UCF Business Incubation Program – Photonics

UCF-BIP provides business development and operational support to early-stage, innovative businesses across Central Florida. The non-profit offers four programs that This incubator specifically focuses on Photonics companies.

About

Housed within the Center for Research & Education in Optics & Lasers (CREOL) on the UCF main campus, the Photonics UCF Campus incubator accelerates the movement of innovative laser and optics technology into the marketplace. The 21,000-square-foot facility features office space, conferences rooms, and laboratory space for technology development partnerships between industry and UCF researchers.

The Photonics incubator is a partnership between the University of Central Florida, City of Orlando, U.S. Economic Development Administration and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.

The UCF Business Incubation Program provides business development & operational support to early-stage, innovative businesses throughout Central Florida. Since 1999, this award-winning program has supported hundreds of companies, who have collectively generated more than $400 million in sales and over $100 million in outside funding. The non-profit offers multiple programs that are designed to help businesses at different stages.

  • Traction Program: helps new companies with little to no revenue to build the operational foundation of the business and develop a go-to-market strategy to cultivate an initial customer base. To be eligible, applicants must be (1) headquartered in Central Florida; (2) have a scalable, for-profit business model; and *(3) have a minimal viable product (MVP) or service ready to sell.

* Grant funding to support research & development is a sufficient substitute for an MVP.

  • Growth Program: helps companies with existing traction in the market to develop the infrastructure for scaling their business. To be eligible, applicants must be (1) headquartered in Central Florida; (2) have a scalable, for-profit business model; and (3) have already generated revenue from their product or service.
  • Soft Landing Program: helps international firms and companies headquartered outside the region to support their business development efforts from Central Florida. To be eligible, applicants must be (1) headquartered beyond the Central Florida region; (2) cannot be a franchise; (3) must have at least one full-time business developer from Central Florida office; and (4) all employees must be authorized to work in the United States.

UCF operates nine incubators across five counties.

Osceola – Kissimmee

Orange – Orlando

Volusia County – Daytona Beach

Seminole – Winter Springs

Lake – Eustis

Many of these facilities serve a broad range of industries. However, the incubators located within UCF’s Innovation Districts support companies within specific industry verticals. The Innovation District incubators and their respective industry clusters are listed below:

CENTRAL FLORIDA RESEARCH PARK Defense/Military, Modeling Simulation & Training, Cybersecurity, Photonics, Robotics, Energy, Space

DOWNTOWN Digital Media, Smart City Technology, FinTech, EdTech, Hospitality & Tourism Tech

LAKE NONA Life Sciences, Healthcare, Medical Simulation

To learn more or apply to these programs, visit incubator.ucf.edu.

The services provided are to participants of the UCF Business Incubation Program.

Services Provided

Economic and Site Development

  • Site Location Assistance

Business Planning

  • Business Plan Consulting (Specialty)
  • Market Plan Development (Specialty)
  • Market Research

Financial Resources and Assistance

  • Accounting and Bookkeeping (Specialty)
  • Financial Statement and Cash Flow (Specialty)

Import and Export Assistance

  • Networking/Exploring Exporting/Importing
  • Trade Education and Training

Legal Services

  • Employee Relations
  • Forming a Business
  • Labor Relations
  • Lease Review

Management Issues

  • Strategic Planning

Manufacturing, High Tech, Life Sciences Development

  • Commercialization (Specialty)
  • Industrial Technology Research (Specialty)
  • Technology Transfer (Specialty)

Space

  • Lab Space (Specialty)
  • Office Space (Specialty)

Public Policy and Government Relations

  • City Business Issues
  • County Business Issues

Regulatory Compliance

  • Patent & Trade Secret Information

Starting a Business

  • Business Research Resources (Specialty)
  • Feasibility Studies (Specialty)

Accounting, Bookkeeping & Tax Services

  • Budget, Financial Statement, and Cash Flow Training

Training

  • Bookkeeping/Accounting Software Training
  • Budget, Cash Flow and Financial Statements Training
  • Business Management Training
  • Business Plan Training and Assistance
  • Disaster Preparedness
  • E-Commerce/Internet Marketing
  • Government Contracting
  • Human Resources Training
  • International Trade Education and Training
  • Marketing Training
  • Online Courses and Videos
  • Sales Training
  • Social Media Training
  • Startup Classes

Accelerators and Incubators

  • Incubator (Specialty)

Events and Community Building

  • Business Matchmaking Events
  • Pitch Events
  • Specialty Events (Specialty)
Contact Information
Carol Ann Dykes Logue
Address
4000 Central Florida Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32816