Hail Entrepreneur!
Over the last 10 years, GrowFL has celebrated the entrepreneurial spirit through our annual Florida Companies to Watch awards program. Presented by GrowFL, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation, this program seeks to find and celebrate those entrepreneurs who embody the the heart and soul of our state with their intellect and tenacity for solving problems, ability to lead, and unwavering dedication to their communities.
When a company first applies to be a GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch honoree, they’re evaluated on things like leadership, corporate culture, community support and innovation. These second-stage companies are remarkable for their history of job creation, revenue generation and developing in-demand products and services. They are also pillars of their communities. Yet they have great potential to do more.
Although many are working hard to navigate through the COVID-19 crisis, our honorees have stepped up and have proven exactly why they were selected in the first place. While we are focused on delivering the crucial information that you need, we want to share the good stuff too. Check out the business owners below who are pivoting, discovering new markets, bringing joy to their customers and have linked arms to help save lives. We are proud to call them part of the GrowFL family!
It’s time for Some Good News – GrowFL style.
Do you have Some Good News to share? email us!
2019 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honoree Initiates Operation #StopandSmile
A few months ago, if you were to scroll through the social media pages of Onpay Solutions, a 2019 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honoree, it would have looked a bit different. Now, between their tips for managing accounts payable and automated invoices, you’ll find photos and videos guaranteed to lift your spirits and make you smile. As employees moved to remote work environments during the initial safer at home strategy, OnPay Solutions began their #StopandSmile campaign. “We’ve always primarily worked in our office, so it was a huge transition for the team. We thought it would be fun for them to show us how their work life had been impacted by working at home,” said COO Juliet Negrete-Anderson. #FLCTW
Advice for entreprenuers:
“I think while the impacts of COVID-19 are really painful right now, they may produce some new lifestyle and business process changes that are going to be really productive for our future.” ~ Juliet Negrete-Anderson, COO, OnPay Solutions
MY Health Guards: Keeping Businesses and their Customers Safe
Known for their award-winning shower doors, 2013 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch honoree, MY Shower Door, has expanded their expertise to keep businesses, and the customers they serve, safe. Their newly constructed glass plant in Fort Myers is certainly ramping up production, but now, more than shower doors are leaving the building. To help reduce the spread of COVD-19, Bill Daubmann, president of MY Shower Door/D3 Glass, and his team created their state-of the-art My Health Guards. Like “sneeze guards,” My Health Guards are custom protection shields that are ready for rapid delivery across the state. For employees and customers alike, in register aisles, cashiers’ counters, food buffet areas and offices, this is a proven way to reduce their exposure through direct droplet transmission. “The big-name retailers like Costco and Publix went with the thin plexiglass sheets, which serves the purpose, they were quick and inexpensive, but it’s not a long-term solution,” said Daubmann. “Ours would be more costly, of course, but they’re made of glass and you need the heavy-duty hardware to hold it in place.” #FLCTW
Advice for entrepreneurs:
“Keep your employees and staff safe and keep communicating with them. Be on the lookout for good, capable people who have been laid off and in need of work. ” ~ Bill Daubmann, president, My Shower Door
Some Good News from Our GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honorees
 Wicked Dolphin Distillery, Florida Crystals Join in Hand & Surface Sanitizer Relief Efforts for First Responders, Hospitals, Community Read More |
 College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving Provides Free Services to Domestic Violence Survivors Read More |
Inspiring Stories – Some Good News
Despite the confusion, uncertainty, grief, and despair the pandemic has caused, there’s never a bad time to look for the positive side of things. John Krasinski decided to change the narrative by creating a Youtube channel called “Some Good News.” The new show is dedicated to heartwarming, inspiring, and uplifting stories from around the world. His very first episode welcomed a special guest—Steve Carell—to commemorate the 15th anniversary of The Office. Visit the YouTube Channel and watch each of the now 5 episodes for instant inspiration.
Despite the confusion, uncertainty, grief, and despair the pandemic has caused, there’s never a bad time to look for the positive side of things. John Krasinski decided to change the narrative by creating a YouTube channel called “Some Good News.” The new show is dedicated to heartwarming, inspiring, and uplifting stories from around the world. His very first episode welcomed a special guest—Steve Carell—to commemorate the 15th anniversary of The Office. GrowFL is joining the movement with our Inspired Leadership Edition. Each week we will be bringing you stories of businesses that are surving and thriving through the crisis. Don’t forget to visit the Some Good News YouTube Channel and watch each of the now 6 episodes for instant inspiration.
Southeast Florida: Research Park at FAU-based Aventusoft announced it has been awarded a $3m grant from NIH to develop a new application to diagnose and monitor congestive heart failure. Aventusoft is a successful graduate of GrowFL’s economic gardening program, collaborates substantially with FAU, has hired several interns and Ph.D. students and is in the process of interviewing more (up to 10 more). The CEO and I are discussing his expansion within the Research Park at FAU.Read More
Northwest Florida: Co:Lab Pensacola entrepreneurs. Michael Silver of Paint U came up with a great way for families to get out of the house by means of a Pop Up Drive In. It is a great example of a creative pivot and we couldn’t be happier for our graduate company. Read More
Tampa Bay: The team at ZipKord pivoted quickly 45 days ago when we thought all was lost because 100% of our customers are travel industry related. Our Doctor friends shared their concerns over availability of PPE, specifically respirators, and our factories and friends in Asia had already started producing these products. We successfully changed our focus to help bring much needed inventory of PPE products and now work with local emergency services, hospitals, doctors as well through our network of friends now supplying products to the east coast of Florida, hospitals in Georgia, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Minnesota, North Carolina and Philadelphia. We have made new professional and personal friendships through this process and have hope for new channels of business that will help sustain us and keep us moving forward through these challenging times.Read More
Some More Good News
Resources to Help You
GrowFL Expert Connect – Answers from our trusted partners – Schedule an appointment FloridaMakes Connex Florida – Florida’s Supply Chain Database RND Automation: COVID-19 Test Kit Assembly & Packaging Digital Boardwalk: Want a 2nd Opinion on your IT Management? Insperity: Cross-training staff: A guide to effective implementation Sales Advisors of Florida: Keep Sales Moving Forward Limitless Technology: Cost Reduction – Improved Operations – Vendor Risk Mitigation
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