The College of the Florida Keys is now accepting applications for its Entrepreneurship Incubator Lab.
The program is designed for aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs in the Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City who are ready to develop, launch or grow a business venture. The last day to apply is Sept. 25 and the program is open to:
- Current CFK students from all academic disciplines.
- CFK alumni seeking to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.
- Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City residents with innovative business ideas or startup concepts.
- New and early-stage business owners who want to expand, refine or strengthen their operations.
The lab was made possible with a $25,220 grant from the Ocean Reef Community Foundation. This program, based at CFK’s Upper Keys Center, is intended to help aspiring entrepreneurs, students and local business owners transform ideas into viable ventures. The grant covers inaugural costs to allow the first participants to attend free of charge. Participants will compete for $7,500 in awards during the program’s culminating “Pitch Night Showcase.”
“CFK’s Entrepreneurship Incubator Lab is a rare opportunity to accelerate growing your business and network,” said Jesus Vazquez, faculty, supervision and management at CFK who will lead the program for the college.
The lab will be an eight-week entrepreneurial program that guides participants through idea development and planning, marketing, sales, financials and operations. The program model encourages accountability, collaboration and peer networking while guiding participants on how to build and refine their ventures alongside fellow entrepreneurs.
The program workshop begins Oct. 5.
Applications should be submitted through the CFK website under a “Community Education and Workforce” classification here: https://www.cfk.edu/admissions/apply-now/. Once on the “Apply Now” page, applicants need to:
- Log in to or create a CFK account.
- Complete an application for a Community Education and Workforce course at the Key Largo location for fall 2026.
- Be certain to check “Yes” under the question, “Are you applying for the Entrepreneurship Incubator Lab (EIL)?”
More information is at cfk.edu (click on “Academics,” then “Academic Departments,” and “Entrepreneurship Incubator Lab) or from Vazquez at 305-809-3328 or jesus.vazquez@cfk.edu.
