Student Venture Fund at Broward College Passes $500,000 - Beats Fundraising Goal

New Advisory Board Announced

Fort Lauderdale, Fla (August 14, 2018) – The recently announced J. David Armstrong, Jr. President Emeritus Student Venture Fund has surpassed its fundraising goal of $500,000 in large part to the generous commitment of South Florida businesses and community leaders.

The Venture Fund, which is now close to $600,000 in commitments provides seed capital to launch startups based on ideas developed by the students of Broward College. The Fund is managed by the College's new Direct Support Organization, BCEduventures, Inc., and is supported by the College's Innovation Hub. Portfolio companies that benefit from the Fund will be provided needed capital after the completion/graduation of one of the many entrepreneurial programs provided by Broward College through the Innovation Hub.

Programs provide proven methodology, mentorship and networking with the entrepreneurial and venture communities, as well as practical management and marketing expertise that can transform student ideas into successful companies which will grow and hire in Broward County.

The Fund makes several investments per year and, through partnerships with our "Founding Members", provides access to angel investors and introductions to venture capital firms. The Fund will recycle investment returns from the successful sale of portfolio companies back into the Fund to finance future ventures.

Founding members include: J. David Armstrong Jr., Jerry Taylor & Nancy Bryant Foundation, Rob Kornahrens, Colin Brown, South Florida Business Journal, David R. Maymon, Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountant, The Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, Florida Power & Light, BBX Capital Foundation, Trividia Health, National Jets Inc., The Rhodes Insurance Group, George Platt, Jim Blosser, G. Foundation, Emerging Leaders Group at Broward College, Randall Vitale & Kelly Alvarez Vitale, Mike Rump, BankUnited, Gary Press, Dev Motwani, Bob Swindell, Aurelio Fernandez, Andy Rosen and Utah Valley University.

The J. David Armstrong, Jr. President Emeritus Student Venture Fund also announced members of its advisory board which is comprised of successful entrepreneurs including: Enrique Triay, director, Innovation Hub; Bob Nelson, co-founder, The Venture Mentoring Team; Terry Bentley, founding mentor and director of Training, The Venture Mentoring Team; Jim Ryan, entrepreneur; Mike O'Donnell, entrepreneur; Sandi Finn, president, Cross Country Home Services; Alison Tanner, corporate development professional; Steven Gross, Broward College marketing professor; Lynne Wines president and CEO, community banking; Rachel Johnson, attorney, co-founder and managing member, J+O Firm; Julia Aquino, entrepreneur and consultant; Vanessa Patino, CFO/COO, executive advisor; Joel Gardara, CEO, Morro Capital; Angela Selden, entrepreneur and Terri-Ann Brown, human resource director, Dan Marino Foundation.

For more information, please visit http://innovationhubbroward.com/