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Now based at FIU Business, the FIU Business Innovation and Growth (BIG) Accelerator program, formerly known as StartUP FIU Local, works with small businesses and aspiring student entrepreneurs eager to innovate and explore new opportunities.
The BIG kick-off, held in October 2024, highlighted expanded services designed to better support the small-business community, including those up to three years old with gross incomes under $1 million. Additionally, the program aims to refine the local business environment and broaden the landscape by fostering various industries and entrepreneurs.
"The core is education, networks and resources," said Barbara Cotto, BIG's program director. "We will help them from preparing a business plan to where to go for access to capital, procurement of government contracts, as well as finance and marketing plans."
The event featured panelists Gustavo Mosquera, associate teaching professor of marketing and logistics at FIU Business; Leticia Bolden, business incubators manager at the Neighbors and Neighbors Association; Scott Singer, president of Insider Career Strategies; and Al Kanbar, hands-on restaurant coach at Silver Spoon Mia, discussing the benefits of digital optimization for small business entrepreneurs and owners.
"The core is education, networks and resources... We will help them from preparing a business plan to where to go for access to capital, procurement of government contracts, as well as finance and marketing plans."
– Barbara Cotto
"Behind every business is a person and not every tool fits everybody," said Singer. "There are a lot of technologies out there; you have to have a foundation, something that fits your style".
Among its offerings, BIG includes workshops and training programs on financial literacy for communities, business planning and marketing strategies, business canvassing for early entrepreneurs, and growth strategies for small business owners.
"We strive to build a more diverse ecosystem of small businesses through targeted resources, expert guidance and strategic partnerships," said Cotto. "This approach strengthens the local economy and ensures that entrepreneurs from all backgrounds have the opportunity to grow and thrive."
Wilmar Moreno, owner of Doral-based aesthetics center Willy4Wellness, reached out to BIG in search of information on how to better manage her company's finances. She registered for an upcoming session on applying for grants and money management.
"My business is a solo practice, and I need to improve the financial component," said Moreno.
