pitches.
If you are a company in the second-stage of development - 10 to 50 employees; generating at least $1 million but not more than $25 million in annual revenue; and looking to grow - the EDC can help connect you to GrowFL. For more information, contact Kerry Symolon.
