Our Mission
Providing businesses the expertise and resources to succeed
Expand the Dream: Create and Learn Tutoring ThrivingSeptember 3, 2026 - 1:41 pmEvery entrepreneur starts with a dream. Possibility is seen where others see obstacles and passion sparks new offerings and creative solutions for problems. Maria Santiago is one of those visionary entrepreneurs. Drawing on her experience as a kindergarten teacher and her passion for helping children succeed, she transformed her idea into Create and Learn Tutoring, Inc. With guidance from the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF), she secured the funding and support needed to expand from a home-based operation into a thriving tutoring center dedicated to helping students build confidence, self-esteem, and academic success.
DANNIK: Leveraging Resources to Drive GrowthAugust 17, 2026 - 3:36 pmSuccessful entrepreneurs, especially serial entrepreneurs who have started and sold multiple companies, recognize that taking advantage of available, trusted small business resources is a major key to success. Moreover, being adept at doing more with less is critical to squeezing every ounce of value out of those resources. Gary Haberland is just such a serial entrepreneur, having leveraged the multi-faceted resources – no-cost, expert consulting; business training; market research; and specialty services – available from the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) to his full advantage. This has helped him to successfully and profitably exit one company and to focus as co-founder, with wife Olga – the company president – on building a second venture: DANNIK, a multi-disciplinary product design, development, and medical device manufacturing firm.
The IMBing Lounge: Brewing Success in Palm CoastJuly 29, 2026 - 3:19 pmAccessing capital – whether from friends and family, a bank, or other sources – is often one of the earliest and most daunting challenges for entrepreneurs. Where should they go? What documents are required? How do they qualify? What are the right financial numbers? How much funding is truly needed? These questions can stall even the most motivated business owners.
Flutter Fitness Studio Finds Its Wings with FSBDC at UCF SupportJune 10, 2026 - 1:56 pmSmall business ownership is rarely a straight path. It comes with twists and turns—some energizing, others daunting. For Jocelyn Fillalan, the biggest challenges arrived all at once: transitioning from co‑owner to sole owner and rebranding her entire business. Both felt like major leaps, and both stirred real anxiety, but she refused to face them alone. Instead, she turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) for guidance.
Entering the government contracting market is an uphill climb for any small business, but two critical factors make the ascent far more achievable: building a strong foundation and finding expert guidance. Irina Zakharchenko, co‑founder and CEO of ApolloRise Tech, understood that both of these ingredients would be essential to her success when she set her sights on the government sector. She turned to the Florida APEX Accelerator at the University of Central Florida—the Florida SBDC at UCF’s government contracting affiliate—to build that foundation with confidence.
FSBDC at UCF Celebrates 2026 National Small Business WeekMay 28, 2026 - 10:00 amFSBDC at UCF Honors U.S. Small Business Administration Award Winners, Including Being Named National SBDC of the Year Orlando, FL – In recognition of the significant contributions to a healthy economy made by the entrepreneurs and small business owners of Central Florida and the nation, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of […]
JE Technology Solutions Scales New HeightsMay 27, 2026 - 9:58 amFSBDC at UCF Advisory Board Council’s Expert Guidance Fuels Major Gains in Leadership and Performance May 27, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or HThayer@ucf.edu Jill Kaufman, ABC Program Manager, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4854 or Jill.Kaufman@ucf.edu Orlando, FL – Adrian Little had already built a strong business. As founder […]
Our Vision
Creating a better Florida for all by helping businesses grow
Florida SBDC Network
The Florida SBDC at the University of Central Florida is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide partnership program nationally accredited by the Association of America’s SBDCs and funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of War, State of Florida and other private and public partners, with the University of West Florida serving as the network’s headquarters. Full funding disclosure available at www.floridasbdc.org/ funding-disclosures/. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals.
