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Center for Free Enterprise & Entrepreneurship announces new level of entrepreneurial partnership with Catapult Lakeland
Jun 21, 2024
![FSC Staff](https://fsc-web-2021-stage.bluemod.us/getmedia/596c07ff-604f-4c61-b982-4812cfb726f1/fsc-seal-black.png?width=300&height=300&ext=.png)
Florida Southern College's Center for Free Enterprise & Entrepreneurship (CFEE) proudly announces a new level of entrepreneurial partnership with Catapult Lakeland. FSC's growing entrepreneurial system is providing new businesses at Catapult, and beyond, to the Lakeland community.
With this new partnership, the CFEE has increased its Catapult student membership count from two memberships to ten, meeting the growing demand from our student entrepreneurs. The CFEE’s Seed to Scale incubation program has worked with ninety-five total startups. In the first year of this new partnership, FSC has proudly filled all ten Catapult memberships from this total with high-achieving, student entrepreneurs.
Justin Heacock, Director of the CFEE, says, “This partnership signifies the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem at FSC and our ability to produce high-quality, scalable startups in partnership with Catapult. In our first three years, the CFEE has produced 5 statewide winners and has awarded over $100,000 to student entrepreneurs. We can produce some of the best student startups in the state at FSC and, together with Catapult, we can produce scalable startups that stay in Lakeland”. To date, FSC student entrepreneurs have generated over $4,000,000 in revenue and created twenty-three jobs.
Christin Strawbridge, President of Catapult Lakeland, comments, “We are so grateful for this partnership with FSC’s CFEE. As students become members, we help provide resources, such as our Expert in Residence program, to help them build their businesses and navigate any challenges that come their way. We are especially excited to collaborate with FSC to impact the broader ecosystem of Lakeland, by helping students realize that Lakeland is a place to start and scale a successful business. With the support of Justin and the CFEE, students do not have to wait for graduation to put their business ideas into action. They can start now. We love having FSC students at Catapult, as they collaborate with our members and staff. They bring energy and excitement, and we cannot wait to see all they will accomplish!”.
![Happyson Kaunda '24 with Justin Heacock posing with a large check](/getattachment/0c06f80a-cbf1-4aec-8d8c-5ac9f9c600ec/sq-md-happyson.jpg?lang=en-US)
One success story from this partnership is Happyson Kaunda, FSC student and founder of Tafika Tickets. Tafika Tickets is the first online bus ticketing platform in Happyson’s home country of Zambia. Happyson is the winner of the 2024 Governor’s Cup, a premier statewide competition showcasing Florida’s best entrepreneurs from universities across the state. This is the first time FSC has won this award and Happyson has been a Catapult member since spring 2023. Below is a list of all ten student entrepreneurs who are now proud members at Catapult this year.
Startup: Tafika Tickets
Student: Happyson Kaunda
Description: Online bus ticketing platform facilitating the purchase of intercity bus tickets in Zambia.
Startup: Ace Bean Coffee
Student: Jesuel Caraballo
Description: Craft coffee company that tells the stories of veterans' journeys through coffee products.
Startup: Barswipe
Student: Conor O’Connell
Description: Social app that drives human-to-human connection through in-person meetings.
Startup: Box Buddy
Student: Adrian Tobin
Description: Proprietary device to improve the efficiency of stockers in grocery stores.
Startup: DermaGENEous
Student: Brooke Sommers
Description: A genetics company that recommends skin care products matching your genetic profile.
Startup: Digital Agency
Student: Silvian Ene
Description: An agency providing digital marketing services for companies.
Startup: IncogNeedle
Student: Nathan Calvary
Description: A needle cover that reduces anxiety for children when they go to the doctor’s office.
Startup: No Small Talk
Student: Mack Cromer II
Description: Urban streetwear apparel brand focusing on authenticity.
Startup: Shoe Renew
Student: Luke Citarelli
Description: Shoe projection patches for pickleball and tennis.
Startup: Taquería del Angel
Student: Jacqueline Martinez
Description: A Mexican Taqueria serving the Polk County community.