About Us

Every industrial revolution is characterized by new wide-spread, low cost technologies that dramatically alter the way people live, transform the nature of work and fundamentally change societal norms. What differentiates the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as coined by the World Economic Forum, is the unprecedented speed with which people have utilized new technologies to scale these changes. New technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and biotechnologies are creating breakthrough solutions in every facet of human life and creating a convergence of biology, technology and design.What’s more, the barriers to join the Revolution have never been lower. The team at StartUP FIU is passionate about harnessing the momentum of these technological breakthroughs to finally solve some of society’s biggest challenges.

StartUP FIU fosters innovation and entrepreneurship for its students, faculty and alumni and for the greater community of Miami.

StartUP FIU began in January 2016 as a part of Florida International University’s efforts to address both the opportunities and challenges of this new industrial revolution. It is a platform that supports researchers, inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs to conceive, launch and scale solutions.

There is no better place to test new solutions than Miami, a city that is at the epicenter of challenges like sea-level rise, transportation infrastructure and income inequalities. At StartUP FIU, we see challenges as opportunities. We believe opportunities to shape the Fourth Industrial Revolution should be provided to anyone who has the insight, tenacity and understanding of market opportunity. Therefore all of the programming and events are available to students, faculty, alumni and the community typically at no cost.

StartUP FIU’s philosophy is illustrated through its three types of offerings:

Engage, Empower, Enrich.

Engage

Engage is a safe environment where one can explore innovation and new business concept development through workshops, speakers, classes and hackathons. Many prospective entrepreneurs are challenged to move beyond an idea on a napkin and Engage introduces the thinking and processes to understand the next steps.

Check out our upcoming events

Empower

Empower is the hands on, experiential programs where one can apply and be selected for the pre-accelerator and accelerator programs at StartUP FIU. These practical programs are for a defined time period, work with weekly milestones and produce commercial deliverables such as prototypes and investor ready companies.

Enrich

Enrich is where StartUP FIU serves the faculty and the University. Faculty interested to explore the opportunities for intellectual property and patents, start a new venture, build a management team or start a new company can find assistance and resources. To support the overall mission of the University, StartUP FIU also works with the individual schools and colleges to develop and teach new curriculum in design thinking, innovation, entrepreneurship and new technologies such as AI, Blockchain and predictive analytics. Facilitation of design thinking to address problems, spawn innovation and identify opportunities is another popular technique offered to the University and the Miami community.

Apply to the FEED Program Make an appointment with StartUP FIU today!

Mission

A university-wide initiative to foster innovation and entrepreneurship to pursue opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Vision

To innovate at the edge to serve the University and community for social and societal change.

Core Values

Social Entrepreneurship

Market-based solutions to social problems

Inclusion

Individual empowerment without boundaries

Movement

To do the impossible, you have to see the invisible

Innovation

Invention commercialized

Discovery

Motivated learning

Excellence

World class execution

Core Values

Social Entrepreneurship

Market-based solutions to social problems

Inclusion

Individual empowerment without boundaries

Movement

To do the impossible, you have to see the invisible

Innovation

Invention commercialized

Discovery

Motivated learning

Excellence

World class execution

Resources and Content

At Startup FIU we believe that resources and content are an important part of experiential learning about innovation and entrepreneurship. On the Resources tab, we offer video to present fundamental concepts. We offer articles from blogs, magazines and even academics because they provide the practical perspective that practitioners want today. We write our own blog posts to share what we have learned from running multiple incubators and accelerators. We welcome comments and questions on any of the material. Send us an email.

Frequently Asked Questions

StartUP FIU

Who can get involved at StartUP FIU?

If you are a high school or university student, teacher or faculty, prospective mentor or domain expert or potential partner looking to get involved, e-mail us at bcollado@fiu.edu. We welcome people who are committed to innovation and traditional and social entrepreneurship to make a better future for everyone.

How can I get involved with StartUP FIU?

There are many ways to engage–you choose. We offer internships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students, always need more design thinking facilitators, sponsor and co-sponsor events every month, work on research projects for people and organizations inside and outside the University, teach entrepreneurship courses and programs at FIU and in the community and even have fun for those not sure how they want to participate.

What are the programs of StartUP FIU?

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What will I like about StartUP FIU?

We are a diverse group that believes in social inclusion, with English, Spanish, Portuguese, Creole, and French speakers. We believe that everybody advances at their own pace and you can always join a future program if you need more time at any stage. The students in the programs typically insure that we have some fun, laugh and collaborate to achieve results.

Application

How do I apply?

Each program has an application that can be found on the program web page(s).

Who can apply?

The programs at StartUP FIU are generally open to any student, faculty or alumni of FIU and any community member. Potential participants should pick the program that best matches their personal objectives. Each program has an application or contact information on their web page to apply. All programs accept individuals, who may be a representative for a team that plans to participate.

Is there an age requirement?

The minimum age to participate in a formal program is 18, but we have accepted volunteers as young as 14 when the required special paperwork has been completed and supplied to StartUP FIU. Events are open to all ages.

What is the application process?

Each program has its own application process, which can be found on their web page.

Can I apply if I already have a business?

Most programs at StartUP FIU accept individuals whose ideas and companies match the program objectives, but we have programs for participants at all stages–with ideas, pre-revenue existing businesses, and revenue-generating companies. For example, the largest company to complete the Empower accelerator had over $6 million in annual revenue.

How much time is expected of me?

Each program requires a specific time commitment. Each program meets weekly at least once a week and most programs also require presentation of weekly deliverables. To properly prepare for a Pitch Day or Demo Day can be an intensive process. However, we ask nothing that is more demanding than what a successful entrepreneur goes through. We expected the company CEO to be an active participant.

What if my application gets rejected. Can I apply again?

We believe entrepreneurship is an iterative process. We have had individuals apply four times before they were accepted. Applications that are repeatedly rejected typical lack an opportunity of sufficient market size or a CEO who does not demonstrate the ability to take coaching.

Programs

How much does the program cost?

At this time all programs are at no charge and we do not require equity ownership.

How does each program work?

Each program is described in detail on their web page(s).

Each page has a contact link to request more information or ask for a meeting.

Do I have to be in Miami?

To participate in the program you have to attend in person at the MMC or BBC campus, depending on the program.

What is required of me to participate in a program?

Each program requires a specific time commitment. Each program meets weekly at least once a week and most programs also require presentation of weekly deliverables. To properly prepare for a Pitch Day or Demo can be an intensive process. However, we ask nothing that is more demanding than what a successful entrepreneur goes through. We expected the company CEO to be an active participant.