Event Type : Community

Seminar at UF Innovate | The Hub

Lunch & Learn at UF Innovate | The Hub

Lunch & Learn at UF Innovate | Sid Martin Biotech

Seminar at UF Innovate | The Hub

Ready to get media attention as a startup? Join us for a session with Maya Vaidya and Silvana Noriega of the University of Florida’s 2026 Bateman Team as they share helpful insights from the PR industry. This event is open to the public. Please register by noon on February 24th. 

The University of Florida’s 2026 Bateman Team is a group of public relations students representing UF in a national PR case study competition, building a full campaign from research to evaluation for a real client. They have partnered with ACCESS Newswire, a professional PR platform used by startups, founders, and small businesses to gain visibility without agency-level costs.

What the session covers:

– Why PR matters for startups (beyond social media)
– How visibility drives credibility, funding, and growth
– Common PR mistakes early-stage founders make
– Tools that make PR accessible without expensive agencies

They also include a short demo of ACCESS Newswire, showing startups how they can:

– Identify relevant media contacts
– Monitor competitors and industry trends
– Start building credibility early

Pitch Event at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology

GatorPitch is heading to Jupiter, FL, to highlight a brand-new cohort of the top biotechnology startups and entrepreneurial talent from the University of Florida. South Florida’s investors and entrepreneurial community get exclusive access to the talent from the heart of Gator Nation.

Secure your spot to attend!

Join us on March 5th at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology. This pitch event provides an opportunity to connect and network with fellow entrepreneurs and investors. Here is a tentative timeline:

• ​​Networking: 5:30 to 6 PM

• ​​Program Begins: 6 PM

• ​VC Panel: 6:10 PM

• ​​Pitches and Awards: 6:45 to 7:45 PM

• ​​Networking until 8:30 PM

​Panelists:

• ​Evan Rachlin, MD: Evan is the CoFounder and Managing Partner of Ascenta Capital. He previously served as a Managing Director at Blackstone Life Sciences and led strategy at Moderna, supporting portfolio strategy and equity financings. He serves on multiple biotech company boards, the Boston Children’s Hospital board, and is a Harvard University and Harvard Medical School graduate.

• ​Steve Tregay, PhD: Steve is a Managing General Partner at Mission BioCapital, where he invests in therapeutics and platform technologies. He previously founded and led FORMA Therapeutics, Co-Founded Compass Therapeutics, and held leadership roles with the Novartis Venture Fund. Steve currently serves on boards and committees for LabCentral, Harvard’s Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator, and the non-profit, Life Science Cares.

• ​George Voren, PhD: George is the VP, Founder of Strategy and Operations at Curie.Bio, assisting founders with launching therapeutic companies. He previously held leadership roles at Relay Therapeutics and Vesalius Therapeutics after gaining experience as a scientist, and later, a venture associate.

• ​Jay Parrish, PhD: Jay is a Venture Partner for ARCH Venture Partners, where he invests in early-stage firms in life sciences, physical sciences, and information technology. He currently serves in leadership roles for Pretzel Therapeutics, Lila Therapeutics, Amplitude Therapeutics, Magnet Biomedicine, and Gate Bioscience.

Lunch & Learn at UF Innovate | The Hub

Join us for the spring cohort of the NSF I-Corps at UF Regional Course. This 6-week program invites researchers, entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and companies to transform innovations into market-ready solutions through the proven I-Corps customer discovery process. Participants will benefit from tailored mentorship by experienced industry experts, gaining critical insights into market demands and customer needs to refine their technologies for real-world applications.

The virtual six-week regional course will be held on Wednesdays this Spring from 1-4 p.m. on the following days:

May 20, 27
June 3, 10, 17, and 24

You can save your work and return to this form later. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications are due by Wednesday, April 15.