Cultivating Startup Talent: Embarc Collective and Genspiration Foundation’s Partnership

Talent is the most valuable asset in any business. At Embarc Collective, we recognize that developing and nurturing talent is crucial not only for our member startups but for the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem. That’s why we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the Genspiration Foundation, aimed at equipping the next generation of entrepreneurial talent with knowledge and training on what it means to work at a startup.

Our partnership with the Genspiration Foundation started last year to provide five paid internships to the University of South Florida (USF) and FUSE program students at Embarc Collective member companies. Students visited Embarc Collective with their classes and clubs, joined various events, and participated in professional development coaching from our seasoned startup veterans, all to help top collegiate talent to get hands-on experience working with startups.

The impact of this program extends beyond numbers. Our interns have shared glowing testimonials about their experiences:

“I felt very well supported by my manager throughout the internship. [Supervisor] was particularly helpful and provided a lot of valuable insight into the industry and my role. His mentorship played a significant role in my professional growth during this period, and I truly appreciated his dedication to my development.”

“Everyone was so helpful and supportive to guide me through the stuff I don’t know about. Love the experience overall.”

“I felt beyond supported by my amazing manager during my internship! This experience was so important for my professional development, and I am so grateful for everything learned!”

Year One: Internship Program Highlights

• 5 talented students participated in paid summer internships at Embarc Collective member startups, achieving a 100% retention rate.

• Two out of five interns received offers to continue working with their respective startups in part-time or full-time roles.

• 98 USF students and alumni participated in professional development and networking opportunities through USF-focused programs at Embarc Collective.

• USF President Emerita Judy Genshaft and Steven Greenbaum connected with summer interns, their respective managers, and USF alumni at the Genspiration Coffee Meetup.

Year Two: Looking Ahead

Building on the success of our first year, we are thrilled to announce the continuation of our partnership with the Genspiration Foundation. In the upcoming year, we plan to host larger events aimed at reaching even more students, invite additional student groups to visit and learn about Embarc Collective, and offer paid summer internship opportunities with our member startups. This program is designed to further engage and support the next generation of entrepreneurial talent within our community.

Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming programs and summer internship applications at Embarc Collective’s Startup Job Board.

About Embarc Collective

Embarc Collective, a 501c3 non-profit, is a central landing zone for the most driven and focused startup builders in Florida, ranked as a top startup support program in the world by UBI Global. Embarc Collective offers vetted, curated live and on-demand coaching and programming, an ever-growing repository of resources and frameworks, and access to national customers and investors, all amongst a peer community of 125+ tech startups operating within an award-winning 32,000-square-foot startup hub in downtown Tampa, Florida.

About the Genspiration Foundation

Genspiration Foundation is a private foundation created by USF President Emerita Judy Genshaft and Steve Greenbaum. We promote, through strategic grantmaking, a society where individuals and families can live up to their potential and contribute back to the community, leading to a world of tolerance and mutual respect. Genspiration Foundation supports the areas of education, health and community/economic development, primarily but not exclusively in the Tampa Bay region, through assistance to innovative organizations utilizing evidence-based and measurable outcomes to foster independence and empowerment of impacted individuals.