Gulf Coast Startups is a grassroots group of 40+ successful community entrepreneurs and advisors (technology & business) providing education, mentoring and business evaluation to help aspiring entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses. 

We are located within a 4,500 sq. ft. facility located at 4141 South Tamiami Trail (3 blocks south of Bee Ridge).

Gulf Coast Startups' programs are…

§        Customer-Centric - 90% of startup fail not because of the product but lack of a  market and customer.

§        Export Oriented - we focus on exporting product out of Florida and/or bring new income into the community.

§        Utilize Best of Breed Resources – we collaborate with all community partners to build sustainable businesses.

Gulf Coast Startups offers the following services…

§        Seminars for Aspiring Entrepreneurs – we provide a 6 Step Seminar called Launching a Successful Startup. It is a 14 session customer centric seminar.

Experienced entrepreneurs and advisors mentor aspiring entrepreneurs to define and research their product idea, customer and market and to learn the ingredients for a sustainable business.  Aspiring entrepreneurs present their idea to a panel of successful industry entrepreneurs who encourage further development - business and funding plan - or send you participant back to the drawing board. 

The sessions are only $10 for students, recent graduates, unemployed individuals, ex-military and $15 for all others.

§   Services to other community institutions supporting entrepreneurship.

§        The 6-Step Seminar, Launching a Successful Startup, is provided to any educational, government or private corporation.  The 14 session course can be managed solely by our staff or in partnership with the contracting institution.

§        Entrepreneurial Panel - As a community resource, we provide at no cost an Entrepreneurial Panel to evaluate from any source their business plan or presentation.  The Panel members are currently running a business within the target market of the aspiring entrepreneur.

§    Incubator space -  Gulf Coast Startups has a 4500 sq. ft facility to provide startups with space, internet service, etc. It is located at 4141 South Tamiami T Trail (just south of Bee Ridge). For startups requiring larger space there is the availability of a 17,000 square foot facility.  Our incubator program is modeled after other highly successful programs that combine office space, services and consultation support within a monthly fixed fee.