Success Story – UCF (Business Plan Turns into Business Opportunity)

DAVID Brim transferred to the University of Central Florida for two reasons: he wanted to start his own business and receive a top-notch education. Thanks to the UCF Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), he has achieved both of his goals.

Brim and his partner Scott Wall started a niche real estate publication and website to help reduce the number of homes on the market. The pair won the Joust Business Plan Competition and became the first student-run company accepted into the UCF Incubator. Brim credits the CEI and the UCF Venture Lab for helping them. “The center’s coaches have extensive experience and they assisted my company in developing solid business plans and strategies for our products,” he said.

A few months after the competition, Brim partnered with a major Florida home publication, merging their advertising clients and profits. As a result, Brim and Wall were able to add another associate, Carl Henderson, and start their current business, GroupTable. Once again, Brim entered and won the annual Joust competition. He graduated last year and continues to work at GroupTable, a web-based software company and success network developed specifically to help student groups improve document management, project planning and communication. The company consistently receives positive feedback from users and investors.

“My experience with the CEI has enabled me to take full advantage of all the resources available and has given me so much more. I have had the opportunity to network with many different investors and business leaders, learn from the wisdom and experience of CEI’s coaches, and fund my business by winning several different business plan competitions,” said Brim.