Entrepreneur Fund Winners Announced for the Avalon Innovation Center

March of this year the business community started seeing unprecedented challenges as we have had to navigate going through a global pandemic.   The COVID-19 Pandemic has expedited a new approach to employment and has raised questions as to what the new norm is and what it will look like in the near and distant future.  Many have shifted their work environment to home, while also trying to figure out school, childcare and even how to do day-to-day shopping.

Aware of a rapid business climate change and the need to support local entrepreneurs, Avalon Park Group, led by President & CEO Beat Kahli, created a fund to support local business and foster growth in this ever-changing time.  The initial fund is over $1,000,000 and is being awarded to entrepreneurs who presented a new business, spin off from another business or grow an existing small business.  The fund amounts are a combination of cash investments, business loans, office space, professional consulting services and The 5^th Floor memberships.   “We personalized an award package for all 28 finalists,” said Kahli.  “While not all of the asks were fully funded, we wanted to offer support for these passionate individuals to continue to grow their ideas and their businesses.”

From 153 initial submissions to 28 finalists, the final awards are broken down as follows.

Innovator Awards (5)

CompWise Services
The Dirt Master
JK Creative
Kaboone Life Support
Evolution Medical Technologies

Enterprise Awards (7)

Young Innovators Technologies
EVTransports
Connective Human
Happ for Hotels
Complex Seven Industries
SharkBait – Feed Your Innovation
Spotted Cow Estate Sales

Collaborator Awards (7)

American Technologika
SMART8
AMLY Sustainability
Intern Pursuit
WOMANtrepreneur
Venture Out
PLH3 Healthcare Solutions

Connector Awards (8)

Avalon Language School
Marisco Creative Consulting
Limitless Learning
Spincast TV
Fastask
Fit Me In Now
JRB Enterprise Group
Pioneer Renewables

Community Award (1)

AvalonGo

There was one presentation that truly stood out among the rest.  Two young men, Zak Umansky and Nikolay Azhmyakov, presented an idea called AvalonGo.  The proposal that they presented was simply an ask to bring this healthy amenity to the community and any revenue that was generated would go directly back to the community.  The jury was impressed with the community spirit and professional effort spent to make this ask on behalf of their community and they were immediately awarded their request above and beyond what was allotted for the fund.  “I was inspired by these  young men, who grew up in this community, wanting to use their entrepreneur minds to selflessly give back, so I immediately honored their request and we are working with them to get the AvalonGo bike share program running as soon as possible,” said Kahli.

The international team of experts convened over the past month to watch presentations, review business plans and make suggestions for next steps.  “We are very grateful for the time and expertise the jury provided over the past several months in reviewing the multitude of business plans received,” said Beat Kahli.  “Special acknowledgement should particularly go to the Singapore team, Andreas Derzsi and Ravi Kumar, who spent more than 24 hours on the clock as they watched presentations in the middle of their night, and then had to continue their days.”

The 5^th Floor location in Avalon Park Orlando is slated to open late fall of this year and is the ideal space for the growing entrepreneurial business to call home.

About The 5^th Floor:

Earlier this year it was announced that The 5^th Floor international pro-work space would open their flagship office in Muttenz, Switzerland, with subsequent locations to open within a year in two Avalon Park Communities, Orlando and Wesley Chapel.  Additional international locations are scheduled to come online in locations like Singapore, Sydney, Australia, and Central and South America.  The pro-working space is customized both in the physical space and the services provided.  The concept provides not only space for businesses to work, but also provide local and regional connections that help global connectivity for businesses looking to expand internationally.    The flagship 5^th Floor location in Muttenz, Switzerland is located next to one of Europe’s leading biotech Universities, “FHNW” As a leading location for bio-technical growth, it is a natural fit for small and spin-off biotech companies to expand.  One of the most powerful resources The 5^th Floor has globally is its relationships with the local universities.  In Muttenz, FHNW provides relationships and opportunities for growth in the biotech industry.  The same can be said with the Orlando location and its relationship with the University of Central Florida in the technology, medical and defense industries.  Other 5^th Floor locations will have similar relationships, that create avenues for related connections.

If you are interested in learning more about The 5^th Floor, please click here or contact us at Info@AvalonParkGroup.com or by calling 407-658-6565.