UCF Business Incubation Program Brings on New Executive

Orlando, Fla. (May 1, 2023) – For any business, finding that first customer can be difficult. And finding that right mentor can be nearly impossible.

That’s why the UCF Business Incubation Program has created programs for its client companies, who look to scale and create a significant number of jobs in the region.

This month, the program brought on Kelly Daubach, a seasoned business development executive, as the program manager, Mentoring & First Customer Programs, to ensure these programs grow and succeed.

“We’ve already seen that when a company works through these programs, they have a significantly higher rate of success because they are so essential for any entrepreneur,” says Rob Panepinto, director, Innovation Districts Strategy and Partnerships and Senior Strategic Advisor, UCF Business Incubation Program. “We’re looking forward to having Kelly work throughout our community to find the right matches.”

The mentorship program was expanded last year.

Companies are often paired with individual mentors on an as needed basis, but the first cohort of a formalized program, where companies and mentors are paired in a group, ends in May.

That group supported 6 companies with 8 mentors. A new cohort starts in the summer.

The First Customer program is ongoing and supports Incubator companies by helping connect them to larger companies for valuable feedback and potentially pilot programs. The larger companies gain by accessing innovative solutions that could be beneficial to their business.

In recent months, Incubator clients met with Central Florida staples like the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Heart of Florida United Way, Orlando Venues and 4 Rivers Smokehouse.

Moving forward, Daubach will be responsible for all aspects of both programs.

“Having worked with companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune 500 giants, I’m looking forward to helping entrepreneurs reach their dreams of success,” Daubach says. “It’s pretty incredible joining an organization with such a track record of success in Central Florida.”

Daubach is the owner of Anu Business Coaching, which is focused on helping entrepreneurs make the transition from a corporate job to entrepreneurship.

Prior to starting the company in 2021, Daubach was the vice president of business development for Life Line Screening and spent nearly a decade with Lincare Holdings in a variety of roles. Her last role there, national director of SNF and enteral business, including managing a team of more than 200 employees.  Throughout her career, Kelly created a national footprint in many verticals as an intrapreneur.

Daubach graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science and is a certified coach by iPEC Coaching and an associated certified coach from the International Coaching Federation.

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For more information, please contact:

UCF Business Incubation Program: Carol Ann Dykes Logue, 407-635-9882, carolann.dykeslogue@ucf.edu or Alan Byrd, Alan Byrd & Associates, 407-415-8470, Alan@ByrdConnections.com

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth/impact enterprises. Since 1999, this award-winning program has provided vital business development resources resulting in over 300 local startup companies reaching their potential faster and graduating into the community where they continue to grow and positively impact the local economy.

With eight facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, and the cities of Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs. For the 2017/2018 fiscal years, the activities of these participating firms have helped to sustain more than 6,725 local jobs and have had a cumulative impact of over $725 million on regional GDP and over $1.3 billion on regional sales. During the same period, the program has returned more than $12.00 in state and local taxes for every $1.00 invested in the program. In addition, for every $1.00 of public investment the firms also produced $118 of additional regional GDP and $226 of regional sales. For more information, visit  www.incubator.ucf.edu.