2021 Edison Awards Nominee for Innovative Model of Entrepreneurship Education

Chosen as the "best of the best" by 3000 of the world's top senior business executives, academics, and innovation professionals, the FGCU Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship has been selected as a Finalist for the 2021 Edison Best New Product Awards® in the category of Education.

The Naples Accelerator Training Program

Looking to take your business to the next level? The FGCU - Naples Accelerator Cohort Training Program is a 6 month program that gives entrepreneurs access to a wide array of expert mentors, in-depth and hands on workshops, and regular exposure to potential investors.

FGCU named best public school for entrepreneurship in Florida

Our freestanding School of Entrepreneurship makes us very unique. We are committed to providing an education for students that is experiential, hands-on, and leads to career success. Our well-rounded students graduate ready to be productive employees in established companies or start their own.

Entrepreneurs come from everywhere 

Musician turned entrepreneur, Jade Gibson ('19), turned her passion for playing music into a successful luxury wedding and event entertainment company, called Jade Strings. With the knowledge gained through classes and mentoring, Jade now has over 200 clients.

Making the internet a safer place

John Ciocca ('22) is a Runway Program Participant, an Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship Studies Major, and an award winning app developer with the hope of making the internet a safe place for everyone with his startup, youBelong. The app has 2200 users across 26 different countries.

Solving two problems with one café 

Through the FGCU Alumni Runway Program, Andrew Townsend ('18) and his fiancée, Amber Redfern, found a way to reduce feline euthanasia rates and provide the community a fun place to hang out with cats, sip a coffee or tea, or adopt a furry friend with their company, Cattyshack Café.

Transferring military skills to startup life 

Marine Corps Veteran, Corey Umstott ('20), had a dream of owning an auto repair shop one day, and through the FGCU Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program, Corey now owns and operates a profitable mobile auto repair company called Eagle Auto Repair.

Medical marvels through the eyes of a pig

Makenzie Whitaker ('19) is a Runway Program Participant, an English Major with an Entrepreneurship Minor, and kidney transplant survivor with a dream of helping kids and families through the process of taking on diseases like the one she had with her book, The Kidney Kronicles.

Entrepreneurs think outside of the box

As an Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship Studies Major, Nick Vargas ('19) learned real world entrepreneurial skills that he was able to transfer to his new career at Hertz Corp. as a Project Management System Administrator.