Immersion

IGNITE’s Immersion Program is an innovative initiative designed to empower college students by connecting them with entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial programs and facilitating their journey toward applying these skills through internships and jobs. This program serves as a bridge, providing students with invaluable opportunities to gain hands-on experience and develop essential skills in the dynamic world of entre- and intra-premiership. By fostering partnerships between academia and industry, the Immersion program paves the way for aspiring student entrepreneurs to thrive, encouraging innovation, collaboration, and growth within the next generation of business leaders.

The program’s entrepreneurship incubator initiative focuses on building relationships with incubators, maintaining and nourishing the relationships with state-wide incubators, starting with the Space Coast and Gainesville, and fostering connections with the startup communities. By collaborating with incubators, educational institutions gain access to a rich network of entrepreneurial expertise and resources, enabling them to enhance their curriculum with real-world insights and practical experiences. Furthermore, students who engage with incubators and startup communities cultivate invaluable connections, allowing them to tap into a thriving ecosystem of innovation, mentorship, and potential career opportunities. Such partnerships foster a dynamic learning environment that nurtures entrepreneurship, propels innovation, and empowers students to transform their ideas into impactful ventures.

The program’s intrapreneurship initiative is a joint program of the Engineering Leadership and Innovation Institutes executed as the Michelin Scholars Pilot Program. Intrapreneurs are encouraged to think creatively, challenge the status quo, and propose new ideas. This culture of innovation can lead to the development of groundbreaking products, services, or processes that can give the organization a competitive edge. Participants are co-trained by ELI / EII and Michelin personnel to foster an entrepreneurial spirit and innovative mindset within an established organization. Students in this program gain experience in project management, leadership, and problem-solving, which can benefit them and the organization they work with.