This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Enterprise Florida. All opinions are 100% mine.
Enterprise Florida is an organization that has been at the forefront of developing Florida Business and encouraging Florida Innovation. As a partnership between business leaders and the government officials in the state, the Orlando-based Enterprise Florida is the main economic development organization in Florida.
Why Florida? Florida is one state with tremendous opportunities for fast business growth and exciting innovations in technology. The state has an endless supply of talent and a highly skilled workforce.
The colleges in Florida provide excellent education and have wide-ranging partnerships with the government and the private sector. The climate here is decidedly friendly towards all businesses, with tremendous opportunities for businesses to achieve rapid growth in quick time.
There are certainly many misapprehensions about Florida. Florida is not just a state for retirees and tourists, contrary to popular perception. True, both groups are invaluable to the state’s economy and provide tremendous job opportunities. But Florida is much more than that.
Florida is the hub of high-tech, innovative businesses, such as the simulation industry, for example. Some of the most exciting technology companies in the world, such as Blue Origin, SpaceX, EA Tiburon and BRIDG, are based here. The environment here is decidedly business-friendly and pro-growth. Check out more about Florida Talent
Florida has a massive pipeline of talent with a large workforce. The colleges and universities of Florida are second to none. The state has done very well to develop human capital and has made education its biggest priority.
What’s remarkable about the higher education system in Florida is how well the universities and colleges have been able to form partnerships with the private sector. The UWF College of Engineering has a partnership with GE Wind Energy in Pensacola, while the UNF College of Engineering has partnered SAFT in Jacksonville to provide high-tech solutions.
The local universities of the state actively train and motivate students to become entrepreneurs and think like one. They invest tremendous resources on entrepreneurship through their world class startup resource centers. [1] The quality of the research done in Florida’s universities and college is second to none. Consider this: Florida Atlantic University has launched a Tech Runway accelerator this year. This is just an example of the amazing things being done by Florida’s Universities and colleges.
Even from the point of view of state and federal taxes, Florida is a great place to start a new business or to relocate a business. Consider this: Florida has no personal income tax, no estate tax, and no inheritance tax. This is a deal clincher for many businesses and has compelled many large companies to relocate to Florida.
The state attracts venture capital and angel investors from across the United States. [2] Leading venture capital firms such as Richmond Global Ventures and Scout Ventures have opened offices in Florida, encouraged by the amazing business opportunities to be found here.
There’s a lot of money coming into Florida and this is great news for startups in their early or mid-stages that are looking for investments. But it is not just about capital – the entrepreneurs in Florida have access to critical resources such as mentorship, skilled workers, first-rate workspaces and a world class infrastructure.
The diverse, open and business-friendly culture of Florida, the easy access to private investment and excellent human capital make the state an ideal place to start a new business.
What else? Well, let’s consider the fact that Florida is one of the most livable states in America, with a picture-perfect climate, world-class infrastructure, stunning biodiversity and excellent internet connectivity. Telecommuting is the norm in most businesses here and a lot of people work remotely.
What makes this so remarkable is that all of these resources are available at a very little cost to entrepreneurs or small business owners. The ecosystem here encourages entrepreneurship and has a high tolerance for failure – similar in a lot of ways to the entrepreneurial culture in Israel, which is often referred to as the “Start-up Nation”.
It is certainly possible to build a great business in Florida, make good money and have a great life too. That’s why the future of business in Florida has never looked brighter.
References
[1] http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article151189417.html
[2] https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2017/05/04/south-florida-startups-dominate-upcoming-venture.html
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