Enterprise Development Corporation of South Florida, a nonprofit that supports emerging high-growth companies, will expand its services and establish a hub in downtown Miami.
With $175,000 in support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the EDC will base its Miami-Dade operations at Pipeline Brickell, a modern co-working center, and contribute to the growth of more than 40 Miami startups in the next 12 months. To do so, it will rely on its incubator model that supports business development at every stage, based on individual needs, the organizations announced. EDC will also host six events over the next year, ranging from pitch sessions to discussions with business leaders.
EDC, established in 1994 and previously based at the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, is no stranger to Miami-Dade. It was an early supporter of Incubate Miami and is currently helping about two dozen startups in the Miami area. “We’ve always been coming down there and Knight made it possible for us to enhance the commitment. We’ve had a long history in Miami and this allows us to strengthen it,” said Rob Strandberg, Enterprise Development Corporation’s president (pictured).
In Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, the EDC currently works closely with about 50 early-stage companies and has been working to strengthen its ties with the investing community, said Strandberg. In addtion to the new location at Pipeline, the EDC runs an incubator in Coral Springs, is developing an incubator with Broward College, and is planning to open another one soon in Boca Raton, providing mentorship and helping companies with business planning, strategy and access to capital, he said. EDC also hosts the annual Emerging Technology Business Showcase, which highlights a couple dozen South Florida tech startups.
“Enterprise Development Corp. fills an important gap by providing entrepreneurs at all stages — newly created, mid-level, mature — with the essential resources they need to grow and succeed,” said Matt Haggman, Knight Foundation’s program director for Miami. The new location offers convenience and visibility for Miami’s entrepreneurial community, Haggman added. The funding is part of Knight’s commitment to strengthening and accelerating Miami’s technology ecosystem.