Top Two Companies To Receive $150,000 In Awards From Space Florida

Representatives from Space Florida and the University of Central Florida (UCF) Office of Research and Commercialization (ORC) have announced a call for applications by companies interested in participating in an event that will match financing sources with small, high-tech businesses based in Florida.

The “CAT5 Awards,” (which stands for “Capital for the Acceleration of Technologies in early stage companies) will showcase 10 selected companies in an event that will enable them to present their business cases to venture capitalists, angel investors and financiers, among others. In addition to having the opportunity to present to potential funding sources, the top two business plans will receive $150,000 in monetary awards – with first place receiving $100,000 and second place receiving $50,000, both through Space Florida sponsorship.

Finalists will present at the Innovation Concourse of the Southeast (ICSE) Manufacturing and Safety event on June 3, 2014. Prior to their presentations, the University of Central Florida’s Venture Accelerator will match finalists with expert mentors that will provide business strategy coaching leading up to the event.

"We are thrilled to work with UCF to promote the growth of Florida-based, high-tech businesses by enabling possible funding sources to hear their innovative business models," said Space Florida President Frank DiBello. "We believe Space Florida's additional financial award for the best business plans will also provide the top two forward-thinking companies a little extra support as they grow their businesses."

Eligible companies must be pursuing research and development activities in at least one of Space Florida’s strategic markets:

• Space Transportation and Advanced Aerospace Platforms
• Satellite Systems and Science Payloads
• Ground and Operations Support Systems
• Agriculture, Climate/Environmental Monitoring
• Civil Protection and Emergency Management
• ISS and Human Life Sciences (including medical research)
• Communications, Cyber Security and Robotics
• Adventure Tourism
• Clean/Alternative Energy Applications
• Advanced Materials and New Products

The application window for this opportunity opened September 30 and closes November 1, 2013 at 5PM EST. Finalists will be notified by mid-November, 2013.

FMI: www.innovationconcourse.com/concourse/cat5-awards