Embarc Collective Expands Partnership with the Genspiration Foundation to Extend Paid Internship Opportunities for Collegiate Talent

The expansion of our partnership with the Genspiration Foundation – the family foundation of USF President Emerita Dr. Judy Genshaft, her husband, Steve Greenbaum, and their sons Joel and Bryan – marks an important milestone for Embarc Collective and our efforts to provide top collegiate talent from the University of South Florida and FUSE Program schools with hands-on, immersive learning opportunities with early-stage tech startups and growth companies through paid spring, summer, and fall semester internships.

“Embarc Collective recognizes that developing and nurturing talent is crucial not only for our early-stage tech startups but for the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Dr. Tim Holcomb, CEO at Embarc Collective. “We are grateful to Dr. Genshaft, her husband Steve, and the family foundation for their continued support of Embarc Collective’s efforts to equip the next generation of entrepreneurial talent with knowledge and training on what it means to work at a startup.”

Unlike traditional internship programs in which students are left “on their own” during the internship period, Embarc Collective’s Genspiration Foundation internship program, wraps startup programming and coaching and mentorship around the internship assignment to enhance the learning experience for undergraduate and graduate students. Simultaneously, Embarc Collective member-companies that host interns benefit from innovative approaches to challenges from some of the top young talent in the region and get a firsthand look at upcoming graduating talent. This program is designed to further engage and support the next generation of entrepreneurial talent within our community—talent is the most valuable asset in any business.

“This partnership gives students the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to Florida’s innovation ecosystem in a tangible way. It’s inspiring to see these young leaders develop their skills and confidence while working alongside startup founders who are building the companies of tomorrow.” – Dr. Judy Genshaft, Founder, Genspiration Foundation

Embarc Collective is also thrilled to announce the addition of Dr. Judy Genshaft to Embarc Collective’s esteemed Board of Directors, a group of dedicated leaders with decades of experience and deep networks across multiple sectors that bring institutional credibility and strategic connections to our community of founders. During Dr. Genshaft’s nineteen-year presidency, she led the charge to catapult the University of South Florida System to national and international prominence for student success, academic rigor, research and innovation, and economic development, and helped fuel Tampa Bay’s meteoric rise as an economic powerhouse.

At Embarc Collective, we recognize that developing and nurturing talent is crucial not only for our member startups but for the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem. Our expanded partnership with the Genspiration Foundation marks a significant step towards bridging the gap between collegiate talent and real-world entrepreneurship.

By empowering students with the tools, experiences, and connections needed to thrive within the vibrant startup ecosystem, Embarc Collective and the Genspiration Foundation are contributing to the progress of the region’s entrepreneurial growth.

About Embarc Collective

Embarc Collective, a 501c3 non-profit, is an innovation leader and a central landing zone for Florida’s most driven and focused early-stage tech startup builders. Our globally-recognized startup platform offers founders curated programming, on-demand coaching and mentorship, connectivity to corporates, universities, and investors, and engagement with a peer community of 330+ founders and founding team members that lead 140+ Florida-based early-stage tech startups and growth-stage companies in healthcare and life sciences, cybersecurity and data analytics, AI and deep tech, financial and legal services, and defense and national security, among other sectors within an award-winning 32,000-square-foot startup hub in downtown Tampa, Florida. Since its inception in 2019, member-companies have achieved a 96% survival rate, created 1,200+ high-paying tech and tech-enabled jobs, and secured more than $650M in seed, venture, and growth equity, including more than half from investors outside the state of Florida, while driving almost $200M annually in direct and indirect economic returns to the state of 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.