An immersive mentoring initiative
for Pensacola entrepreneurs
WHO WE ARE
The Spring is an entrepreneur hub in Pensacola, FL that seeks to serve as the front door to the entrepreneur ecosystem.
WHAT WE DO
We offer a three-prong approach – mentorship, connection to resources, and scaling/acceleration – to bring unprecedented resources and focus on our local small businesses in Escambia and Santa Rosa County. We have brought on two of the leading entrepreneur organizations in the world – Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Gener8tor – to help fulfill our project.
WHY WE DO IT
The top three needs for more than 130 entrepreneurs surveyed in 2019 were mentorship, funding and a clear, well-marketed path to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. We need to engage, empower and keep our next generation of entrepreneurs in Pensacola. That’s how we will help grow more Pensacola businesses, jobs, and equity.
OUR PROGRAMS
Accelerate your growth and access our powerful entrepreneurial network with one of The Spring's programs.
The Spring Venture Mentoring Service is a free & confidential program for entrepreneurs.
gBETA is a program of nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor.
The Spring triage and co-working space provide direction to resources within a flexible and collaborative atmosphere.
FIND THE BEST RESOURCES
As the front door to the entrepreneur ecosystem, we aim to connect you with organizations and individuals that can provide your company with the necessary resources for growth and development. We call this our "triage" process.
In order for us to best serve you and your company, we ask that you please fill out an intake form for business assistance. This will allow us to provide you with the best possible information and resources to fit your company’s need(s). Once you have completed this form, The Spring staff will reach out to you within 6 business days. We are excited to help you on your entrepreneurial journey.
RECEIVE WORLD-CLASS MENTORSHIP
The Spring Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) is based on the successful model used by the renowned VMS program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The MIT VMS is tailored specifically to communities looking to bolster entrepreneurship, and we have brought their successful program back to Pensacola. Our program offers confidential, team mentoring services to entrepreneurs across our community. By pairing entrepreneurs with 3-5 experts in residence, their ventures are exposed to a variety of very skilled expertise and advice. This program is offered to entrepreneurs free of charge.
Ventures from any industry or stage in the entrepreneurial life cycle are qualified to apply for The Spring Venture Mentoring Service.
OUR EXPERTS IN RESIDENCE
The Spring Venture Mentoring Service is powered by Pensacola’s strongest entrepreneurial network. Made up of the strongest leaders, academics, entrepreneurs, investors and visionaries from across the Gulf Coast.
Bob Anderson
Senior Vice President, SunTrust now Truist Financial
Kathy Sandstrom
Retired Senior Partner, Heitman, LLC
Lloyd Reshard
CEO, Cognitive Big Data Systems
Bert Thornton
Retired COO and Vice Chairman Emeritus, Waffle House, Inc.
Dr. Jessica Griffen
Chairwoman and CEO, The Urban Development Center, Inc.
Veronique Zayas
Founder and Creative Director, HatchMark Studio
Co-Founder, Emerald Republic Brewing Co.
Julie Sheppard
Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel, IHMC
Walker Wilson
Executive Director, Downtown Improvement Board
President/Owner, Bay Lumber Trading
John Rigsby
CEO, Eduocity LLC
Interested in becoming a partner with The Spring?
Take the first step, apply now for mentoring.